Benchmarks are used to provide insight into the overall performance and stability of this motherboard using the components identified in the test system. Benchmarks were conducted at the systems default and overclocked settings.
Sisoft Sandra
SiSoftware Sandra, or System ANalyser, Diagnostic and Reporting Assistant, is an information and diagnostic utility. Benchmarks selected include the arithmetic and multimedia CPU tests and the memory bandwidth test.
Sisoft Sandra Performance
The calculations and terms may be alien to most, but the end result provides a glimpse at the potential performance increase when running one configuration against another. In this case, default clock settings versus the identified overclocked settings on the E6600 Core2 processor in combination with the the P6N SLI Platinum.
Super PI
Super PI is a utility that provides an indication of the processor's stability and speed. I used it in the overclocking section of the review to provide a time differential between the tests at the set overclock. If the overclock is not system stable, it will error out in the 32MB test if not before. In the following results, Super PI was used between the MSI P6N SLI Platinum and Asus P5N-E SLI motherboards at default settings in the 1MB and 32MB tests.
Super PI Performance
Checking the CPU speed in this utility reveals that the nForce 650i-based motherboards are basically even with both matching up with the E6600 very well. Both boards proved to be super stable and run easily in the 32MB test.
3DMark05
Synthetic benchmarks will probably always be controversial. When Futuremark came out with 3DMark05 they went to great lengths to present a viable benchmark by collaborating with many of the industry leaders. I have not used 3DMark05 solely for determining settings for gaming, but I have used it and am using it once again for determining system stability at given performance settings. Many use it for comparing systems, therefore, here are the results based on the this test system at default settings.
Default settings were used with all test suites included in each run. Three runs were made at each resolution from 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 1680x1050 with the average scores recorded.
3DMark05 Performance
As the resolution is increased the stress is increased on the GPUs as revealed in the graphs in comparison to the Core2 processor which basically seems to just fluctuate within the ranges tested. Overall the results seem to indicate the resolution of 1280x1024 had the best CPU/Graphics balance in performance at default settings.
3DMark06
3DMark06 provides an overall score, which is based on a computation of the various graphics and CPU tests. A minimum of three runs through the tests were done at the two resolutions below using default settings. The CPU and overall scores are provided.
3DMark06 Performance
An overall score of 8K at the default setting is pretty good for a GeForce 7950 GX2 in this benchmark with default clocks. The results obviously received a boost from the E6600 processor, which was definitely not held back by the P6N SLI Platinum.
