Test Methodology
Comparison Motherboard Configurations |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Asus Z170 Pro Gaming/Aura |
Gigabyte Z170-Gaming K3 |
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| Reviewed Price | £150 |
£100 |
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| Firmware Version | 0311 |
F3h |
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| Chipset | Z170 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-6700K |
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| CPU Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 |
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| CPU Base Clock / Turbo | 4.0GHz / 4.2GHz |
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| CPU Cache | 8MB |
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| CPU TDP | 91W |
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| Memory | Corsair Vengeance LED 16GB (2x8GB) |
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| Memory Speed | DDR4-2400 |
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| Memory Timings | 16-17-17-36-2T |
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| Graphics | EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW |
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| Graphics Driver | GeForce 372.54 |
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| Storage Device | SK hynix Canvas SC300 512GB |
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| Power Supply | be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 (1,000W) |
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| Operating System | Windows 10 Home AE (64-bit) |
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CPU and Memory Benchmarks |
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|---|---|---|---|
| HEXUS PiFast | Our number-crunching benchmark stresses a single core by calculating Pi to 10m places. | ||
| Cinebench | Using Cinebench's multi-CPU render, this cross-platform benchmark stresses all cores. | ||
| Handbrake | Free-to-use video encoder that stresses all CPU cores. | ||
Storage Benchmarks |
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| CrystalDiskMark | Popular free-to-use storage benchmark, used to gauge read and write performance via M.2 (256GB Samsung 950 Pro NVMe), SATA (512GB SK hynix Canvas SC300) and USB 3.1 (512GB SK hynix Canvas SC300). | ||
Gaming Benchmarks |
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| 3DMark | Run using Fire Strike Ultra 4K UHD test. | ||
| Dirt Rally | Benchmarked at a 4K UHD resolution with 4xMSAA and ultra quality settings. | ||
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Benchmarked at a 4K UHD resolution with DX12 enabled, FXAA and very-high quality settings. | ||
Miscellaneous Benchmarks |
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| Power Consumption | Noted at idle, while running the HandBrake video-transcoding test and when playing Dirt Rally. | ||
Notes
We've historically had a large number of benchmarks detailing performance between chipsets. Due to the levels of integration in the processor practically all modern motherboards benchmark at the same levels, give or take a per cent or two, so 30-odd graphs showing near-identical performance isn't what you (or we) want to see.
We're running a nine benchmarks - three each for CPU, storage and gaming - to see if the boards perform at the expected levels. This is more of a sanity check than anything else, and we'll then dabble with a touch of CPU overclocking.