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PCMark 2002, also from MadOnion.com, is a fairly new
benchmark tool that we are using these days in the
HotHardware.com Lab.
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PCMark
2002 CPU Performance Test and Quake 3 |
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Easy to use and
relative testing from the good folks at MadOnion |
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Here's what the
folks at MadOnion say about the CPU Test in this benchmark
suite.
PCMark 2002 - CPU Test:
This test
performs the following benchmarks:
- JPEG
decompression
- Zlib
compression & decompression
- Text
search
- MP3
Audio Conversion
- 3D
Vector Calculation
The overall CPU score is calculated from the
results of tests described above according to the formula:
CPU Score =
{ JPEG Decompression*60,6 + (FileCompression*153,8 +
FileDecompression*12,4)/2 + TextSearch*4,9 + AudioConversion*11,1
+ 3DVectorCalculation* 16,7 }
This formula has been obtained
by separately fixing the individual results on multiple
manufacturers' high-end systems to a reference point. The
final weighting (multipliers) have then been averaged from
the individual weightings.
Here, once
again, the song remains the same. The two platforms
are neck and neck with a slight nod to the SiS645 board this
time. Again, the differential is quite small however,
at less than 2% and also within this test's margin of error.
Let's wrap with
a little Q3 Time Demo action...
Here we've
isolated processor and system memory performance with a low
resolution 640X480 16 bit color test. The GeForce3 Ti
500 card we used for testing, will not be the limiting
factor in this type of test setup. Another virtual
repeat is displayed here, with the SiS645 based SD7-533 less
than 2 frames behind the i850/RDRAM driven TH7II-RAID. With
good PC2700 memory, the DDR333 platform for the P4 can
certainly compete with most any i850 and PC800 RDRAM setup.
We certainly
learned a lot in this review and we hope you were able to
take something away from it as well. First, PC2700
DRAM technology is finally a reality and the merits of using
good PC2700 qualified DDR modules, like those we tested from
Crucial,
are obvious. Prior to today, running a SiS645 board
with anything less, is like fighting with one hand bound
behind you back. On the other hand, when the SiS645 is
paired up with good quality PC2700 DDR DRAM, it competes
handily with the i850 and PC800 RDRAM. However, as we
know now, Intel is once again upping the anti with the soon
to be released i850E chipset, which will bring PC1066 RDRAM
support as well as a 533MHz FSB to the platform. The
question there is, how long will end users have to wait for
qualified PC1066 RDRAM and for Intel to qualify it?
Regardless, we
are certainly impressed with what the SiS645 has become with
maturity and good memory. The Abit SD7-533 is a fine
example of a quality SiS645 based design but not without a
couple of caveats. First, the Front Side Bus Divisors
for AGP, PCI and Memory Timings, is completely and
unnecessarily complicated and confusing. Abit needs to
go back and take a look at this setup and hopefully release
a BIOS that makes things a little more user friendly.
Furthermore, while they're at it, we would like to see a
little more voltage boost available for CPU overclocking as
well. Add to that a little Highpoint RAID, Integrated
LAN or both and we'll have a near perfect SiS645 board.
However, we need to remind you as well, that this board is
more targeted to the value segment. The SD7-533, with
its less than $90 street price tag, is a welcome addition to
getting top end Pentium 4 performance, without the added
cost of an i850 motherboard.
Abit's SD7-533:
We're giving the
Abit SD7-533 a HotHardware Heat Meter Rating of...
7.5
Crucial DDR
PC2700 DRAM Modules:
While we're at
it we're going to give Crucial's PC2700 Memory a little Heat
Meter action all its own and we think you'll like it...
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