The Test System
Before we look at the numbers, here is a brief glance at the test system that was used.
All testing was done on a fresh install of Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit. All benchmarks were completed on the desktop with no other software programs running. All of the modules were run in dual channel mode with a 120mm fan placed on top of them to keep them cool. The XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB used NVIDIA ForceWare 169.28 video card drivers and the ASUS P5E3 motherboard using BIOS version 1009, which was the most recent available when testing was done. The AMD Phenom test system was done on the MSI K9A2 Platinum motherboard with BIOS v1.4 installed along with ATI system driver version 8.452.
Memory Settings:
- QX9775 - 800MHz @ 5-5-5-15 (FB-DIMM)
- QX9770 - 1600MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- Q9300 - 1333MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- QX6850 - 1333MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- Q6600 - 1066MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- E8500 - 1333MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- E7200 - 1066MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- E6750 - 1333MHz @ 7-7-7-20 (DDR3)
- Phenom 9850 - 800MHz @ 5-5-5-15 (DDR2)
- Phenom 9600 - 800MHz @ 5-5-5-15 (DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5000+ - 800MHz @ 4-4-4-12 (DDR2)
Here is the Intel X38 Express Test platform:
| Intel Test Platform |
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing |
| Processor | See Above LGA775 CPUs | Click Here |
| Motherboard | ASUS P5E3 Deluxe | Click Here |
| Memory | 4GB Corsair DDR3 1800C7 | Click Here |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 | Click Here |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital RaptorX 150GB | Click Here |
| Cooling | Corsair Nautilus 500 | Click Here |
| Power Supply | PC Power and Cooling 1KW | Click Here |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit | Click Here |
Here is the Intel Skulltrail Test platform:
| Skulltrail Test Platform |
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing |
| Processor | 2x Intel Core 2 QX9775 | Click Here |
| Motherboard | Intel D5400XS | Click Here |
| Memory | 4GB Micron 800MHz FB-DIMM | Click Here |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 | Click Here |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital RaptorX 150GB | Click Here |
| Cooling | Zalman AT Fan/Heatsink | Click Here |
| Power Supply | PC Power and Cooling 1KW | Click Here |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit | Click Here |
Here is the AMD Phenom Test platform:
| AMD Test Platform |
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing |
| Processor | AMD Phenom 9600/9850 | Click Here |
| Motherboard | MSI K9A2 Platinum | Click Here |
| Memory | 4GB OCZ Flex PC2-6400 | Click Here |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 | Click Here |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital RaptorX 150GB | Click Here |
| Cooling | Zalman AT Fan/Heatsink | Click Here |
| Power Supply | PC Power and Cooling 1KW | Click Here |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit | Click Here |
