Part 2: Building A Balanced Gaming PC

Features
By published

Test System Configuration And Benchmarks

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Test Hardware
ProcessorsAMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Deneb) 3.2 GHz, AM3, 2,000 MHz HT, 6MB L3 cacheAMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition (Heka) 2.8 GHz, AM3, 2,000 MHz HT, 6MB L3 cacheAMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Callisto) 3.1 GHz, AM3, 2,000 MHz HT, 6MB L3 cache
MotherboardAsus Crosshair III Formula (Socket AM3) 790FX/SB750, BIOS 1003 (9-11-09)
RAMCorsair 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600, 8-8-8-24
GraphicsATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GBATI Radeon HD 4890 1GBATI Radeon HD 4850 512MBNvidia Geforce GTX 295 1792MBNvidia Geforce GTX 285 1GBNvidia Geforce GTX 260 896MB
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS, 640GB, 7,200 RPM, 32MB Cache, SATA 3Gb/s
PowerCorsair CMPSU-850HX 850W
CPU CoolerXigmatek HDT-S1283
Software and Drivers
Operating SystemWindows Vista Ultimate Edition x64, Service Pack 1
Graphics DriversNvidia GeForce 190.62 AMD Catalyst 9.8
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Benchmark Configuration
3D Games
CrysisPatch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool, Very High Quality, No AA
Far Cry 2Patch 1.03, DirectX 10, in-game benchmark, Ultra High Quality, 4x AA
S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear SkyAverage of four segments 'a-tested object', DirectX 10/10.1, Ultra High Quality, EFD Lighting, no MSAA
Grand Theft Auto IVPatch 1.0.4.0, in-game benchmark, High Quality Settings, High Textures, Medium View Distance
FALLOUT 3Patch 1.7, Custom THG Benchmark "Capital Wasteland" (60 sec.), Ultra High Quality, 4x MSAA, 15x AF
Race Driver: GRIDPatch 1.20, Custom THG Benchmark "Detroit Circuit" (45 sec.), Highest Quality, 4x AA
World In ConflictPatch 1009, DirectX 10, timedemo, Very High Quality, 4x AA / 16x AF