Test Settings
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| Test Configuration | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 920 2.66 GHz, 8.0 MB L3 Cache |
| Motherboard | Asus P6T Deluxe BIOS 1003 (12/05/2008) Intel X58/ICH10R Chipset, LGA-1366 |
| Graphics | Gigabyte GV-R487-512H-B HD 4870 GPU (750 MHz), GDDR5-3600 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital WD5000AAKS, 500 GB 7,200 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16 MB cache |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Power | Coolermaster RS850-EMBA (850W, ATX12V v2.2) |
| Software and Drivers | |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 |
| Graphics Driver | AMD Catalyst 8.9 |
| Chipset | Intel INF 8.3.0.1016 |
| Benchmark Settings | |
| Memtest86+ | Version 1.70 (Memory Stability Test for Overclocking) |
| SiSoftware Sandra XII SP2 | Version 2008.5.14.24, Test=Memory Bandwidth Benchmark |
Asus has an excellent reputation for memory stability, so we used its P6T Deluxe to find the best timings and highest speeds of each module set.
The P6T Deluxe supports memory voltage changes in increments of 0.02 V. Since this particular motherboard did not support 1.650 V precisely, we chose the 1.66 V setting, which is probably within the safety factor Intel calculated into its 1.65 V "maximum" voltage recommendation.
Of course, we needed a Core i7 processor, but not just any processor would do. While most reviewers are stuck with Core i7 920 engineering samples that only support DDR3-800 and DDR3-1066 ratios (3x and 4x base clock, times two), our retail sample supports data rates all the way up to 2,133 MHz (8x base clock, times two).
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