Testing

Test Rig

Big thank you to CryoPC for providing the following test rig:

CPU: Core i5 750 @ 4GHZ
Motherboard: Asus P7P55D-E
RAM: Corsair Dominator 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3
Storage: Samsung F3 500GB 16MB
PSU: Corsair TX 650w
CASE: NZXT Hades

Methodology

For graphics card testing, here at XSReviews our aim is to provide a set of clean, reliable benchmarks. For each test, the test was repeated three times and then an average taken or where results were inconsistent, tests were continued until two concordant results were reached.

The benchmarks consist of a mixture of games and synthetic benchmarks; games’ testing is carried out through a specifically designed benchmark suites for that particular title or by using a time demo and the utility FRAPS to record the frame rates.  The following software was used in the testing of the graphics cards:

• 3Dmark 11
• 3Dmark Vantage
• Furmark
• Unique Heaven
• Crysis Warhead
• STALKER: Clear Sky
• Dawn of War II
• Battle Forge

All of the benchmarks, especially the games, use four settings each designed to increase one specific area so as to give linear progress. Thus, comparisons can be made not only between different cards but also across individual settings adjustments; for example, the frame rate differences between different resolutions with all other settings kept the same.