Phenom II X3 720BE & CrossFire X Performance - Does it Compete?
by Gary Key on March 28, 2009 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Race Driver: GRID
The more serious racing fans on the staff tend to end up at iRacing.com or playing a modified version of Grand Prix Legends for our racing simulation fix. However, there comes a time to throw out physics and just have some fun. In that case, GRID is the game we play. We turn up all the options, set AA to 2x, and let the rubber burn in a Race Day event. Our results are captured via FRAPS and we average three test runs for our final score.
At 1680x1050 in single card mode, we have a surprise winner here with the 720BE placing first. Of course, all four platforms have very close scores, but the Phenom II X3 720BE get the trophy. The 720BE leads the X4 940 by less than a percent in our tests. We raised the Northbridge speed on the X4 940 from 1.8GHz to 2.0GHz and noticed almost identical results with the X3 720BE scores listed. Adding a second card for CrossFire operation improves average frame rates by 6% and minimum frame rates by 9% for the 720BE. Overclocking this little gem resulted in an 23% average improvement in average frame rates and 22% in minimum frame rates. Of course, the i7 platform offers excellent performance in CrossFire operation as indicated by the numbers. The Q9550 needs a 12% overclock advantage to surpass the Phenom II systems.
Turning the resolution up to 1920x1200 results in a similar pattern across platforms at 1680x1050. Our Phenom II systems trade places at this resolution in the single card and CrossFire results, although the scores are within our .05% margin of error. Spending an additional $199 for that second card will improve average frame rates by 20% and minimum frame rates by 14% for the 720BE. Spending $50 for a good air cooler and overclocking the 720BE resulted in a 23% improvement in average frame rates and 20% in minimum frame rates.
Once again, our game play experience indicates there is no difference between the four platforms at our particular settings. Although frame rates were higher with the i7 in CrossFire mode, there was no appreciable difference in game play quality. The X3 720BE is every bit the match of the its more expensive cousin, the X4 940, in this game.
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Griswold - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
Hi Bertha!StormyParis - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
do we have any idea of the %age of gamers who actually have an xfire (or nvidia's equivalent) config ? I personnally know of none, and always wonder when I see such a review what use it is...MrSpadge - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
All people that I know who do multi-GPU do it for BOINC or folding.TA152H - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
Does the 9550 have the same issues on the x48? You mentioned that the differences were minor, so I'm guessing they did, but, even a few fps seems relevant there, since that's all the more fluid AMD processors had.just4U - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
I agree with your conclusions about the 720BE. It's a nice compromise for those looking at Dual cores and Quads. It's also at a really reasonable price that competes against the 8400 and maybe to a lesser extent the 7500 which I think is priced to high. For those that want a Quad but might not be able to afford it this is a excellent substitute that's actually cheaper then the other two.. (go figure!)If someone offered me a 8400 or the 720BE for free and said choose I'd take the 720 without even a thought. Hell It's even got a selling point over the 920 in being a black edition with unlocked multi's.
abzillah - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
I have my phenom II 720 overclocked to 3570 Mhz using a Xigmatek cooler. Without the video card and hard drive, I spent $398 plus tax. This is for a gigabyte micro-ATX board, Corsair PSU, Mushkin 1066 DDR2 Ram, Case, Xigmatek CPU cooler and two Xigmatek case fans. Now I am waiting for the 4890 to come out and prospecting some SSDs for a Raid setup.I love how much money I saved that I can now use towards a video card and two SSDs. So far I love the performance on my new PC.
garbageacc3 - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
you spent so little because you went with mATX.mATX mobos SUCK more than full ATX
albundy2 - Saturday, March 28, 2009 - link
troll much?i know your dad lost his job and your mother to an american, but would it not be more constructive to seek therapy. we didn't do it.
i know you hurt, would you like a hug? some gummy bears perhaps?
a OO buck load to the forehead?
your off to a great start kid. suicide, please consider it...
garbageacc3 - Sunday, March 29, 2009 - link
fag fuck much?i know you're a teabag loving faggot.
americunts are dumb, fat, and big'o smelly fishy PUSSIES and no one would want to fuck any of you fatties.
i don't want a hug cause your man tits would crush me.
you're already at a crappy end fat 40 yr old virgin fuck. go off yourself. remember, down the street, not across it.
castration, do it.
ap90033 - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - link
Wow guess Mommy let you use her pc tonight eh?Get a life. No wait please post some other useless comment, I am sure that is your calling in life.