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Test system software/benchmarks/games

Published by Marc Büchel on 18.05.17

In an effort to make our reviews easier to digest we decided to outsource the description of our test systems as well as the list of the testing software, benchmarks and games into a separate article to which we link from within future reviews. Apart from that we will also explain our approach as to why we do what we do.




This particular article explains our approach to testing PC systems. When looking at complete systems from OEM vendors or system integrators we’re going to assemble a reference system with similar components. The system that is to be tested should achieve results in the different benchmark routines that don’t deviate by more than -2% from our reference values. If we see that the deviation is higher there must be issues with the system that was to be tested.

Regarding SSD and power supply we follow a slightly different approach. Since there is a vast variety of SATA SSDs these days it’s unlikely we have the exact same drive in our collection. Therefore we’re always going to choose a similar drive for comparison. In the case of the power supply unit we use a Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W. We’re aware that this is an exceptionally high-quality unit and it’s unlikely that PC systems we’re going to test achieve better energy efficiency values, if the exact same components were used. Therefore as long as the values from the system that is to be tested and our test system are in the same ballpark/order of magnitue, we will just be showing the values. Should there be significant differences, then we would factor in the differences in efficiencies and write down the absolute numbers.

Test System / Software

Hardware

Motherboard Motherboard with same chipset as system that is to be tested
Processor Same CPU as in the system that is to be tested
Memory 2 x 8GB Klevv CRAS CL15-15-15-35 Stock
Graphic card Same GPU as in the system that is to be tested
Hard disk Comparable SATA or M.2 drive
Power supply Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Driver Latest
OS Windows 10 x64 Latest
Software 2D Performance
  • PCMark 8
  • Handbreak h.264/h.265
  • Fire Strike Physix
  • 3DMark 11 Physix
  • SiSoft Sandra Arithmetics Dhrystone
  • SiSoft Sandra Arithmetics Integer
  • SiSoft Sandra Multimedia Integer
  • SiSoft Sandra Multimedia Floating Point
  • SiSoft Sandra Crypto AES
  • SiSoft Sandra Crypto SHA
  • Blackhole Single Thread
  • Blackhole 4 Thread
  • Blackhole Multithread
  • Blackhole Total
  • 7Zip
  • WinRAR
  • Cinebench R15
  • Frybench
  • Photoshop
  • Excel
  • Crystal Disk Mark
Benchmarks/Games 3D Performance
  • 3DMark Time Spy DX12 (GPU Score)
  • 3DMark Fire Strike / Extreme / Ultra (GPU Score)
  • 3DMark VR Mark
  • SteamVR
  • ArmA 3 (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • Ashes of the Singularity DX11/DX12 (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • Doom OpenGL 4.5 (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • GTA V (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • Rainbow Six Siege (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • Total War Warhammer DX11/DX12 (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
  • XCOM 2 (1080p FHD / 1440p WQHD / 2160p UHD)
Power consumption
  • Idle system power consumption
  • Load system power consumption
Temperatures
  • Idle temperature measured with GPU-Z
  • Load temperature after 15min Furmark
Noise level
  • Idle noise level measured with Voltcraft SL-200 in 1m distance
  • Load (15min Furmark) noise level measured with Voltcraft SL-200 in 1m distance


  • ASUS Maximus IX Formula
  • Intel Core i7-7700K
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Fournders Edition
  • Samsung 850 Evo
  • Klevv CRAS 2x8GB
  • Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W


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