Our testing methods
As ever, we did our best to deliver clean benchmark numbers. Tests were run at least twice, and the results were averaged.

Our test systems were configured like so:

We're testing with familiar motherboards and memory types here, because they represent what's most widely available right now for the Pentium 4 and Athlon XP. Both processors would probably get a bit of a performance boost with DDR333 memory, and we'll test that next time around, we promise.

The test systems' Windows desktops were set at 1024x768 in 32-bit color at a 75Hz screen refresh rate. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled for all tests.

We used the following versions of our test applications:

• SiSoft Sandra Standard 2001te
• Compiled binary of C Linpack port from Ace's Hardware
• ZD Media Business Winstone 2001 1.0.2
• ZD Media Content Creation Winstone 2001 1.0.2
• POV-Ray for Windows version 3.1g (multiple compiles)
• Sphinx 3.3
• ScienceMark 1.0
• LAME 3.90
• SPECviewperf 6.1.2
• MadOnion 3DMark 2001 Build 200
• Quake III Arena 1.30
• Serious Sam v1.05

All the tests and methods we employed are publicly available and reproducible. If you have questions about our methods, hit our forums to talk with us about them.