Custom PC - UK (2020-02)

How we test

REVIEWS / HOW WE TEST

MOTHERBOARDS

TEST PROCESSORS

 Intel LGA1151 Intel Core i9-9900K

 Intel LGA2066 Intel Core i9-7900X

 AMD AM4 AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

 AMD TRX4 AMD Threadripper 3970X

Our test gear comprises a GeForce RTX 2070 Super Founders

Edition and a 2TB Samsung 970 Pro SSD (or a PCI-E 4 1TB

Corsair MP600 SSD on X570 and TRX40 boards). We also

use Corsair Vengeance RGB 3466MHz DDR4 RAM – a 16GB

dual-channel kit for mainstream systems, and a 32GB quad-

channel kit for HEDT systems.

We u s e Custom PC’s own RealBench suite, and Far

Cry 5 installed on Windows 10 Home 64-bit to test basic

performance. We also test the board’s SATA and M.2 ports,

and record the noise level and dynamic range of the

integrated audio using RightMark Audio Analyzer. We try to

overclock our test CPU to its maximum air-cooled level on

each motherboard, and record the performance results.

Wetestimagequalitywith an Xrite

iDisplay Pro colorimeter and

DisplayCal software to check for

colour accuracy, contrast and

gamma, while assessing more

subjective details such as pixel

density and viewing angles by eye. We also run games on

them to assess their responsiveness, and to see how well any

active sync tech works, and to gauge their performance at

high refresh rates.

MONITORS

TESTMOTHERBOARDS

 Intel LGA1151 MSI MEG Z90 ACE

 Intel LGA2066 MSI MEG X299 Creation

 AMD AM4 Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master

 AMD AM4 (APU) MSI X470 GamingProCarbon

 AMD TRX4 Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme

We otherwise use the same core spec to test each CPU.

Our test gear comprises an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super

Founders Edition (or an APU’s integrated GPU for gaming tests)

and a 2TB Samsung 970 Pro SSD. We also use Corsair

Vengeance RGB 3466MHz DDR4 memory – a 16GB dual-

channel kit for mainstream desktop systems, and a 32GB

quad-channel kit for HEDT systems.

We u s e Custom PC’s own RealBench suite, Cinebench and

Far Cry 5, installed on Windows 10 Home 64-bit, and record the

power draw of the test PC. These tests cover a broad range of

performance characteristics, including image editing,

gaming, video encoding and 3D rendering. We run all tests at

stock speed and at the CPU’s highest overclocked frequency.

PROCESSORS

WemeasuretheCPUtemperature with CoreTemp, and

subtract the ambient air temperature to give a delta T result,

enabling us to test in a lab that isn’t temperature controlled.

We load the CPU with Prime95’s smallfft test and take the

reading after ten minutes.

TEST KIT

Fractal Design Meshify C case, 3000MHz Corsair Vengeance

LPX memory, 256GB Crucial MX100 SSD, be quiet! System

Power 9 500W PSU, Windows 10 64-bit.

INTEL LGA1151

Intel Core i5-9600K CPU overclocked to 4.6GHz with 1.2V

vcore, MSI Z370 PC Pro motherboard.

INTEL LGA2066

Intel Core i9-7900X overclocked to 4.2GHz with 1.15V vcore,

MSI X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC motherboard.

AMD AM4

AMD Ryzen 7 1700 overclocked to 3.9GHz with 1.425V vcore,

Asus ROG Strix B350-F Gaming motherboard.

AMD TR4

AMD Threadripper 2950X overclocked to 4.1GHz with 1.425V

vcore, AMD Threadripper 2990WX overclocked to 4GHz with

1.3375V vcore, ASRock X399M motherboard.

CPU COOLERS