A Workstation Powerhouse

The CRN Test Center worked with Kent, Wash.-based Puget Custom Computers to build a customized workstation. We asked them to build us a test unit to our specifications under a tight deadline. What they sent us was a mini powerhouse.

Our goal was to design a system whose primary usage would be video editing, with occasional CAD usage, while staying in the $3,000 to $4,000 range. In a few days the workstation arrived and amazed us with the small form factor case. In a cube measuring 11 x 10.3 x 14.7 inches, the unit consisted of two quad-core Intel Xeon 5345 processors running at 2.33GHz each. Loaded with 8 GB of RAM, we needed a 64-bit OS to get the full benefit and went with Vista Ultimate. Combined with the extra CPU muscle, it was decided that a PNY Quadro FX 3700 graphics card with 512 MB should suffice. The final street price of the system was $3,975—just under our limit.

When we first examined the workstation, we noticed Windows was reporting a second drive letter, configured for ReadyBoost—a feature of Windows Vista designed to enhance the performance of on-board storage—and asked Puget about it. The answer: The Supermicro motherboard it used has standard USB 2.0 ports mounted directly on the board, aside from the normal headers for the case. Puget told us that the opportunity to add an inexpensive flash drive inside the case was just too good to pass up. We were pleasantly surprised by the ingenuity.

Primate Labs' Geekbench2 benchmarking software was run on the unit and it achieved a fantastic score of 6,962. The only other systems we've tested that have beaten this (and even then, not by much) are a few blade servers. We also ran PassMark Software's Performance Test 6.1 and got a score of 2,018.7. Again, this score was only bested by the same group of blade servers.

Power usage was a little higher than most desktops, but for a dual-processor it wasn't too bad. Thermal readings were below average, with most of the case reading at about 87 degrees Fahrenheit and the power supply generating 112 degrees.

Overall, reviewers were impressed with this system. Its specifications were exactly what we asked for and came in a chassis half the size we expected. The company's customer service and, more importantly, attention to detail is a lesson other system builders and integrators should heed.