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:

Thanks to Corsair and Crucial for providing us with memory for our testing. Both of them provide products and support that are far and away superior to generic, no-name memory.

Also, all of our test systems were powered by BFG Tech 1000W power supply units. Thanks to BFG for providing these units for our use in testing.

The test systems' Windows desktops were set at 1280x1024 in 32-bit color at an 85Hz screen refresh rate. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled.

We used the following versions of our test applications:

• SiSoft Sandra XI 2007.2.11.17 64-bit
• CPU-Z 1.38
• POV-Ray for Windows 3.7 beta 17 64-bit
• Cinebench 9.5 64-bit Edition
• Autodesk 3ds max 9 x64
• Windows Media Encoder 9 x64 Edition
• picCOLOR 4.0 build 598 64-bit
• 3DMark06 1.0.2
• notfred's Folding benchmark CD 10/31/06 revision
• The Panorama Factory 4.4 x64 Edition
• CASE Lab Euler3d CFD benchmark multithreaded edition
• MyriMatch proteomics benchmark
• Valve Source Engine particle simulation benchmark
• Valve VRAD map build benchmark

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.