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If it looks like the Puget has an out due to its Crysis scores, don't get too excited. True, its 1,280x1,024 Crysis test is the highest we've seen this year, and it's the only PC with a frame rate higher than our 60-frames-per-second standard for consistently smooth play. We suspect this is due to its overclocked CPU and its pair of GeForce 8800 GTS graphics cards, which are the slightly faster version of the already speedy GeForce 8800 GT. Consider, though, that the $1,600 Dell XPS 630 has a pair of GeForce 8800 GT cards, as well as some wiggle room in its very overclockable--although still factory-pure--2.4GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip. And while the Maingear we tested suffered due to its pair of Radeon HD 3870 graphics cards, which don't work well on Crysis, you can also configure a Maingear Ephex system that's nearly identical to the Deluge-i L2 for $3,800, and that includes a beefier power supply, a more up-to-date motherboard, and more aggressive overclocking of the E8400 CPU. We expect either an overclocked XPS 630 or a reconfigured Maingear Ephex would post similar Crysis scores to the Deluge-i L2's, and at significant cost savings.
Puget incorporates a Koolance PC-4 1000 liquid cooling system directly into the Deluge-i L2's Antec case, with a built-in reservoir/pump unit that slides into a 5.25-inch front panel drive bay. The tubing connects to the CPU, as well as to both graphics cards, which means it's a good thing that Puget routed the cables smartly, or else upgrading would be very difficult. The liquid cooling apparatus as a whole is not particularly quiet, nor did Puget overclock its 3D cards, so we can't help feeling that this configuration is a bit of overkill for this case. Higher-end models of the Deluge would likely benefit more.
For the rest of the system, it's easy enough to move the tubes to get at the free expansion and memory ports. The hard drive configuration is irritating, however. In order to get at the drives, you need to remove a screw and pull back a drive cage that faces the drives inward. What that means is that it's challenging to add or replace a hard drive without disconnecting the drive cables. Complicating matters, the current drive cables are hot-glued in place. You could yank them out with enough force, but we don't understand why they're glued in to begin with. We've never considered hard drive cables to be that jostle-prone, and even if they do come loose, they're easy enough to reconnect. Our last gripe with the system design is that you have to open the front panel door to get at the power or reset buttons, a design choice we always frown upon.
You can configure the Deluge-I L2 with a variety of extras, although to give you a taste of the price disparity between Puget and the rest of the world, the 28-in-1 media card reader that came with out review system is a $52 upgrade. At Newegg.com, that same reader costs $32.
Like many boutique PC shops, Puget makes a big deal about its customer service, offering to walk you through the purchase process over the phone or via e-mail. Its Web site offers all kinds of advice and help on what hardware to pick and why. It also included all of the manuals, cables, screws, software, and other extras that came with this system's parts. And although it does have a support line, in as much as the company publishes its phone number, Puget discourages phone support, instead offering e-mail-based help, but only from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST. It promises quick e-mail response times, but that's little help if you're computer doesn't work to begin with. A lifetime labor warranty takes the edge off, although Puget covers the parts only for the first year.
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System configurations:
Dell XPS 630
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Q6600; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; (2) 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT graphics cards; 500GB 7,200 rpm Seagate hard drive
Falcon Northwest FragBox 2
Windows Vista Home Premium; 3.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8400; 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT graphics cards; 500GB 7,200 rpm Samsung hard drive
Maingear Ephex
Windows Vista Ultimate; 4.0GHz (overclocked) Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650; 2GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; (2) 512MB ATI Radeon HD 3870 graphics cards; (2) 150GB Western Digital 10,000rpm hard drives; 750GB Seagate 7,200rpm hard drive
Puget Deluge-i L2
Windows Vista Ultimate; 3.5GHz (overclocked) Intel Core 2 Duo E8400; 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; (2) 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS graphics cards; 150GB Western Digital 10,000rpm hard drive; 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm hard drive
Uberclok Ion
Windows Vista Home Premium; 3.2GHz (overclocked) Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600; 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT graphics card; 500GB 7,200rpm Seagate hard drive
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