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PCMark Vantage System Tests
PCMark Vantage is an objective hardware performance benchmark tool for PCs running 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7. PCMark Vantage is well suited for benchmarking any type of Microsoft Windows Vista/7 PC: from multimedia home entertainment systems and laptops, to dedicated workstations and high-end gaming rigs. Benchmark Reviews has decided to use a few select tests from the suite to demonstrate simulated real-world processor usage in this article. Our tests were conducted on 64-bit Windows 7, with results displayed in the chart below.
TV and Movies Suite
- TV and Movies 1 (CPU=50%, RAM=2%, GPU=45%, SSD=3%)
- Two simultaneous threads
- Video transcoding: HD DVD to media server archive
- Video playback: HD DVD w/ additional lower bitrate HD content from HDD, as downloaded from net
- TV and Movies 2 (CPU=50%, RAM=2%, GPU=45%, SSD=3%)
- Two simultaneous threads
- Video transcoding: HD DVD to media server archive
- Video playback, HD MPEG-2: 19.39 Mbps terrestrial HDTV playback
- TV and Movies 3 (SSD=100%)
- TV and Movies 4 (CPU=50%, RAM=2%, GPU=45%, SSD=3%)
- Video transcoding: media server archive to portable device
- Video playback, HD MPEG-2: 48 Mbps Blu-ray playback
Gaming Suite*
- Gaming 1 (CPU=30%, GPU=70%)
- Gaming 2 (SSD=100%)
- Gaming 3 (CPU=75%, RAM=5%, SSD=20%)
- Two simultaneous threads
- CPU game test
- Data decompression: level loading
- Gaming 4 (CPU=42%, RAM=1%, GPU=24%, SSD=33%)
- Three simultaneous threads
- GPU game test
- CPU game test
- HDD: game HDD
Music Suite
- Music 1 (CPU=50%, RAM=3%, GPU=13%, SSD=34%)
- Three simultaneous threads
- Web page rendering - w/ music shop content
- Audio transcoding: WAV -> WMA lossless
- HDD: Adding music to Windows Media Player
- Music 2 (CPU=100%)
- Audio transcoding: WAV -> WMA lossless
- Music 3 (CPU=100%)
- Audio transcoding: MP3 -> WMA
- Music 4 (CPU=50%, SSD=50%)
- Two simultaneous threads
- Audio transcoding: WMA -> WMA
- HDD: Adding music to Windows Media Player
* EDITOR'S NOTE: Hopefully our readers will carefully consider how relative PCMark Vantage is as "real-world" benchmark, since many of the tests rely on unrelated hardware components. For example, per the FutureMark PCMark Vantage White Paper document, Gaming test #2 weighs the storage device for 100% of the test score. In fact, according to PCMark Vantage the video card only impacts 23% of the total gaming score, but the CPU represents 37% of the final score. As our tests in this article (and many others) has already proven, gaming performance has a lot more to do with the GPU than the CPU, and especially more than the hard drive or SSD (which is worth 38% of the final gaming performance score).
Next we look at the results of the SiSoftware Sandra CPU tests.
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BmR Reviews: 
Comments
It seems like they could have easily saved a good bit of money not adding it to the motherboard. Additionally, I agree with ChrisH, that the "plastic divider" will act more as a thermal insulator, and drive component temps up. Luckily Sandy Bridge has a low thermal load.
The one thing that I do like about TUF armor, is that it might serve to protect the motherboard against small objects that could accidentally fall on it.
The in-depth review was greatly appreciated.
As far as the Military Grade components, the reason they are limited to a few boards, I believe, is due to the cost inherent in using those components. ASUS still has to offer low-end motherboards and even higher-end motherboards at competitive prices. If they maintained all the features of those boards and used the higher grade components, the costs would be quite a bit higher.
Besides, even with the 25% better quality and longer life-span, nearly any motherboard made by the major manufacturers will long outlast it's usefulness to you.
-Hank
However, before I can go playing with all the latest & greatest features, I am stuck with my Sabertooth's waking up from sleep problem. Which is a common problem among many users and there is an extensive discussion on the matter at vip asus forum. Even inconclusive, the current Sabertooth board has compatibility issue with many models of power supply. Thus after into sleep mode, the system can no longer wake up.
I just wonder that if you have the time and resources to try Sabertooth + i7-2600k with different PSUs to see if the bug exists on your board. FYI, I have 10 fans in total, 5 case fans, 2 cpu fans, 2 vga fans, and 1 assistant fan. If I move the power source of all five case fans and one cpu fan to a seperate power supply, the wakeup works, but not stable. If pc sleeps too long (few hours), it won't wakeup.
I've heard those options prevent system from recovering after sleep.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time or PSUs to try the different combinations. Also, I don't use the sleep function. Ever. So I haven't experienced this problem. That being said, I will certainly look into the issue and even try it out. If I find out anything that helps I will post back here.
Thanks!
Hank
It's too bad that Asus doesn't provide the needed fan and instructions. In another forum they indicated that they don't include the fan since they they can't warrant electromechanical stuff for as long as the mobo itself. But without the fan exhausting air, the armor makes no sense.
I also fault Asus support for not knowing or explaining how the armor is designed to be used. Blowing hot air down into it would clearly be ridiculous. I'm sure that whoever championed the armor idea back in the design groups is chagrined at how it has worked out when finally named, logo'd, stickered, sold, and supported.
Multi-GPU Support: Supports NVIDIAŽ Quad-GPU SLI? Technology
##asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/SABERTOOTH_P67/#specifications
on the Assist fan, its location is poor, it tends to block the top pci-e slot. Asus recomends a 50mmx50mmx10mm fan for this assist slot, a fan of that size is nearly useless, and is very noisy, if you get a 15mm thick fan or a 20mm thick fan it will be much better and quieter. the problem is this, the screws are two short for the 20mm fan, so you will need longer screws, Asus does not identify the thread pitch so you don't know what size screws to buy, The ability to control the assist fan speed is limited, and not mentioned in the manual at all.
The manual sucks big time, the pictures and line drawings are so small you can not even read it without a powerful magnafier. It leaves out critical info.The fan connector picture identify the pins with different anacronyms and does not explain what those mean. The 3 pin fan is id as gnd, 12v, and rotation, (define rotation), the 4 pin fan headers are id as gnd, cpu fan pwr, cpu fan in, cpu fan pwm, (define, fan pwr, and cpu fan in) well as I said the manual sucks.
There is a Green 20 pin connector thats supposed to provided for the front usb 3.0 ports, this cable is not provided, and I have no Idea where to get it, Asus doesn't seem to know. The Asus user forum is not monitored relying on mystified users to supply all help to users. Scan this forum to see a real review of this product. Severe Bios issues, Severe temp issues, Wake on lan issues, RMA issues. BBB has given Asus an F rating for failure to respond to complaints. I own one, I would not recommend this company or product. When the forum is filled with questions about overclocking, things are good, when its filled by complaints of RMA and feature that don't work, things are bad, don't accept my word for it, read the forums for yourself