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.
We've tested our quad-core systems against one another and against the top dual-core desktop processors, as well. In some cases, getting the results meant simulating a slower chip with a faster one. For instance, our Core 2 Duo E6700 is actually a Core 2 Extreme X6800 processor clocked down to the appropriate speed. Its performance should be identical to that of the real thing. Similarly, our Athlon 64 FX-72 results come from an underclocked pair of Athlon 64 FX-74s.
Our test systems were configured like so:
| Processor | Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz (90nm) | Athlon 64 FX-70 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-72 2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-74 3.0GHz |
| System bus | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) | 1GHz HyperTransport | 1GHz HyperTransport |
| Motherboard | Intel D975XBX2 | Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe | Asus L1N64-SLI WS |
| BIOS revision | BX97520J.86A.2618.2007.0212.0954 | 0903 | 0205 |
| North bridge | 975X MCH | nForce 590 SLI SPP | nForce 680a SLI |
| South bridge | ICH7R | nForce 590 SLI MCP | nForce 680a SLI |
| Chipset drivers | INF Update 8.1.1.1010 Intel Matrix Storage Manager 6.21 | ForceWare 15.00 | ForceWare 15.00 |
| Memory size | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (4 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz | Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz | Crucial Ballistix PC6400 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) | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Audio | Integrated ICH7R/STAC9274D5 with Sigmatel 6.10.0.5274 drivers | Integrated nForce 590 MCP/AD1988B with Soundmax 6.10.2.6100 drivers | Integrated nForce 680a SLI/AD1988B with Soundmax 6.10.2.6100 drivers |
| Hard drive | Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB SATA 150 | ||
| Graphics | GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB PCIe with ForceWare 100.64 drivers | ||
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate x64 Edition | ||
| OS updates | - | ||
Thanks to Corsair for providing us with memory for our testing. Their products and support are far and away superior to generic, no-name memory.
Also, all of our test systems were powered by OCZ GameXStream 700W power supply units. Thanks to OCZ 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 1.39
- POV-Ray for Windows 3.7 beta 19a 64-bit
- Cinebench 9.5 64-bit Edition
- 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 2.2
- MyriMatch proteomics benchmark
- Valve Source Engine particle simulation benchmark
- Valve VRAD map build benchmark
- LAME MT 3.97a 64-bit
- 3DMark06 1.10
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 1.1
- Rainbow Six: Vegas 1.02
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.
