Speed Test - Total System Performance

The next test is to run an overall system performance test, one that includes the processor, motherboard, RAM and video card. This is especially important for measuring the performance of the video card and to help verify it is working and stable. The widely accepted and referenced standard is from Futuremark. In addition to benchmarking performance, this demanding benchmark is excellent for revealing graphics anomalies, such as artifacts, and testing stability. While running the benchmarks, observe the monitor display and check for anything unusual, such as cut images or pixel artifacts. If the computer locks up, that will be easy to see.

The Futuremark download page provides access to a number of benchmark versions. The most recent is Futuremark 3DMark05 so that's the one I'll be using. Most of the benchmarks, including 3DMark05, are available for free. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are huge downloads. The 3DMark05 download is the biggest at about 280MB. It also requires DirectX 9.0c to run.

Other Futuremark benchmarks can be used if you'd rather have a smaller download or if you have a different version of DirectX. Futuremark has 3DMark03 as a free download which requires DirectX 9.0b. And they have 3DMark2001 Second Edition which requires DirectX 8.1, the version included in Windows XP without the service packs. The 3DMark2001 Second Edition download is a much smaller, but still hefty, 40MB or so.

After downloading 3DMark05, install it by double-clicking on it.

On this page I have the measurement results for two different computer configurations. The EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro video card is a previous edition of My Super PC. The MSI K8N Neo Platinum motherboard and GeForce 6600 GT video card is the current edition of My Super PC.

EPoX 8RDA+ Motherboard And ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

Bring up 3DMark05. Click on the "Demo" button and verify that it runs all the way through with no observable problems - no artifacts or lockups. Repeat. Next, click on the "Run 3DMark" button to start the performance benchmark. Verify all the tests run all the way through with no observable problems - no artifacts or lock ups. Repeat.

Here's the overall score achieved with this configuration.

This is a very high score, but what we really want to do is verify that whatever score is shown is about right for the computer configuration. This can be done by comparing my score to the scores reported to Futuremark by others with similar computers. Make sure you are online and click the "Online ResultsBrowser" button. This takes you to the "Futuremark - ORB - Project Search" page. The ORB stands for Online Results Browser. Click on the "Project Search & Compare" link I've shown circled in blue.

Enter search values to match the configuration of the computer. I've circled in blue the more important values to enter correctly. The "CPU Clock Range" value of 2083 MHz is correct for the AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processor since the actual clock speed (2083) does not match the model number (2600+). This is the value shown for the processor speed on the BIOS header screen each time the computer boots. Once the values are entered, click the "Show Me The Projects!" button. The ORB returns entries in its database that match this configuration with highest score entries listed first. And right there, on the first page, is where My Super PC finishes - with the top score! Wow! Outstanding!

For interest, I also ran the other Futuremark benchmarks. I achieved an overall score of 5633 for 3DMark03 and an overall score of 15196 for 3DMark2001.

MSI K8N Neo Platinum Motherboard And GeForce 6600 GT

Bring up 3DMark05. Click on the "Demo" button and verify that it runs all the way through with no observable problems - no artifacts or lockups. Repeat. Next, click on the "Run 3DMark" button to start the performance benchmark. Verify all the tests run all the way through with no observable problems - no artifacts or lock ups. Repeat.

Here's the overall score achieved with this configuration. As you can see, the motherboard and video card in My Super PC currently provide quite a jump in performance. As described before, the results can be compared to similar computer configurations at Futuremark. Unfortunately, there were no similar configurations at Futuremark when I tried to compare this configuration.

Next: Computer Assembly - Stress/Torture Tests

Back to My Super PC - Home Page

How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List [go]
	Tools [go]
	Antistatic Wrist Strap [go]
	Computer Case and Power Supply [go]
	Motherboard [go]
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound [go]
	RAM - System Memory [go]
	Video Card [go]
	Monitor [go]
	Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	Floppy Drive [go]
	Hard Drive [go]
	CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW [go]
	Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Modem [go]
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard [go]
	Install the CPU Cooler [go]
	Install the RAM - System Memory [go]
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case [go]
	Install the Video Card [go]
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard [20-pin Connector  or  24-pin Connector]
	Connect the PN1 and PN2 Indicators to the Motherboard [KS-282 to EPoX 8RDA+  or  Sonata to MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Ready the Monitor [go]
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	First Boot [go]
	First Boot Common Problems [go]
	Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW Drives [go]
	Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive [PATA Hard Drive  or  SATA Hard Drive]
	Connect the Speakers (if using built-in sound) [go]
	Second Boot [PATA  or  SATA]
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Test The Hard Drive [PATA  or  SATA]
	Install a Second SATA Hard Drive For RAID (optional) [go]
	Install the Operating System - Windows XP [on PATA hard drive  or  on SATA hard drive]
	Driver Installation [go]
	How To Copy Big Files From Another Computer Using Just a Floppy Drive [go]
	Install the Modem [go]
	Install the Motherboard Chipset Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Monitor Driver [go]
	Install the Video Card Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Install System Information Utility - EVEREST [go]
	Diagnostic Test - DirectX [go]
	Speed Test - System Memory (RAM) Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Hard Drive Performance [PATA and SATA results]
	Speed Test - CD Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Total System Performance [go]
	Stress/Torture Tests [go]
	Connect Front Panel Ports For Audio, Firewire and USB 2.0 [go]
	Install Rear Panel Ports For Firewire And USB 2.0 [go]
	Install The Computer Case Fans [go]
	Post Assembly Needs [go]
	Graduation [go]
	Video Card Driver Settings [go]
	BIOS Flash Update [go]
	BIOS Settings [go]

Back to My Super PC - Home Page

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