Test System Setup

Processor(s): Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 @ 4GHz (400MHz x 10)

Cooling: Swiftech Apogee GTX Block (CPU) 3x 120mm Radiator, MCP655-B Pump

Motherboard(s): GIGABYTE X48-DQ6 and GIGABYTE P45-DQ6

Memory: 2 X 2GB OCZ Reaper X 1066MHz DDR-2

Hard Disk(s): Western Digital Velociraptor 300GB 10,00RPM SATA

Operating System: Windows Vista SP1

Drivers: Catalyst 8.6 Beta

Our focus today is the graphics performance between these two chipsets. So let's see if there is much of a difference with the x8/x8 combination that the P45 uses Vs. the X48 x16/x16 setup.

3DMark06

Version and / or Patch Used: Build 110

Developer Homepage: http://www.futuremark.com

Product Homepage: http://www.futuremark.com/products/3dmark06/

Buy It Here

3DMark06 is the very latest version of the "Gamers Benchmark" from FutureMark. The newest version of 3DMark expands on the tests in 3DMark05 by adding graphical effects using Shader Model 3.0 and HDR (High Dynamic Range lighting) which will push even the best DX9 graphics cards to the extremes.

3DMark06 also focuses on not just the GPU but the CPU using the AGEIA PhysX software physics library to effectively test single and Dual Core processors.

Our first test shows very little difference between the two configurations.