Test Settings
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| Component | Base Settings |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Phenom X4 99502.60 GHz, HT-2000, 4MB Cache |
| CPU Cooler | Zalman CNPS9700 |
| RAM | Crucial Ballistix BL25664AA80ASet to DDR2-1066, CL 5-5-5-15, 2.20V |
| Graphics | Gigabyte GV-R487-512H-BHD 4870 GPU (750 MHz), GDDR5-3600 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital WD5000AAKS, 500 GB7,200 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16 MB cache |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Power | Coolermaster RS850-EMBA (850W, ATX12V v2.2) |
| Row 8 - Cell 0 | Software and Drivers |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 |
| Graphics Driver | ATI Catalyst 8.9 |
| Onboard Device Drivers | Motherboard Driver DVD |
To best determine the overclocking capabilities of these high-end AMD 790FX + SB750 chipset motherboards, we brought back MSI’s K9N2 Diamond, which is based on the highly competitive nForce 780a SLI chipset from Nvidia.
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AMD sent its fastest Phenom X4 processor, the 2.60 GHz model 9950 BE, for us to use in our motherboard overclocking and performance evaluation.
Overclocking doesn’t have much value if the rest of the system can’t perform, so we also ran our standard set of performance benchmarks.
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| Crysis | Version: 1.2.1Test 1: 1024x768, Low Details, No AATest 2: 1920x1200, Very High Details, 8x AADemo: CPU-Benchmark + Tom’s Hardware Tool |
| Supreme CommanderForged Alliance | Version: 1.5.3599Test 1: 1024x768, Low Details, No AATest 2: 1920x1200, Very High Details, 8x AADemo: WallaceTX_006_006Benchmark: Fraps 2.9.4 - Build 7037 |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | Version: 1.2Sound and DirectX10Texture Details: 1Level Details: 1Demo: vCTF-Reflection_botTime: 12/60 |
| World in Conflict | Version: 1.0.0.9Test 1: Very Low details (No AA, No AF)Test 2: Very High details (4x AA, 4x AF)Demo: Game-Benchmark |
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| iTunes | Version: 7.7.0.43Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minDefault format AAC |
| Lame MP3 | Version: 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007)Audio CD Terminator II SE, 53 minwave to MP3160kb/s |
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| TMPEG 4.5 | Version: 4.5.1.254Import File: Terminator 2 SE DVD (5 Minutes)Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 |
| DivX 6.8.3 | Encoding mode: Insane QualityEnhanced multithreadingEnabled using SSE4Quarter-pixel search |
| XviD 1.1.3 | Display encoding status = off |
| Nero 8 Recode | Version: 3.1.4.0- Recode an Entire DVD to DVD- convert DVD-9 to DVD5- High quality mode (slow recording)- disable video preview |
| Mainconcept Reference 1.5.1Reference H.264 Plugin Pro 1.5.1 | MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264)MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2)Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16 Bit, 224 kbps)Mode: PAL (25 FPS)Profile: Tom’s Hardware Settings for Qct-Core |
| Pinnacle Studio 12 | Version: 12.0.0.6163Encoding and Transition RenderingPrivate MPEG2-Cam-MovieVideo: 720 x 576 Pixel, PAL, 25 FPS, 6000 Kb/sAudio: MPEG Layer 2, 224 Kb/s 16 Bit, Stereo 44.1 KHzFile Type: MPEG-2 (DVD Compatible) |
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| Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9 | Version: 9.0Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
| Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional | Version: 9.0.0 (Extended)Default Settings: StandardEncrypt all documents (128 bit RC4) |
| Adobe Photoshop CS 3 | Version: 10.0x20070321Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-PhotoBenchmark: Tomshardware-Benchmark V1.0.0.4Filters: Crosshatch, Glass, Sumi-e,Accented Edges, Angled Strokes, Sprayed Strokes |
| Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 8 | Version: 8.0.134Virus base: 270.4.5/1533Benchmark: Scan 334 MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
| Maxon Cinema 4D Release 10 | Version: 10.008Resolution: 1280 x 1024Benchmark: Rose Drop, 8-bits (50 Frames) |
| Deep Fritz 11 | Version: 11Fritz Chess Benchmark Version 4.2 |
| Winrar 3.80 | Version 3.70 BETA 8WinZIP Commandline Version 2.3Compression = BestDictionary = 4096 KBBenchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
| Winzip 11 | Version 11.2Compression = BestBenchmark: THG-Workload (139 MB) |
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| 3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.02GPU and CPU scores |
| PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.00System, Memory, Hard Disk Drive benchmarksWindows Media Player 10.00.00.3646 |
| SiSoftware Sandra XII SP2 | Version 2008.5.14.24CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMediaMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
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