Test Settings
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| Test-System Configuration | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Phenom II X3 720 Triple Core 2.80 GHz, 1.5MB L2 / 6MB L3 Cache | Intel Core i3-530 Dual Core 2.93 GHz, 512KB L2 / 4MB L3 Cache |
| CPU O/C | 3.67 GHz at 262 x14, 1.472V | 4.31 GHz at 196 x22, 1.296V |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H, 890GX/SB850 BIOS F4 (03/08/2010) | Gigabyte P55-UD3R, P55 Express PCH BIOS F6 (02/11/2010) |
| CPU Cooler | Scythe Mugen 2 Revision B | Scythe Mugen 2 Revision B |
| RAM | Crucial CT2KIT25664BA1339 (4GB) DDR3-1333 CAS 9-9-9-24 | Crucial CT2KIT25664BA1339 (4GB) DDR3-1333 CAS 9-9-9-24 |
| RAM O/C | DDR3-1400 CAS 7-7-7-16 | DDR3-1568 CAS 8-8-8-18 |
| Graphics | Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB 725 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4000 | Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB 725 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4000 |
| Hard Drive | WD Velociraptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10,000 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB cache | WD Velociraptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10,000 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB cache |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Power | Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850W Modular ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80-PLUS Gold | Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850W Modular ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80-PLUS Gold |
| Software | ||
| OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
| Graphics | ATI Catalyst 10.2 | ATI Catalyst 10.2 |
| Chipset | ATI Catalyst 10.2 | Intel INF 9.1.1.1020 |
Though our main configurations are listed above, we also added AMD’s Phenom II X4 965 and Intel’s Core i7-870 to today’s charts to see how the above configurations compared to the CPU limits of our motherboards.
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With these processors initially installed at stock settings, we increased the data rate of our memory to DDR3-1600 at CAS 8-8-8-18 and 1.60V to represent the performance parity of higher-priced platforms. This should be fair for comparing the low-cost overclocks as well, since the speed-versus-timings equation is nearly identical.
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| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Campaign, Act III, Second Sun (45 sec. FRAPS) Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: Very High Details, No AA Test Set 2: Very High Details, 4x AA |
| Dirt 2 Demo | In-game benchmark Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset, 8x AA |
| Far Cry 2 | Patch 1.03, DirectX 10, in-game benchmark Test Set 1: Ultra High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra High Quality, 4x AA |
| Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X | Patch 1.02, DirectX 10.1, in-game benchmark Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat | S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat Benchmark version Test Set 1: Ultra Preset, DX11 EFDL, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, DX11 EFDL, 4x MSAA |
| Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
| 3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1, GPU and CPU scores |
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