Test notes
We did run into a few snags in our testing. For one, we had to update our Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe's BIOS in order to resolve a problem. With the original 0204 BIOS, the system reported only 1GB of memory in Windows whenever a pair of 7950 GX2s was installed. This was not a problem with any of our single or dual-GPU configs, but Quad SLI required a BIOS update.
Also, when we tried to run a pair of GeForce 7600 GT cards in SLI, we encountered some odd image artifacts that we couldn't make go away. The image artifacts didn't appear to affect performance, so we've included results for the GeForce 7600 GT in SLI. If we find a resolution for the problem and performance changes, we'll update the scores in this article.
Finally, the 3DMark06 test results for the Radeon X1950 XTX CrossFire system were obtained using an Asus P5W DH motherboard, for reasons explained here. Otherwise, we used the test systems as described below.
Our testing methods
As ever, we did our best to deliver clean benchmark numbers. Tests were run at least three times, and the results were averaged.
Our test systems were configured like so:
| Processor | Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz | Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz | Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz |
| System bus | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) |
| Motherboard | Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe | Intel D975XBX | Asus P5W DH |
| BIOS revision | 0204 | BX97510J.86A.1073.2006.0427.1210 | 0801 |
| 0305 | |||
| North bridge | nForce4 SLI X16 Intel Edition | 975X MCH | 975X MCH |
| South bridge | nForce4 MCP | ICH7R | ICH7R |
| Chipset drivers | ForceWare 6.86 | INF Update 7.2.2.1007 Intel Matrix Storage Manager 5.5.0.1035 | INF Update 7.2.2.1007 Intel Matrix Storage Manager 5.5.0.1035 |
| Memory size | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (2 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz | Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz | Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz |
| CAS latency (CL) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| RAS to CAS delay (tRCD) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| RAS precharge (tRP) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cycle time (tRAS) | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Hard drive | Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB SATA 150 | Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB SATA 150 | Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB SATA 150 |
| Audio | Integrated nForce4/ALC850 with Realtek 5.10.0.6150 drivers | Integrated ICH7R/STAC9221D5 with SigmaTel 5.10.5143.0 drivers | Integrated ICH7R/ALC882M with Realtek 5.10.00.5247 drivers |
| Graphics | Radeon X1800 GTO 256MB PCI-E with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-035722C-ATI drivers | Radeon X1900 XTX 512MB PCI-E + Radeon X1900 CrossFire with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-035515C-ATI drivers | Radeon X1900 XT 256MB PCI-E + Radeon X1900 CrossFire with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-035515C-ATI drivers |
| Radeon X1900 GT 256MB PCI-E with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-035722C-ATI drivers | Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB PCI-E + Radeon X1950 CrossFire with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-03584E-ATI drivers | ||
| Radeon X1900 XT 256MB PCI-E with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-03584E-ATI drivers | |||
| Radeon X1900 XTX 512MB PCI-E with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-03584E-ATI drivers | |||
| Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB PCI-E with Catalyst 8.282-060802a-03584E-ATI drivers | |||
| BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| Dual BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| XFX GeForce 7900 GS 480M Extreme 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| Dual XFX GeForce 7900 GS 480M Extreme 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| GeForce 7900 GT 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.31 drivers | |||
| Dual GeForce 7900 GT 256MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.31 drivers | |||
| XFX GeForce 7950 GT 570M Extreme 512MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| Dual XFX GeForce 7950 GT 570M Extreme 512MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.31 drivers | |||
| Dual GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.31 drivers | |||
| GeForce 7950 GX2 1GB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.31 drivers | |||
| Dual GeForce 7950 GX2 1GB PCI-E with ForceWare 91.47 drivers | |||
| OS | Windows XP Professional (32-bit) | ||
| OS updates | Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c update (August 2006) | ||
Thanks to Corsair for providing us with memory for our testing. Their quality, service, and support are easily superior to no-name DIMMs.
Our test systems were powered by OCZ GameXStream 700W power supply units. Thanks to OCZ for providing these units for our use in testing.
Unless otherwise specified, image quality settings for the graphics cards were left at the control panel defaults.
The test systems' Windows desktops were set at 1280x960 in 32-bit color at an 85Hz screen refresh rate. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled for all tests.
We used the following versions of our test applications:
- Quake 4 1.3 with trdm1 netdemo
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 1.1
- Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 1.21
- F.E.A.R. 1.07
- Half-Life 2: Episode One with trdem1 demo
- FutureMark 3DMark06 Build 1.02
- FRAPS 2.7.2
The tests and methods we employ are generally publicly available and reproducible. If you have questions about our methods, hit our forums to talk with us about them.
