Benchmark Notes
Test suite selections included SiSOFT SANDRA, Cinebench R10, PCMark Vantage, 3DMark Vantage, Crysis, and RightMark Audio. These benchmarks should cover overall system performance from the smallest to the large component. This should help point out the strongest and weakest links in any system.
The other features like ASUS TurboV EVO were put to the test when overclocking. We are more interested in how it works, whether it’s stable, and the overall user interface experience. Since ASUS plans on updating this software it’s always good to double check in case a new revision has fixed some known bugs.
SANDRA Benchmarks
I can’t begin to say how nicely the Core i7 870 operates on both test platforms. It’s not surprising to see them running neck and neck. It would probably be fully in the favor of the ASUS board if Turbo was enabled given the little extra push in CPU frequencies.
Memory Bandwidth
The extra memory bandwidth isn’t very surprising given the board just ever slightly clocks up the BClk which will produce a little extra. Don’t expect any gains in video games. You might notice a minimal gain when compiling or encoding which we should see shortly.
Cinebench R10
As mentioned above, you can see how the extra BClk increases performance. This benchmark is heavily dependent on CPU execution and its efficient use of memory bandwidth.
PCMark Vantage
PC Mark mimics overall system performance and breaks it down to the categories as shown in the chart. Ultimately, both of the equally priced platforms just about match leaning a little in favor of the ASUS P7P55D PRO.
3DMark Vantage
Despite the performance gains in Cinenbench R10, the extra frequency bump in the BClk didn’t do much for 3DMark Vantage. It seems to put the performance of both systems into perspective.