In a recent holiday issue of Maximum PC Magazine, a Puget Custom Computers machine was written up in review.
When we first started working with Gordon at MaximumPC.com, we were excited by the prospect of sending them a system for review. In his words, the best type of system to submit was "either really fast or something unique that others can't do." Something unique that others can't do -- that's right up our alley! As a high end custom builder, we take a lot of pride in the flexibility we have to provide solutions that a lot of other companies would never consider. We decided to make a bold statement in our submission to MaximumPC, by submitting a Pentium M gaming system with a custom built liquid cooling system, to demonstrate how a Pentium M can be very effective for gaming.
Our review ended up being written up by an intern named Claude. Perhaps he is simply inexperienced, or perhaps he was unaware of the reputation the Pentium M is gaining in the gaming sector, but whatever the reason, he seemed to miss the point of our submission. Let's go into a little more detail:
His opinion of the system is revealed just after the introduction, when he complains of the single video card, an Audigy2 ZS sound card, and large storage drive. He later states that the Pentium M simply cannot compete with a desktop processor, making his message very clear -- he is telling his readers that we should have sent him an Athlon FX57, SLI 7800 machine. To put it more clearly, he wanted to see the exact same hardware that is being seen everywhere else by every review website and magazine. What have we learned? MaximumPC.com likes cookie-cutter machines. That just doesn't fit with us -- we're a custom builder! He is correct that SLI would have been great, but since there are no Pentium M SLI boards at this time, that wasn't really an option.
Normally I would not be prompted to write a response to a review like this, but when Gordon said that a unique system that others can't do would be a great idea, we believed him. Unfortunately, Claude must not have gotten the memo. So, let's take a look at what this system is really about!
The Setup
The review correctly noted that the passive radiator and Lian-Li PC767 was a great combination for a quiet machine. The entire machine was running with only two 120mm Papst fans at 7V, the water pump is one of the most quiet available, and even the hard drive noise is dampened by the liquid cooled enclosure. For enthusiasts looking for a quiet cooling solution, this is a great setup.
Gaming Performance
In addition to demonstrating a unique cooling solution, we wanted to make a bold statement that a Pentium M computer can make a great gaming machine. Why is that important? When you're serious about making your computer quiet, heat becomes a very real issue, and the low heat output of a Pentium M comes in very handy! But how does it perform? While Claude rightfully pointed out that the system takes a performance hit in desktop applications, he also correctly stated that it still has excellent performance in video and photo editing. How about gaming? This is a gaming rig after all, and the benchmarks speak for themselves -- it is AMAZING at gaming. This is the point we wanted to make, and the point that the review completely missed. Just take a look at the graphs below (our Pentium M system is the blue bar at the top).
* Note: we didn't have scores available for the FX57 system in 3DMark03 or Aquamark.
What you see is that in gaming benchmarks, the Pentium M 2.26GHz is beating out the AMD FX57, the AMD 4800+ dual core, the Intel 3.73GHz EE, the Intel 3.2GHz dual core, and even a dual 3.2GHz Xeon system! Clearly, the system is an amazing performer. This has some far reaching implications: not only is a Pentium M a great processor to consider for ultra quiet systems, but also for SFF systems, HTPC systems, and (of course) laptops. We show here that if you are making a unique gaming rig, you do not need to think of the Pentium M as a compromise. Just look at the benchmarks!
About a year ago, GamePC also published some articles on the Pentium M which were very well written and worth giving a look for futher support of what we're saying here:
Dothan Revisited: Focusing on Gaming Performance, from 11/11/2004
Dothan Quietly Speeds Up: Intel's Pentium-M 780 Processor, from 8/25/2005
Conclusion
If you want the highest end computer available, Claude is right, this isn't the computer for you. It isn't SLI-capable, and it is slower for everyday desktop tasks. But if you want ultra-quiet, low power, or extra-small, this type of setup is a great solution to the heat problem, and if you want that system to be good for gaming, you'll be in great shape with Pentium M! It is disappointing that MaximumPC missed the point, but now you have the full story.
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