Test Configuration
We retained the same P35 comparison motherboard from our previous DDR2 motherboard comparison, but updated our DDR3 memory to a pair of Corsair’s DDR3-1800 Dominator modules.
| System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Socket 775 Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo E6750(Conroe 65 nm, 2.67 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache) |
| RAM | Corsair Dominator TWIN3X2048-1800C7DF G DDR3-18002x 1024 MB at DDR3-1333, CL 5.0-5-5-15 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital WD1500ADFD-00NLR1, Firmware : 20.07P20150 GB, 10,000 RPM, 16 MB cache, SATA/150 |
| Graphics Card | Foxconn GeForce 8800GTX, P/N : FV-N88XMAD2-ODNVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX - 768 MB |
| Power Supply | OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI - 700W |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| OS | Windows XP Professional 5.10.2600, Service Pack 2 |
| DirectX Version | 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) |
| Platform Drivers | Intel INF 8.3.1.1009 |
| Graphics Driver | NVIDIA Forceware 163.71 |
A note about memory settings : every attempt was made to run each system at 1333 CAS 5-5-5-20, but the 1333 MHz data rate wasn’t stable on the X38 Diamond, and CAS 5 was likewise unstable on the GA-X38T-DQ6. In the overclocked configuration we tried to run the memory clock at 1.60 times the CPU FSB clock (8:5 DRAM :CPU ratio) and CAS 7-7-7-20, but this had to be "backed down" to 1.20x on the X38 Diamond and Foxconn X38A. Details for these settings can be found in each motherboard’s overclocking description.
Our excellent CPU overclocking results are mostly due to great cooling. We’ve been getting a bunch of test time out of Swiftech’s triple 120 mm radiator, Apogee GTX CPU water block, and MCP-655b high-flow pump.
Benchmark Settings
| Benchmarks and Settings | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Call of Duty 2 | Version : 1.03Video Mode : 1024x768Anti-aliasing : offShadows : noTimedemo demo2 |
| F.E.A.R | Version : 1.0 RetailVideo Mode : 1024x768Computer : MediumGraphics : MediumTest Path : Options/Performance/Test Settings |
| Quake 4 | Version : 1.2 (Dual-Core Patch)Video Mode : 1024x768Video Quality : defaultTHG Timedemo waste.mapTimedemo demo8.demo 1 (1 = load textures) |
| Audio | |
| Lame MP3 | Version 3.97 Beta 2 (12-22-2005)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to mp3160 kbps |
| OGG | Version 1.1.2 (Intel P4 MOD)Version 1.1.2 (Intel AMD MOD)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to oggQuality : 5 |
| Video | |
| TMPEG 3.0 Express | Version : 3.0.4.24 (no Audio)fist 5 Minutes DVD Terminator 2 SE (704x576) 16:9Multithreading by rendering |
| DivX 6.6 | Version : 6.6Profile : High Definition Profile1-pass, 3000 kbit/sEncoding mode : Insane QualityEnhanced multithreadingno Audio |
| XviD 1.1.3 | Version : 1.1.3Target quantizer : 1.00 |
| Applications | |
| Autodesk 3D Studio Max | Version : 8.0Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig"Rendering HTDV 1920x1080 |
| Synthetics | |
| PCMark05 Pro | Version : 1.1.0System, CPU and Memory TestsWindows Media Player 10.00.00.3646Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2980 |
| SiSoftware Sandra 2005 | Version 2005.7.10.60CPU Test = Arithmetic, Multimedia BenchmarksMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
