During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. Between our benchmarking sessions the only variable was the CPU being tested and the motherboard, which had to be replaced to match the different CPU sockets.

Hardware Configuration

• Motherboard (Socket 1156): Intel DP55KG Extreme (86A.3456 BIOS)
• Motherboard (Socket 1366): ASUS P6T Deluxe OC Palm Edition (1611 BIOS)
• Motherboard (Socket 775): EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI (P08 BIOS)
• Motherboard (Socket AM3): ASUS M4A79XTD EVO (0604 BIOS)
• CPU Cooler (Socket 1156): Intel stock
• CPU Cooler (Socket 1366): Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366 RT
• CPU Cooler (Socket 775): Thermaltake TMG i1
• CPU Cooler (Socket AM3): AMD stock
• Memory: Two 1 GB Crucial CT12864BA1339 modules (DDR3-1333/PC2-10600, CL9, 1.5 V), configured at 1,333 MHz
• Hard Disk Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB (WD1001FALS, SATA-300, 7,200 rpm, 32 MB buffer)
• Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 FTW
• Video Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 305T
• Power Supply: OCZ EliteXStream 1000 W 
• Optical Drive: Lite-On LH-20A1L

Operating System Configuration

• Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
• Service Pack 2
• NTFS
• Video resolution: 2560x1600 @ 60 Hz

Driver Versions

• NVIDIA video driver version: 190.62
• Intel Inf chipset driver version: 9.1.1.1015
• NVIDIA nForce chipset driver version: 15.25
• Intel network driver version: 14.4
• Realtek audio driver version: 2.80A (6.0.1.5892)

Software Used

• PCMark Vantage Professional 1.1.0
• VirtualDub 1.9.5 + MPEG-2 Plugin 3.1 + DivX 6.8.5
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended + GamingHeaven Photoshop Benchmark V3
• Adobe After Effects CS4
• WinRAR 3.90
• Cinebench 10
• 3DMark Vantage Professional 1.0.1
• Call of Duty 4 – Patch 1.7
• Fallout 3 – Patch 1.7

Error Margin

We adopted a 3% error margin; thus, differences below 3% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 3% should be considered as having similar performance.