Test System Hardware and Specs

PCSTATS has worked to keep its test hardware static so a greater number of comparisons can be made between different chipsets, motherboards and so forth. The Intel X79 and 'Sandy Bridge-E' platform demands a few critical changes, so moving forward we'll be retiring Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit in favour of Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit; for the most part, 32-bit benchmarks will see marginal change.

3.6GHz Intel Core i7-3820 'Sandy Bridge-E' processor (socket LGA2011)

PCSTATS has relied on Crucial memory for years, but to test this Intel X79 platform we needed 16GB's worth DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 memory which Crucial doesn't readily offer. In place of Crucial RAM PCSTATS installed these four DDR3 modules which are wrapped in protective aluminum heatspreaders. What's really shocking is that the price of 16GB of DDR is less than $125!! Compared to just a few years ago, it's amazing just how CHEAP system memory has become.

The black tape over the manufacturer's name might means this is MARSHALL, or maybe FENDER memory. ;) Rock and Roll!

16GB DDR3-1600 Memory (4x4GB). Model No. CMZ16GX3M4X1600C9

Storage devices have changed dramatically in recent years, you'll notice PCSTATS to retired the faithful old Western Digital Raptor's for a quick 120GB OCZ Vertex 2 SSD (SATAII). The effect on system-wide benchmarks compared to a mechanical hard drive is dramatic.

PCSTATS would like to thank Intel, OCZ Technology, Gigabyte and CanadaComputers for help outfitting this test platform.

Details on how the Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5 motherboard was configured for benchmarking - including specific hardware, software drivers, operating system and benchmark versions - is listed in the Test System Spec chart below. Please take a moment to look over PCSTATS test system configurations before moving on to the individual benchmark results.

PCSTATS Test System Specs
test system processor: intel core i7 3820 (32nm) intel core i5 2500k (32nm) amd fusion a8-3850 (32nm) amd Phenom II X6 1090T (45nm) Intel Core i7 920 (45nm) Clock Speed: 36 x 100MHz = 3.6 GHz 33 x 100 MHz = 3.3 GHz 29 x 100 MHz = 2.9 GHz 16 x 200 MHz = 3.2 GHz 20 x 133 MHz = 2.67 GHz Socket: Socket LGA2011 Socket LGA1155 Socket FM1 Socket AM3 / AM2+ Socket LGA1366 Motherboard: - Intel X79 - Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5 - Intel Z68 - Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3 Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD - Intel P67 - Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7 Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3 Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4 ASUS P8P67 Pro MSI P67A-GD65 ECS P67H2-A - Intel H67 - ASUS P8H67-M Evo Biostar TH67XE ECS H67H2-M Intel DH67BL - AMD A75 - Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H Biostar TA75M+ - AMD 990FX - Biostar TA990FXE* Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7* ASUS Crosshair V Formula* - AMD 890FX - Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD7 ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Biostar TA890FXE MSI 890FXA-GD70 - AMD 790FX - Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P - AMD 785G - MSI 785GM-E65 - Intel X58 - Gigabyte G1.Assassin* Videocard: Gigabyte GV-N470SO-13I (Geforce GTX470) ASUS ENGTS250 DK (Geforce GTS250) Memory: x32 - 4GB / x64 - 4x4GB Corsair CMZ16GX3M4X1600C9 DDR3-1600 9.9.9.24 2x 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8.8.8.24 2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C8 3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3 Memory Speed: DDR3-1600 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1066 *DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 Hard Drive: 120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II) 120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II) Intel SRT Tests: 74GB Western Digital Raptor WD 740 & 20GB Intel Larson Creek 311 SSD 74GB Western Digital Raptor WD 740 (3GB/s SATA II) *120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II) Optical Drive: Plextor PX-B310U Blu-Ray ASUS BC-1205PT-BD Power Supply: NoFan P-400A (400W) Seasonic SS-760KM (760W) PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 750W Heatsink: Zalman CNPS11X Performa Heatsink Intel Reference LGA1155 Heatsink AMD Reference Heatsink AMD Reference Heatsink Intel Reference LGA1366 Heatsink Monitor (1080p): ASUS MK241 24" HD LCD Software Setup: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultiimate 32-bit & 64-bit Intel INF 9.2.3.1020 nVidia 285.62 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit Intel 9.2.0.1025 nVIDIA 266.58 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit AMD Catalyst 8.86RC2 nVIDIA 266.58 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate AMD Catalyst 9.12 nVIDIA Forceware 195.62 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Intel INF 9.1.0.1012 nVIDIA Forceware 182.08 Benchmarks: System Benchmarks: Sysmark 2012 SYSmark 2007 PCMark Vantage SiSoft Sandra 2011 Gaming B/M: 3DMark 11 3DMark Vantage 3DMark 06