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 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz | Core
2 Duo E8600 3.33 GHz Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5 GHz |
Core 2 Extreme QX9770 3.2 GHz | Dual Core 2 Extreme QX9775 3.2 GHz | Core
i7-920 2.66 GHz Core i7-940 2.93 GHz |
Core i7-965 Extreme 3.2 GHz | Athlon 64 X2 6400+ 3.2 GHz | Phenom X3 8750 2.4 GHz |
|
Phenom X4 9950 Black 2.6 GHz |
||||||||
| System bus | 1066
MT/s (266 MHz) |
1333
MT/s (333 MHz) |
1600
MT/s (400 MHz) |
1600
MT/s (400 MHz) |
QPI
4.8 GT/s (2.4 GHz) |
QPI
6.4 GT/s (3.2 GHz) |
HT
2.0 GT/s (1.0 GHz) |
HT 3.6 GT/s (1.8 GHz) |
| HT 4.0 GT/s (2.0 GHz) | ||||||||
| Motherboard | Asus P5E3 Premium | Asus P5E3 Premium | Asus P5E3 Premium | Intel D5400XS | Intel DX58SO | Intel DX58SO | Asus M3A79-T Deluxe | Asus M3A79-T Deluxe |
| BIOS revision | 0605 | 0605 | 0605 | XS54010J.86A.1149. 2008.0825.2339 |
SOX5810J.86A.2260. 2008.0918.1758 |
SOX5810J.86A.2260. 2008.0918.1758 |
0403 | 0403 |
| North bridge | X48 Express MCH | X48 Express MCH | X48 Express MCH | 5400 MCH | X58 IOH | X58 IOH | 790FX | 790FX |
| South bridge | ICH9R | ICH9R | ICH9R | 6321ESB ICH | ICH10R | ICH10R | SB750 | SB750 |
| Chipset drivers | INF
Update 9.0.0.1008 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
INF
Update 9.0.0.1008 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
INF
Update 9.0.0.1008 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
INF Update
9.0.0.1008 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
INF
update 9.1.0.1007 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
INF
update 9.1.0.1007 Matrix Storage Manager 8.5.0.1032 |
AHCI controller 3.1.1540.61 | AHCI controller 3.1.1540.61 |
| Memory size | 4GB (2 DIMMs) | 4GB (2 DIMMs) | 4GB (2 DIMMs) | 4GB (2 DIMMs) | 6GB (3 DIMMs) | 6GB (3 DIMMs) | 4GB (2 DIMMs) | 4GB (2 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | Corsair
TW3X4G1800C8DF DDR3 SDRAM |
Corsair
TW3X4G1800C8DF DDR3 SDRAM |
Corsair
TW3X4G1800C8DF DDR3 SDRAM |
Micron
ECC DDR2-800 FB-DIMM |
Corsair
TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3 SDRAM |
Corsair
TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3 SDRAM |
Corsair
TWIN4X4096-8500C5DF DDR2 SDRAM |
Corsair
TWIN4X4096-8500C5DF DDR2 SDRAM |
| Memory speed (Effective) | 1066 MHz | 1333 MHz | 1600 MHz | 800 MHz | 1066 MHz | 1600 MHz | 800 MHz | 1066 MHz |
| CAS latency (CL) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| RAS to CAS delay (tRCD) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| RAS precharge (tRP) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Cycle time (tRAS) | 20 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 12 | 15 |
| Command rate | 2T | 2T | 2T | 2T | 2T | 1T | 2T | 2T |
| Audio | Integrated
ICH9R/AD1988B with SoundMAX 6.10.2.6480 drivers |
Integrated
ICH9R/AD1988B with SoundMAX 6.10.2.6480 drivers |
Integrated
ICH9R/AD1988B with SoundMAX 6.10.2.6480 drivers |
Integrated
6321ESB/STAC9274D5 with SigmaTel 6.10.5713.7 drivers |
Integrated
ICH10R/ALC889 with Realtek 6.0.1.5704 drivers |
Integrated
ICH10R/ALC889 with Realtek 6.0.1.5704 drivers |
Integrated
SB750/AD2000B with SoundMAX 6.10.2.6480 drivers |
Integrated
SB750/AD2000B with SoundMAX 6.10.2.6480 drivers |
| Hard drive | WD Caviar SE16 320GB SATA | |||||||
| Graphics | Radeon HD 4870 512MB PCIe with Catalyst 8.55.4-081009a-070794E-ATI drivers | |||||||
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate x64 Edition | |||||||
| OS updates | Service Pack 1, DirectX redist update August 2008 | |||||||
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.
Our single-socket test systems were powered by OCZ GameXStream 700W power supply units. The dual-socket system was powered by a PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 1KW-SR power supply. Thanks to OCZ for providing these units for our use in testing.
Also, the folks at NCIXUS.com hooked us up with a nice deal on the WD Caviar SE16 drives used in our test rigs. NCIX now sells to U.S. customers, so check them out.
The test systems' Windows desktops were set at 1600x1200 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 2009.1.15.42
- CPU-Z 1.48
- WorldBench 6 beta 2
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Crysis Warhead
- Far Cry 2
- Unreal Tournament 3 1.3
- Valve Source Engine particle simulation benchmark
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.
