Western Digital WD5000AAKX 500 GB, 7200 RPM, 16 MB Cache
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Sound
Integrated Eight-Channel HD Audio
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Network
Integrated Gigabit Networking
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Power
Antec VP-450 450 W
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Optical
Samsung 22x SH-222BB/BEBE-OEM DVD Burner
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Software and Drivers
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate Edition x64
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Graphics Driver
GeForce R300 Driver v.300.42
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Platform Driver
Intel 7-series Inf v. 9.3.1019
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Benchmark Configuration
3D Games
Battlefield 3
Version 1.0.0.0, DirectX 11, 90-sec. FRAPS "Going Hunting" Test Set 1: Medium Quality Preset, No AA, 4X AF, SSAO Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset, 4X MSAA, 16X AF, HBAO
Elders Scroll V: Skyrim
Version 1.8.151.07, Version 1.6.89.06 (Aug.), 25-Sec. Fraps Test Set 1: High Preset, No AA, 8x AF, FXAA Enabled Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, 8x AA, 16x AF, FXAA Enabled
F1 2012
Version 1.2, Direct X 11, Built-in Benchmark Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality, 8x MSAA
Audio/Video Encoding
HandBrake CLI
Version: 0.98, Video: Video from Canon EOS 7D (1920x1080, 25 frames) 1 Minutes 22 Seconds, Audio: PCM-S16, 48 000 Hz, Two-Channel, to Video: AVC1 Audio: AAC (High Profile)
iTunes
Version 10.4.1.10 x64: Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minutes, default AAC format
Lame MP3
Version 3.98.3: Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min, convert WAV to MP3 audio format, Command: -b 160 --nores (160 Kb/s)
Our best alternative remained the quad-core Phenom II X4 995 Black Edition for $95. But we chose not to revisit this old favorite, figuring that adding a Radeon HD 7850 would have taxed our budget.
What about the Phenom II 965? It's only $75 at TigerDirect.
I am not very comfortable using windows8 in these benches. Reason : Drivers have not yet matured for win8. I would have waited for the next quarter SBM before using win8.