Test System And Benchmarks
Now that we’ve looked at our choices and justifications in detail, let’s recap our components one more time before getting into the benches and comparing them to the previous two $1,250 enthusiast PCs against which we'll benchmark this month's machine:
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February's $1,250 Mid-Range System Test Configuration | ||
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Component | Base Settings | Overclock Setting |
CPU | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83 GHz, FSB-1333, 12 MB Cache | 3.61 GHz (8.5 x 425 MHz), FSB-1700 1.35 V Core, 1.3 V MCH/ICH Core |
CPU Cooler | Xigmatek HDT-1283 | |
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR Intel P45, BIOS F1 (10/14/2008) | |
RAM | 4.0 GB G.SKILL HK 2x 2,048 MB, DDR2-800, CL 4-4-4-12 at 1.8 V | 2x 2,048 MB, DDR2-850, CL 5-6-6-16 at 1.9 V |
Graphics | Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 2x AMD RV770 GPU, 750 MHz 2x 1,024 MB GDDR5 900 MHz | 780 MHz GPU, 1,100 GDDR5 |
Hard Drives | Western Digital Caviar Black 640GD 640 GB, 7,200 RPM, 32 MB Cache | |
Sound | Onboard | |
Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking | |
Power | Corsair 650TX ATX 12 V2.2, 52A on a single 12 V Rail | |
Optical | LITE-ON 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 | |
Software and Drivers | ||
Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit, SP1 | |
Graphics Driver | Catalyst 8.12 32-bit Edition |
You now know the hardware and the overclock, so let’s have a detailed look at the benchmarks and settings before we scrutinize the results.
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Crysis | Version: 1.2.1, Video Quality: Very High Details, Demo: CPU-Benchmark + Tom’s Hardware Tool |
Supreme CommanderForged Alliance | Version: 1.5.3599, Video Quality: Highest Settings, Demo: WallaceTX_006_006, Benchmark: Fraps 2.9.4 - Build 7037 |
Unreal Tournament 3 | Version: 1.2, Sound and DirectX10, Texture Details: 5, Level Details: 5, Demo: vCTF-Reflection_bot, Time: 12/60 |
World in Conflict | Version: 1.0.0.9, Video Quality: Very High details, Demo: Game-Benchmark |
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iTunes | Version: 7.7.0.43, Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 min, Default format AAC |
Lame MP3 | Version: 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007), Audio CD ""Terminator II" SE, 53 min, wave-to-MP3, 160 Kb/s |
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TMPEG 4.5 | Version: 4.5.1.254, Import File: "Terminator 2" SE DVD (5 Minutes), Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 |
DivX 6.8.3 | Encoding mode: Insane Quality, Enhanced Multi-threading, Enabled using SSE4, Quarter-pixel search |
XviD 1.1.3 | Display encoding status = off |
Mainconcept Reference 1.5.1Reference H.264 Plugin Pro 1.5.1 | MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264), MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2), Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kb/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS), Profile: Tom’s Hardware Settings for Qct-Core |
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Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9 | Version: 9.0, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
Adobe Photoshop CS 3 | Version: 10.0x20070321, Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-Photo, Benchmark: Tomshardware-Benchmark V1.0.0.4, Filters: Crosshatch, Glass, Sumi-e, Accented Edges, Angled Strokes, Sprayed Strokes |
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 8 | Version: 8.0.134, Virus base : 270.4.5/1533, Benchmark: Scan 334 MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
Winrar 3.80 | Version 3.70 BETA 8, WinZIP Commandline Version 2.3, Compression=Best, Dictionary=4,096 KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
Winzip 11 | Version 11.2, Compression=Best, Benchmark: THG-Workload (139 MB) |
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3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.02, GPU and CPU scores |
PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.00, System, Memory, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks, Windows Media Player 10.00.00.3646 |
SiSoftware Sandra XII SP2 | Version 2008.5.14.24, CPU Test=CPU Arithmetic/MultiMedia, Memory Test= Bandwidth Benchmark |