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11:55 AM - March 26, 2008 by
Thomas Soderstrom
Source: Tom's Hardware US – Keywords: system, builder, marathon
Topics: Overclocking
Syndication:
Source: Tom's Hardware US – Keywords: system, builder, marathon
Topics: Overclocking
Syndication:
Table of Contents:
Test System Configuration
Here's a quick recap of our high-end system's performance configuration.
| SBM High-End PC System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650,3.00 GHz, 1333 FSB, 12 MB Cache |
| Motherboard | ASUS Striker II Formula, BIOS 1101 (02/25/2008) |
| RAM | Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400, 2x 2048 MB, CAS 4.0-4-4-12 |
| Hard Drive | 2x Western Digital Caviar WD7500AAKS, RAID 0
750 GB, 7200 RPM, 16 MB Cache, SATA 300 |
| Networking | NVIDIA nForce onboard Gigabit Ethernet NIC |
| Graphics Cards | 2x Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GTX, 768 MB RAM (Per Card)
575 MHz GPU, 1800 MHz RAM Data Rate |
| Power Supply | Coolermaster RS850-EMBA (850W, ATX12V v2.2) |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate 6.0.6000 (Vista Retail) |
| DirectX Version | DirectX 10.0 |
| Platform Driver | nVIDIA nForce Version 9.46 |
| Graphics Driver | nVIDIA ForceWare 169.25 |
Benchmark Settings
| Benchmarks and Settings | |
|---|---|
| 3D-Games | |
| Crysis | Version: 1.1
Video Quality 1: High Details No Antialiasing Video Quality 2: Very High Details, 4x Antialiasing Benchmark: Benchmark_CPU.bat |
| Prey | Version: 1.3
Video Quality 1: Default (No AA, 8x AF) Video Quality 2: High Quality, 4x AA Benchmark: THG-Demo |
| Supreme Commander | Version: 3.220
Video Quality 1: Default Video Quality 2: High Fidelity, High Shadow, 4x AA Benchmark: Real 60 Game |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | Version: Retail
Texture Detail: 5 World Detail: 5 Field of View: 100 Benchmark: Botmatch (WAR-Torlan, 12 bots, 1 Minute) |
| Warhammer Mark of Chaos | Version: 1.6
Video Quality:Default (Highest Settings) Demo: THG Timedemo (1 Minute) |
| Audio | |
| iTunes 7.2 | Version: 7.1.1.5
Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min High Quality (160kb/s) |
| Lame MP3 | Version: 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007)
Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min wave to MP3 160kb/s |
| Video | |
| TMPEGEnc 4.0 Xpress | Version: 4.2.10.211
Import File: Terminator 2 SE DVD (2 Minutes) Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 Audio: Dolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, English Advanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160kb/s) |
| DivX 6.6 | Version: 6.6.1
Profile: Home Theater Profile (720 x 576) 1-pass, 780 kb/s Encoding mode: Insane Quality Enhanced multithreading |
| XviD 1.1.2 | Version: 1.1.2
Target quantizer: 1.00 (maximum quality) |
| Applications | |
| Adobe Photoshop CS3 | Version: 10.0x20070321
Filtering 69 MB TIF Photo Benchmark: Tom's Guide-Benchmark V1.0.0.4 |
| Autodesk 3D Studio Max | Version: 9.0
Rendering One Video Frame Quality: HTDV 1920x1080 & 1280x720 |
| Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus | Version: 7.5.467
Virus Base: 269.6.1/776 Benchmark: Scanning 3.82 GB Application Folder |
| Maxon Cinema 4D | Version: 10.008
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 Benchmark: Rose Drop, 8-bits (50 Frames) |
| Rarlab Winrar | Version 3.70 BETA 8
Compression = Best Dictionary = 4096 kB Uncompressed Folder Size: 642 MB |
| Synthetics | |
| SPECviewperf 9 | Version: 9.0.3 |
| PCMark05 Pro | Version: 1.1.0
System, CPU and Memory Tests Windows Media Player 11.0.6000.6324 Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2980 |
| Futuremark 3DMark 2006 | Version 1.10
System Test Only |
| SiSoftware Sandra XII | Version 2007.5.11.40
CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic, Multimedia Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
- Previous page Component Installation, Continued
- Next page Benchmark Results
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TDL
05/17/2008
5:20 AM
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Thanks for the great article - I'm having fun building this - I do have 3 questions though - the fan duct assembly fan has 3 wire sets, 1 has the 3wire motherboard connector, the second taps into a regular power lead. The third is a single wire - the case documentation does not describe that one - what is that little single lead for? Also the motherboard sound card has some connectors on it - I assume one is for the case headphone/mic lead? Third, should teflon tape be used in the dual radiator threads if not how tight is tight enough for the O-rings? Thanks great article!
Dax3000
06/25/2008
7:20 AM
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Hi Thanks For The Great Article - I Am Also Building A System With A Few Modifications I Loved Asus Boards But Can Never Seem To Overclock Them At All So I Am Going With A EVGA 780i FTW when they come out, THat Processor IS Sweet But No Way CAn I JUstify PAying $1060 or more here in canada for 1 Pc Component when i already own three computers, I was thinking maybe a Q6850 when they come out, i have changed the middle fan in my case already and i am just waiting on my 120 rad to get here as i already have the other parts from another computer i built that i couldn't use so that saved me a few dollars
and i can't find that power supply anywhere so i am gonna do with a X3 1000 watt from ultra i hope it's good enough. and since i am not a really good overclocker no point in risking a high end system by messing around with 2 expensive graphics cards will 2 9800GTX+ work for me ? and omost importantly after my system is finished and filled how do i top it up if it needs more water do i have to take the top rad down to fill it everytime or can i just add water in to the same rad. thanks alot of your help and keep up the great work.