Test Setup

Software

Here is a list of the applications we've used for our testing - most of them are available free for public consumption, although some are popular professional software applications.

• Sisoft Sandra 2009 SP1 (v2009.5.15.97)
  
• Lavalys Everest 4.6.1540
  
• Crysis v1.21
  
• X3: Terran Conflict rolling demo v1.2.0.0
  
• WinRAR 3.71 beta
  
• 7-Zip 4.65 (x64)
  
• WPrime v2.00
  
• Custom PC Benchmarks v2007.235
  
• Maxon Cinebench 10 (x64)

Following demand from the bit-tech community, we have included 7-Zip as well as WinRAR in our benchmarks as it is another popular, free, file compression tool.

We've used Windows Vista 64-bit SP1, as this is the most flexible and reliable 64-bit OS for testing the applications above.

Hardware

It's impossible to construct a set of test kit that's common across LGA1366 and Socket AM3, but we have strived to keep as many components consistent as possible:

Common Hardware

• Zotac GeForce GTX 280 graphics card (ForceWare 185,68)
  
• 160GB Seagate Barracude 7200.9 hard disk
  
• Antec TruePower Quattro 850W PSU

Intel LGA1366 (Core i7) Hardware

• Asus P6T Deluxe
  
• 6GB (3 x 2GB) OCZ Blade PC3-1600 memory (1,600MHz, CL7 DDR3)
  
• Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366RT

AMD Socket AM3 (Phenom II, Athlon II) Hardware

• MSI 790FX-GD70 motherboard
  
• 4GB (2 x 2GB) Corsair XMS3-1600 memory (1,600MHz, CL9 DDR3)
  
• Noctua NH-C12P modded with Sunon 120 x 38mm high-airflow fan