iBUYPOWER Erebus GT Gaming System Review
Benchmarks, Part Deux
The Erebus GT creates sort of a problem for us humble reviewers--and that’s a good thing. You see, this system refuses to fit in with the other systems in our bank of reference data. As you’ve seen, when compared to other single-graphics card, Sandy Bridge-based reference systems, this rig can’t be touched.
Of course, all those extra goodies in the Erebus GT come with a significantly higher price tag, which somewhat clouds the picture. Is the Erebus GT worth twice (or more) than the cost of these other systems? Is it really that good?
We decided to have a quick look at some other systems that are more expensive than the Erebus GT to give some perspective. Note that all of these machines, like the Erebus GT, come with factory overclocks, liquid cooling, and SSD boot drives. However, unlike our featured rig, they all have dual-graphics card setups.
The systems we’re looking at in brief are:
Origin PC Genesis - $4,999
Digital Storm Enix - $3,355
Maingear SHIFT - $5,740
iBUYPOWER Erebus GT - $2,499
Let’s start with PCMark Vantage and 3DMark Vantage. In the former, the top three systems hung closely with each other, but the Erebus GT actually beat out the Maingear SHIFT. Our system didn’t fare quite as well in 3DMark Vantage, but it did top the Origin Genesis again (by a nose).
Of course, all those extra goodies in the Erebus GT come with a significantly higher price tag, which somewhat clouds the picture. Is the Erebus GT worth twice (or more) than the cost of these other systems? Is it really that good?
We decided to have a quick look at some other systems that are more expensive than the Erebus GT to give some perspective. Note that all of these machines, like the Erebus GT, come with factory overclocks, liquid cooling, and SSD boot drives. However, unlike our featured rig, they all have dual-graphics card setups.
The systems we’re looking at in brief are:
Origin PC Genesis - $4,999
Digital Storm Enix - $3,355
Maingear SHIFT - $5,740
iBUYPOWER Erebus GT - $2,499
Let’s start with PCMark Vantage and 3DMark Vantage. In the former, the top three systems hung closely with each other, but the Erebus GT actually beat out the Maingear SHIFT. Our system didn’t fare quite as well in 3DMark Vantage, but it did top the Origin Genesis again (by a nose).
Here we have Far Cry 2 tested at a resolution of 1900x1200, and you can see that at the top end of the gaming benchmark, the other systems outpace the Erebus GT. However--who cares? This system can tear through FC2 at 1900x1200 with 96.09 FPS. You simply don’t need anything stronger than that.
Our point with these comparisons is simple: even when the Erebus GT is boxing outside its weight class, it can go toe to toe with the competition.
Our point with these comparisons is simple: even when the Erebus GT is boxing outside its weight class, it can go toe to toe with the competition.
