Test Settings And Benchmarks
Test System Configuration | |
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CPU | Intel Core i7-3960X (Sandy Bridge-E): 3.3 GHz, Six Physical Cores, O/C to 4.60 GHz at 46x, 1.40 V |
Motherboard | Asus P9X79 WS, Firmware 0603 (11-11-2011), LGA 2011, Intel X79 Express, O/C at 100 MHz BCLK |
RAM | G.Skill F3-17600CL9Q-16GBXLD 16 GB (4 x 4 GB) DDR3-2200, Benchmarked at DDR3-1600 CAS 9 defaults |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 580: 772 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4008 |
Hard Drive | Samsung 470 Series MZ5PA256HMDR, 256 GB SSD |
Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
Power | Seasonic X760 SS-760KM: ATX12V v2.3, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Gold |
Software | |
OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 285.62 |
Chipset | Intel INF 9.2.3.1020 |
Zalman’s ZM-STG2 thermal paste is used in this test not to favor its cooler, but because Zalman has long been our thermal paste provider. It works equally well with other cooler brands, and settling on a single substance reduces variability in testing.
Our CPU and voltage regulator pull around 300 W at full load at this O/C, using an old C0 stepping Core i7-3960X at 4.60 GHz and 1.40 V. We used this specific processor because it’s the one we can most easily afford to lose (due to heat damage) after long bouts of overclocking.
Benchmark Configuration | |
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Prime95 v25.8 | 64-bit executable, Small FFT's, 8-threads |
RealTemp 3.00 | Highest core reading at full CPU load (60 minutes) Highest core reading at 30 minutes idle |
Galaxy CM-140 SPL Meter | Tested at 1/4 m, corrected to 1 m (-12 db), dB(A) weighting |
Twelve threads of Prime95 provide 100% load. We were forced to test noise at extremely close distances to stay within our meter’s calibration range.