| Test System Configuration | |
|---|---|
| LGA 1155 CPU | Intel Core i5-2500K (3.30 GHz, 6 MB L3 Cache) Overclocked to 4.00 GHz at 1.20 V, 100 MHz BCLK |
| LGA 1156 CPU | Intel Core i5-750 (2.66 GHz, 8 MB L3 Cache) Overclocked to 4.00 GHz at 1.40 V, 200 MHz BCLK |
| P67/LGA 1155 Motherboard | ASRock P67 Extreme6 BIOS L0.39c (11/26/2010) Intel P67 Express, LGA 1155 |
| P67/LGA 1156 Motherboard | ASRock P67 Transformer BIOS L0.39c (11/26/2010) Intel P67 Express, LGA 1156 |
| P55/LGA 1156 Motherboard | ASRock P55 Extreme4 BIOS P1.40 (08/18/2010) Intel P55 Express, LGA 1156 |
| Graphics Card | Sparkle Calibre X580GeForce GTX 580 810 MHz GPU, 1536 MB GDDR5-4032 |
| RAM | Kingston KHX2133C9D3T1K2/4GX (4 GB) DDR3-2133 at DDR3-1600 CAS CAS 7-7-7-21 |
| OS Hard Drive | Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS 1 TB, 7200 RPM, SATA 3Gb/s, 32 MB Cache |
| Test Drive | Crucial RealSSD C300 256 MB (SATA 6Gb/s, MLC) |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Power | OCZ-Z1000M 1000 W Modular ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Gold |
| Software | |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit |
| GeForce Graphics | Nvidia GeForce/Ion 263.09 |
| Chipset | Intel INF 9.2.0.1015 |
| Storage | Intel iRST 1.0.0.0.1046 (AHCI Mode) |
A fast hard drive could prove the performance limits of each chipset’s SATA controller, if only a fast enough drive were available. Crucial updated us to the latest version of its RealSSD C300.
Games make up our platform benchmark set, helping us to determine overall performance. An 810 MHz GPU clock and GDDR5-4032 memory help Sparkles’ Calibre X580 push astronomically-high frame rates.

The high data rates available from Kingston’s DDR3-2133 weren’t needed for today’s analysis, but its ability to run DDR3-1600 at 1.54 V was preferred.
With an efficiency level of nearly 90% across a wide range of loads, OCZ’s Z100M kept these overclocked machines at their greenest.
| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Aliens Vs. Predator Benchmark | Alien vs Predator Benchmark Tool Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Campaign, Act III, Second Sun (45 sec. FRAPS) Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: Highest Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Quality, 4x AA |
| DiRT 2 | Run with -benchmark example_benchmark.xml Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat | Call Of Pripyat Benchmark version Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x MSAA |
| Power / Gaming Efficiency | |
| GPU Load | FurMark 1.6.5 Stability Test, 1920x1200, 4x AA |
| P3 Kill A Watt P4400 | Global Power Consumption at AC outlet |
| Storage | |
| h2benchw 3.16 | Sustained and Repetitive Reads, Average Access Time, Zone Measurements |
| Iometer 2008.08.18 | File server Benchmark, Web server Benchmark, Database Benchmark, Workstation Benchmark Streaming Reads, Streaming Writes |
| Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
| PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.2.0, Hard Drive Test |
Previous
Next
Summary
- Bringing LGA 1156 Up To Speed
- LGA 1156 On P67? Meet The P67 Transformer
- The “Friendly Competition”
- Test System Configuration
- Storage Performance: Transfer Diagrams
- Storage Performance: Sustained, Repetitive, And Streaming Transfers
- Storage Performance: Access Time And IOPS
- Storage Performance: PCMark Vantage
- System Performance: DX11 Games
- System Performance: DX10 Games
- Power And Efficiency
- Conclusion
Ask a Category Expert



Also most game engines aren't optimize yet to take advantage what I have. except for Dx11. I know frostbite engine 2.0 thats making Battlefield 3 will be optimize for multi core and Dx11.
All of my games plays well on 1680x1050 on medium settings. So I'm good. Don't need anything yet. Unless I want to game in 3D. then ill need to invest for a new complete build to play 3D comfortably; GPU (crossfire or SLI), 120Hz monitor, new CPU @ 4Ghz, Window 7, SSD (hopefully), x78 mobo, RAM, and wrap it up with a nice case with lots of air flow and wiring management. which i'm saving up money for in 2012 before the world ends
You mean like DVD/BD Combo drives? they work pretty damn well in my opinion.
Asrock has done pretty well for themselves, I'm going to keep a close eye on them as long as they provide, at the very least, AMD Bulldozer boards that support SLI.
You mean, like DVD drives, that support CDs as well???
Or DVD/CD/BD/BDXL/Litescribe as well?????
500-1k update for few measly fps, no thanks.
I know power is some concern but the new mobo+cpu will eat power too no matter how you look at it.
the "new" i5's and i7's arent revolutionary, there evolutionary - those of you with older i5's and i7's wont see much of a jump thats expected, there just newer models etc - why are you complaining?
agreed, even if it did, why bother?
asrock and MSI - i dont understand why people concider there products, MSI in perticular - there horrid rubbish, MSI should stand for "might start intermittently" and asrock at work we call assrock or ascock - bla.
Modding and unofficial support and all that isnt new, asus used to always beat everyone in those reguards, if you think about it, the socket 478 and 775 days - all those used the same GTL/FSB design, technically you can use the original 845 chipset with a Q9650 (aswell as the Intel Atom, Pentium M, Intel Core Duo, Xeon and so on) provided you have the right pin-out and vrm design (and bios obviously) and give it AGP, SDR ram, IDE etc but again WHY BOTHER?
I'm right with you on that hardware upgrade. With consoles calling the shots to how graphic intensive games are, upgrading just doesn't make sense at mid-level resolutions. The Q9550 really is an amazing chip that's going to last a good long while.
I tend to want to wait a bit to see if the quad drops in price a bit though.
I just hope Intel release some kind of bios flash to allow QS to run with a discrete card ... then I am there.
Im still chugging along with a Q6600 @ 3.5ghz :B
it might be time to upgrade.
my gaming is limited to counter strike source and half life 2