Test notes
We've compared the V8 system to a broad range of desktop CPUs, drawing on the results we've collected for previous reviews. The only trouble with that is that the V8 system has 4GB of RAM in it and needs to use four DIMMs to get all of its potential bandwidth. The bulk of our test results came from systems with 2GB of RAM. We don't expect the additional RAM in the Xeon X5365-based V8 rig to boost performance much, because our benchmark apps tend to fit well enough into 2GB of memory. However, in order to assess the impact of going to 4GB of RAM, we've tested the V8 system's closest rival, the Athlon 64 FX-74, with 4GB of RAM, as well. You'll see results for this system with 2GB like everything else and also with 4GB when labeled "Athlon 64 FX-74 4GB."
Also, please note that the V8 system is simply labeled "Xeon X5365" for the CPUs in it.
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.
In some cases, getting the results meant simulating a slower chip with a faster one. For instance, our Core 2 Duo E6600 and E6700 processors are actually a Core 2 Extreme X6800 processor clocked down to the appropriate speeds. Their 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 Athlon 64 X2 4400+ is an underclocked X2 5000+ (both 65nm), and our Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is an underclocked Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
Our test systems were configured like so:
| Processor | Core 2 Duo E6300 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6800 2.93GHz | Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9GHz (65nm) Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHz (65nm) Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz (65nm) Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz (90nm) Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.8GHz (90nm) 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 | Athlon 64 FX-74 3.0GHz | Xeon X5365 3.0GHz |
| System bus | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) | 1GHz HyperTransport | 1GHz HyperTransport | 1GHz HyperTransport | 1333MHz (333MHz quad-pumped) |
| Motherboard | Intel D975XBX2 | Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe | Asus L1N64-SLI WS | Asus L1N64-SLI WS | Intel S5000XVN |
| BIOS revision | BX97520J.86A.2618. 2007.0212.0954 | 0903 | 0205 | 0205 | S5000.86B.06.00.0076. 0409200070751 |
| North bridge | 975X MCH | nForce 590 SLI SPP | nForce 680a SLI | nForce 680a SLI | 5000X MCH |
| South bridge | ICH7R | nForce 590 SLI MCP | nForce 680a SLI | nForce 680a SLI | 6321 ESB ICH |
| Chipset drivers | INF Update 8.1.1.1010 Intel Matrix Storage Manager 6.21 | ForceWare 15.00 | ForceWare 15.00 | ForceWare 15.00 | INF Update 8.1.1.1010 Intel Matrix Storage Manager 6.21 |
| Memory size | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (2 DIMMs) | 2GB (4 DIMMs) | 4GB (4 DIMMs) | 4GB (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 | Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5D DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz | Samsung ECC DDR2-667 FB-DIMM at 667MHz |
| CAS latency (CL) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| RAS to CAS delay (tRCD) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| RAS precharge (tRP) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Cycle time (tRAS) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 |
| 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 | Integrated nForce 680a SLI/AD1988B with Soundmax 6.10.2.6100 drivers | Integrated 6321 ESB/ALC260 with Realtek 6.0.1.5397 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 | - | ||||
Our Core 2 Duo E6400 processor came to us courtesy of the fine folks up north at NCIX. Those of you who are up in Canada will definitely want to check them out as a potential source of PC hardware and related goodies.
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, except where otherwise noted, 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
- 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
- Supreme Commander 3220
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.
