Test notes
To assess SP1's impact on performance, we performed a clean installation of the "release-to-manufacturing" (i.e. original retail-boxed) edition of Windows Vista Home Premium x64 on our test system, and we ran a first round of benchmarks with no patches and only necessary drivers applied. Then, we downloaded the x64 Service Pack 1 standalone installer from Microsoft's Download Center, installed it, and ran our suite of benchmarks again.
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 system was configured like so:
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz |
| System bus | 1066MHz (266MHz quad-pumped) |
| Motherboard | MSI P965 Platinum |
| BIOS revision | 1.8 |
| North bridge | P965 MCH |
| South bridge | ICH8R |
| Chipset drivers | INF update 8.3.1.1009 |
| Memory size | 4GB (4 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | 2x 2GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-667 SDRAM |
| CAS latency (CL) | 5 |
| RAS to CAS delay (tRCD) | 5 |
| RAS precharge (tRP) | 5 |
| Cycle time (tRAS) | 15 |
| Command rate | 2T |
| Audio |
Integrated ICH8R/ALC883 with default Windows drivers |
| Graphics | Zotac GeForce 8800 GT Amp! Edition with ForceWare 169.25 drivers |
| Hard drive | 2x Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB SATA |
| OS | Windows Vista Home Premium x64 |
| OS updates | Service Pack 1 (where noted) |
The test system's Windows desktop was set at 1680x1050 in 32-bit color at a 60Hz screen refresh rate. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled.
We used the following versions of our test applications:
- WorldBench 6 beta 2
- Team Fortress 2
The tests and methods we employ are usually publicly available and reproducible. If you have questions about our methods, hit our forums to talk with us about them.
