Test Methodology
Comparison Configurations |
||
|---|---|---|
| Model | ||
| Firmware Version | 0702 |
7B77v190 |
| Chipset | X570 |
X470 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |
| CPU Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 |
8 / 16 |
| CPU Base Clock / Turbo | 3.8GHz / 4.6GHz |
3.7GHz / 4.3GHz |
| CPU TDP | 105W |
|
| Memory | G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-3200 32GB |
|
| Memory Speed | DDR4-3200 |
DDR4-2933 |
| Memory Timings | 14-14-14-34-1T |
|
| Graphics | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (19.7.1) |
|
| Primary Storage Device | SK hynix Canvas SC300 (512GB) |
|
| Secondary Storage Device | Corsair MP600 2TB PCIe 4.0 |
|
| Power Supply | be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 (1,000W) |
|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
|
Benchmark Suite |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| HEXUS PiFast | Our number-crunching benchmark stresses a single core by calculating Pi to 10m places | ||||||||||
| Cinebench R20 | Using Cinebench's multi-CPU render, this cross-platform benchmark stresses all cores | ||||||||||
| Handbrake 1.2.2 | Free-to-use video encoder that stresses all CPU cores | ||||||||||
| Storage Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| CrystalDiskMark | Popular free-to-use storage benchmark, used to gauge read and write performance via M.2 (2TB Corsair MP600), SATA (512GB SK hynix Canvas SC300) and USB 3.1 (512GB SK hynix Canvas SC300) | ||||||||||
| Memory Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| AIDA64 | Benchmark that analyses memory bandwidth and latency | ||||||||||
| System Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| 3DMark Time Spy | DX12 graphics benchmark run using the Time Spy test | ||||||||||
| PCMark 10 | System test using the standard preset | ||||||||||
| World of Tanks | Graphics benchmark run at FHD to determine CPU involvement | ||||||||||
| Gaming Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| Civilization VI: Gathering Storm | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | ||||||||||
| Forza Horizon 4 | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | ||||||||||
| Total War: Three Kingdoms | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | ||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Benchmarks | |||||||||||
| Power Consumption | Noted at idle, while running the HandBrake video-transcoding test and when playing Forza Horizon 4 | ||||||||||
Notes
Appreciating the premium nature of the Crosshair VIII Hero WiFi pricing, we have paired it with the current best-in-class Ryzen 9 3900X CPU. Offering context, we have it up against a last-gen Ryzen 7 2700X and decent X470 board from MSI.
The purpose is to show the performance uptick when you take the best of one generation and compare it against its direct predecessor.
Interestingly, we updated the Asus board's BIOS to 0702 prior to testing, which enables slightly higher sustained turbo frequencies than shown in the CPU review. Power consumption, as you will see, goes up a bit, as well.
