Test Settings
Test System Configuration | |
---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i3-530 (2.93 GHz, 4MB Shared L3 Cache) |
CPU Cooler | Thermalright MUX-120 |
RAM | Kingston KHX2133C9D3T1K2/4GX (4GB) DDR3-2133 at DDR3-1333 CAS 7-7-7-20 |
Graphics | Zotac GeForce GTX 260² 896MB 576/999 MHz GPU/Shader, GDDR3-2484 |
Hard Drive | Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS, 300GB 10,000 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB cache |
Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
Power | Corsair CMPSU-850HX 850W Modular ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80-Plus Gold |
Software | |
OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
Graphics | Nvidia Forceware 190.62 WHQL |
Chipset | Intel INF 9.1.1.1014 |
We needed a Clarkdale-based CPU to test the video output capabilities of each motherboard, and felt that Intel’s Core i3-530 would be most appropriate for the low-cost market served by the majority of today’s competitors.
Overclockers considering an upgrade from dual-core to quad-core processors should consider our previous experience before attempting to push those higher-wattage processors to their limits on any low-cost motherboard.
Benchmark Configuration | |
---|---|
3D Games | |
Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Very High Quality, 8x AA |
Dirt 2 | In-game benchmark Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra High Quality, 8x AA |
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X | Patch 1.02, DirectX 10, 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 | Call Of Pripyat Benchmark version Test Set 1: High Preset, DX10 EFDL, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, DX10 EFDL, 4x MSAA |
Audio/Video Encoding | |
iTunes | Version:9.0.2.25 x64 Audio CD ("Terminator II" SE), 53 min Default format AAC |
Handbrake 0.9.4 | Version 0.9.4, convert first .vob file from The Last Samurai to .mp4, High Profile |
TMPEGEnc 4.0 XPress | Version: 4.7.3.292 Import File: "Terminator 2" SE DVD (5 Minutes) Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 |
DivX 6.8.5 | Encoding mode: Insane Quality Enhanced multithreading enabled using SSE4 Quarter-pixel search |
XviD 1.2.1 | Display encoding status = off |
MainConcept Reference 1.6.1 | 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 Kbp/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS) |
Productivity | |
Adobe Photoshop CS4 | Version: 11.0 x64, Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates |
Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 | Version: 11.0 x64, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 | Version: 9.0.663, Virus base: 270.14.1/2407, Benchmark: Scan 334MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
WinRAR 3.90 | Version x64 3.90, Dictionary = 4,096KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334MB) |
7-Zip | Version 4.65, Built-in Benchmark |
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1, GPU and CPU scores |
PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1.0 x64, System, Productivity, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks |
SiSoftware Sandra 2010 | Version 2010.1.16.11, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |