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 |
| System bus | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) |
| Motherboard | XFX nForce 680i SLI |
| BIOS revision | P31 |
| North bridge | nForce 680i SLI SPP |
| South bridge | nForce 680i SLI MCP |
| Chipset drivers | ForceWare 15.08 |
| Memory size | 4GB (4 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | 2
x Corsair
TWIN2X20488500C5D DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz |
| CAS latency (CL) | 4 |
| RAS to CAS delay (tRCD) | 4 |
| RAS precharge (tRP) | 4 |
| Cycle time (tRAS) | 18 |
| Command rate | 2T |
| Audio | Integrated
nForce 680i SLI/ALC850 with RealTek 6.0.1.5497 drivers |
| Graphics | GeForce
8800 GT 512MB PCIe with ForceWare 169.01 drivers |
| XFX
GeForce 8800 GTS XXX 320MB PCIe with ForceWare 169.01 drivers |
|
| EVGA
GeForce 8800 GTS OC 640MB PCIe with ForceWare 169.01 drivers |
|
|
Radeon HD 2900 XT 512MB PCIe with Catalyst 7.10 drivers |
|
| Hard drive | WD Caviar SE16 320GB SATA |
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate x86 Edition |
| OS updates | KB36710, KB938194, KB938979, KB940105, DirectX August 2007 Update |
Please note that we're using "overclocked in the box" versions of the 8800 GTS 320MB and 640MB, while we're testing a stock-clocked GeForce 8800 GT reference card from Nvidia.
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 PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W power supply units. The Silencer 750W was a runaway Editor's Choice winner in our epic 11-way power supply roundup, so it seemed like a fitting choice for our test rigs. 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. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled for all tests.
We used the following versions of our test applications:
- Crysis demo
- Unreal Tournament 3 demo
- Team Fortress 2
- BioShock 1.0 with DirectX 10
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition with DirectX 10
- FRAPS 2.9.2
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.
