Our Test Rig and Procedures
Our Test Rig |
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CPU |
Intel i7-5960X |
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Memory |
Kingston HyperX FURY Black 32GB Quad Channel Kit 2666 MHz |
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Motherboard |
Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion |
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Cooling |
Noctua NH-U12S Cooler |
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Power Supply |
Corsair AX1200w |
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Storage |
Kingston Hyper X Savage 960GB SSD |
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Case |
Primochill Wetbench |
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OS |
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit |
Our Testing Procedures |
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3DMark |
The same goes for the most current version of 3DMark using the Fire Strike benchmark in normal, extreme, and ultra settings. Tests are also run in the DX12 focused Time Spy benchmark as well. |
Unigine Superposition |
1080p Medium, 1080p Extreme, 4k Optimized, and 8k Optimized benchmarks all run in DirectX |
Unigine Valley Benchmark 1.0 |
Using the Extreme HD preset to get an average FPS |
Catzilla 4k |
Default tests for 1080p, 1440p, and 4k resolutions using the overall score for each as our result |
SteamVR |
Default SteamVR test using Average Quality score |
VRMark |
Orange and Blue rooms tested, use Average FPS for the result |
Ghost Recon Wildlands |
Ultra and High detail settings are used in the built-in benchmark run at 1080p, 1440p, and 4k |
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided |
Tests are done using the built-in benchmark at High and Ultra graphic settings at both 1080p 1440p, and 4k resolutions. |
DOOM |
Doom is tested on the Ultra quality setting. Tests are run at 1080p 1440p, and 4k using both OpenGL and Vulkan. The benchmark is a basic one using just the average FPS in the opening scene. |
HITMAN 2016 |
Fullscreen with V-Sync turned off Detail, Texture Quality, Shadow Maps, and Shadow Resolution all set to their highest settings. We test using both DX11 and DX12 at 1080p 1440p, and 4k. |
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation |
Built-in benchmark ran at 1080p 1440p, and 4k with graphics settings set to the “Crazy” setting with the exception of turning off V-Sync Mode. The benchmark scenario is set to GPU Focused and we use the Average Framerate for All Batches as the result. Tests are run in DX12 |
The Division |
Built-in benchmark ran at 1080p 1440p, and 4k with graphics settings set to the default “Ultra” setting with the exception of turning off V-Sync Mode |
Total War: ROME II |
Ultra-setting tested at 1080p 1440p, and 4k, built in forest benchmark |
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor |
Using the built-in benchmark we test with ultra settings at 1440p and 4k |
Sniper Elite 3 |
Ultra-setting tested at 1080p 1440p, and 4k, built in benchmark |
Thief |
Tested using the “Very High” setting at 1080p 1440p, and 4k with V-sync off |
Passmark Performance Test 9 |
Test using the GPU Compute Score inside of Passmark’s Performance Test 9 |
CompuBenchCL |
Video Composition and Bitcoin tests |
Unigine Valley Benchmark 1.0 heat testing |
We run through Unigine Valley using the “Extreme HD” preset for 30 minutes to test in game cooling performance with the fan speed set to auto then again with the fan set to 100%. |
Power Usage |
Using 3dmark Fire Strike with the “performance” preset, we get our “load” power usage number from the peak power usage during our test. We get our numbers from a Kill-A-Watt connected to the test benches power cord. |
Noise Testing |
Our Noise testing is done using a decibel meter 18 inches away from the video card on the bottom/fan side of the card. We test at both 50% and 100% fan speeds. The 100% test isn’t a representation of typical in-game noise levels, but it will show you how loud a card can be if you run it at its highest setting or if it gets very hot. This is done using a Protmex PT02 Sound Meter that is rated IEC651 type 2 and ANSI S1.4 type 2. Tests are done set weighted to A and set to a slow response using the max function. The ambient noise level in the testing area is 33.3 decibels using the test settings. |