For this test we encrypt some precious data with the help of the CPU. We use a combo of encryption algorithms yet, AES dominates here. We see fairly normal performance here, and this is one of these situations where the QX9770 processor takes a strong lead for no real apparent reason.

CPU-Bound 3D Rendering

We recently stumbled onto this great little tool called Kribi bench. It is a 3D rendering benchmark produced by the people at Adept Development. Kribi bench is an SSE aware software renderer where a 3D model is rendered and animated by the host CPU and the average frame rate is reported. Now the great thing is, it therefore bypasses the GPU .. so everything is in direct relation towards your memory and CPU.

We used two of the included models with this benchmark: a "Sponge Explode" model consisting of over 19.2 million polygons and the test suite's "City" model that is comprised of over 107 billion polygons. The score is the actual number of frames rendered by the CPU per second.

This software is a 100% multi-threaded application, which loves SMP, HT and everything you can throw at it. We always see the multiple cores kick in very well with this test, obviously the Phenom 9950 takes a lead therefore. Here we have a situation where the eVGA board really shines again.

3DMark 06 CPU test

Well, everybody loves 3DMark06, and nowadays, it's CPU limited, making it an excellent application to check CPU performance. The scores that you see obviously are the CPU test itself, not overall 3DMark06 scores.

But enough synthetic tests. Let's focus on real-world gaming for a minute.