As Nvidia and AMD each launched their newest technology of their graphics {hardware}, we determined that it could be time to improve our current check bench right here at MMORPG.com. So as to guarantee our check outcomes are as correct as they are often, it’s time to retire our outdated 10700K-powered bench in favor of a brand new technology of {hardware}.
Our purpose with our new check bench was to create a system that, when reviewing graphics playing cards particularly, would get rid of attainable bottlenecks in our testing to permit the product we’re testing to really shine via. Whereas GPUs would be the foremost piece of {hardware} this method is constructed for, by getting a few of the most present platforms to construct round, it makes it so testing of every kind is as correct as it may be.
Lots of the components within the system had been offered by the producer as both assessment items prior to now, or just as a sponsor on our check bench construct. We’d wish to thank MSI for offering the motherboard and CPU, Gigabyte for the ability provide, Corsair for the AIO CPU cooling, and ADATA XPG for our RAM kits. As a full disclosure, we bought the exhausting drives and the case for the construct.
Elements
Case: ASUS ROG STRIX Helios ATX Tower Case
Once I first reviewed the Nvidia RTX 4090, the case I used to be utilizing on the time was woefully unprepared for the dimensions of the cardboard. Consequently, my outdated Lian Li O11 Dynamic Razer Version sat open with the aspect panel absolutely off the PC in an effort to accommodate the dimensions. So when planning this new check bench construct we knew we wanted to go along with a case giant sufficient to correctly home the GPUs we’ll be testing.
Enter ASUS ROG’s Helios case. This towering, erm, tower, has a lot room within the case that it made it a dream to construct in, particularly in relation to its pathing for cable administration. Figuring out as properly that I would want room to retailer further PCIe cables for these instances I’ve a GPU within the case that doesn’t require 4 connectors, having the ability to simply cover these when not in use was a plus.
What actually caught my eye, although, had been the whole tempered glass aspect panels, in addition to the RGB emblazoned entrance panel glass. It’s a powerful case to take a look at, simple to take aside in constructing (which is essential when swapping GPUs a number of instances in a day), and it additionally anticipates giant GPUs by having built-in anti-sag GPU helps within the case. It’s the right dwelling for the {hardware} we’re testing.
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 Carbon Wi-Fi
The MSI MPG Z790 Carbon Wi-Fi motherboard drives the entire system, offering the platform for the thirteenth technology of Intel CPUs. The premium entry within the MSI MPG line-up, this motherboard is feature-rich, overclocking prepared, and gives assist for high-end NVMe drives in addition to DDR5 RAM.
The MPG Z790 Carbon Wi-Fi additionally helps high-quality audio, in addition to 2.5GB LAN and WiFi 6E. It is a highly effective motherboard and is definitely capable of drive the kind of testing we shall be doing on the bench for years to return. Take a look at our full assessment of the motherboard for extra particulars.
Processor: Intel Core i9-13900K
The Intel i9-13900K is among the greatest gaming CPUs in the marketplace so far, able to driving every little thing from gaming, to productiveness and extra with ease. It’s a beast of a processor with 24 cores (8 Efficiency cores and 16 Effectivity cores) to drive essentially the most CPU-bound of gaming functions with out buckling, render video in our modifying suites, or simply play a cat video on YouTube when wanted. It’s an amazing processor that may hopefully take the CPU out of the equation when benchmarking GPUs particularly.
Cooling: Corsair H150i Elite LCD AIO 360mm Liquid Cooler
Corsair offered us with a beast of a cooler in an effort to hold the temperatures of our Intel i9-13900K in verify. This large 360mm radiator helps to maintain temps down with its three, 120mm followers spinning each time the CPU is in want of a cooldown. The LCD display screen on the radiator pump lets us simply monitor our temperatures, fan speeds, and extra…or in my case, it serves as a reminder that these Hobbits had been taken to Isengard.
Reminiscence: ADATA XPG Lancer DDR5-5200 (2x16GB; 32GB whole)
For our RAM, we went with ADATA’s XPG Lancer sequence of reminiscence, bringing the DDR5 speeds to the construct. The package is quick, with speeds as much as 5200 MHz when XMP is enabled. The RAM doesn’t have the RGB fittings our RGB construct does, however what it lacks in glorified rainbow lights it makes up for by being quick sufficient to assist pace video games together with extra constant framerates.
SSD Storage Drives: Samsung EVO 980 Professional Gen 4×4 NVMe M.2 1 TB SSD and Intel 760p 2TB NVMe M.2 drive
For our boot drive, we needed to make the most of the MSI mobo’s Gen 4 speeds, so we opted for the Samsung EVO 980 Professional NVMe M.2 drive. With 1TB of storage, this drive is greater than sufficient to accommodate Home windows to get us the place we have to go rapidly.
For video games, we’ve used the Intel 760p 2TB NVMe M.2 drive for some time in our system, and there didn’t appear to be a purpose to cease. This speedy drive has sufficient storage to accommodate the totally different video games we check recurrently, whereas additionally loading with the speeds to make every check a breeze.
Energy Provide: Gigabyte AORUS P1200W 80+ Platinum Modular Energy Provide
With GPUs and different PC components merely needing extra energy to drive the efficiency we’re after, a beefy energy provide was a should. Gigabyte offered us with their AORUS 1200W 80+ platinum PSU to do exactly that. In a position to present constant energy due to its 80 Plus Platinum certification, in addition to hold itself cool underneath strain due to a 140mm double-ball bearing fan contained in the PSU housing.
Like our liquid cooler, the AORUS energy provide has an LCD display screen of its personal, providing you with statistics reminiscent of whole energy utilization, uptime on your PC, and way more (and due to the case’s PSU window, we’re capable of see it in all its LCD glory).
The Ultimate System – How Does it Carry out?
For some this construct is sorely missing in RGB, which I gained’t essentially disagree (significantly, I used to be truly shocked the Helios case didn’t include RGB followers if I’m trustworthy), however the function of this construct wasn’t essentially to be a present stopper when individuals walked into the workplace. Somewhat it’s to drive dwelling one of the best efficiency throughout our GPU testing.
And, to date, it has carried out so. In our testing since this construct was accomplished, we’re seeing outcomes that actually showcase the GPUs we’re placing via the paces, with as little influence from the remainder of the {hardware}. Our latest ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Ti OC assessment displays this, because it’s the primary printed assessment with the brand new {hardware}. As we transfer via the subsequent few months we’ll be absolutely benching all of our graphics playing cards in our new check bench to make sure that the numbers we offer in opinions are as correct as attainable.
We ran the suite of PCMark 10 full system benchmarks, which check the PC in numerous varied duties. Testing the bench with the RTX 4080 Founder’s Version put in, the PC carried out fairly properly, with PCMark 10 noting that the result’s higher than 99% of all different outcomes (which I imply, is spectacular).
Really enjoying video games on the PC, which is the meat and potatoes of what that is meant to do throughout our GPU and different {hardware} exams, is unbelievable. Paired with my Acer Predator CG437K HDR GSync monitor, video games shine on this rig. Enjoying via the tip of the principle story of Shadowbringers was a breeze, and fast-paced video games reminiscent of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide whereas using DLSS 3 felt like gliding via butter.
CPU-intensive video games, reminiscent of Victoria 3, in the meantime, by no means noticed that late-game slog many CPUs buckle underneath because the simulation will get an increasing number of complicated. It has actually made gaming a pleasure, as every little thing I’ve thrown at it, from Cyberpunk: 2077, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Full Version, Victoria 3 and Crusader Kings 3, Ultimate Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, and plenty of, many extra, have all simply performed as they need to: extremely.
I discovered myself throughout these gameplay classes not worrying about tweaking graphics or settings to lock in one of the best efficiency. It simply did carry out one of the best utilizing max settings by default. To me, that interprets on to the way it will carry out in testing. Consequently, I’m assured it’ll really showcase the components we’re placing via its paces, not merely the half, plus the pitfalls of the opposite parts that could be holding again outcomes.
Ultimate Ideas
The entire course of to construct the PC took a somewhat quick time, contemplating it had been some time since I’d carried out a complete construct like this. Fortunately, the dimensions of the ASUS ROG Strix Helios case made constructing in it a dream, and whereas my PCs are usually not essentially the most cable-managed affairs, this case as I discussed above made it comparatively painless to create a seamless, clear outcome.
The Corsair cooler was additionally comparatively painless to put in, with my solely actual concern on the time being that I made positive the LCD display screen was dealing with the appropriate aspect up. Fortunately, that’s actually the one manner you may set up it, so it was a moot level ultimately.
Our Gigabyte AORUS PSU was additionally a cinch to put in, although wiring the 4 PCIe cables I would want for the RTX 4090 up via the underside of the case into the principle chamber was a little bit of a ache. Nevertheless, the general construct turned out clear due to the truth that I solely wanted to make use of the cables that might truly be used within the construct (due to whoever thought to make most traditional PSUs modular now!), and the display screen appears to be like improbable via the PSU window within the case itself.
On the finish of the day, we’re trying to proceed offering one of the best {hardware} opinions attainable, and by guaranteeing our bench is as much as spec, we will higher obtain that purpose.
What do you consider the brand new check bench? Are there are any components you would possibly swap out for one thing totally different? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
