Gateway FX530: Mad Cows and Quad Core Overclocking
by Jarred Walton on February 9, 2007 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
3D Rendering and Encoding
Going along with the Futuremark application suites, we have some other benchmarks that test general system performance. Unlike Futuremark, 3D rendering and video encoding both stand to benefit a lot from quad core processors, and it is here that we expect the Gateway FX530 to show the largest improvements over the other systems. If the QX6700 is already the fastest solution in these benchmarks, a 20% overclock should only improve upon the already excellent performance.
In these particular tasks, the Gateway FX530 excels. As expected, the overclocked processor helps it to place at the top of the charts in every one of these benchmarks. The improvement relative to a stock QX6700 with DDR2-800 memory ranges from 12.5% up to 20%. In the case of the iTunes test, the Gateway system even scores 45% higher than the nearest competitor, and we're not quite sure why. We shouldn't see more than a 20% performance improvement relative to a stock QX6700, so either the encoder settings were different or differing versions of the iTunes improved performance. Either way, a 3.2 GHz Core 2 Quad processor is going to be more than happy doing 3D rendering or video encoding. It's too bad that not many other applications can utilize all four processor cores this well.
Going along with the Futuremark application suites, we have some other benchmarks that test general system performance. Unlike Futuremark, 3D rendering and video encoding both stand to benefit a lot from quad core processors, and it is here that we expect the Gateway FX530 to show the largest improvements over the other systems. If the QX6700 is already the fastest solution in these benchmarks, a 20% overclock should only improve upon the already excellent performance.
In these particular tasks, the Gateway FX530 excels. As expected, the overclocked processor helps it to place at the top of the charts in every one of these benchmarks. The improvement relative to a stock QX6700 with DDR2-800 memory ranges from 12.5% up to 20%. In the case of the iTunes test, the Gateway system even scores 45% higher than the nearest competitor, and we're not quite sure why. We shouldn't see more than a 20% performance improvement relative to a stock QX6700, so either the encoder settings were different or differing versions of the iTunes improved performance. Either way, a 3.2 GHz Core 2 Quad processor is going to be more than happy doing 3D rendering or video encoding. It's too bad that not many other applications can utilize all four processor cores this well.
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Tuvoc - Saturday, February 17, 2007 - link
Thanks for that.Presumably there was no evidence of throttling while you were testing ? I'm surprised at 1.45v on air at 3.2 that it stayed cool enough. Maybe the BTX case design helps a lot
I have an Intel Quad Core on an ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i which you've reviewed. With vcore on auto (which os presumably the default 1.35v), CPU-Z reports as low as 1.20v under full load, from a starting value of about 1.28 (vdroop on this board is a little higher than normal as you found in your review). But the difference between the Gateway 1.45v BIOS setting and the CPU-Z figure of 1.238v is extreme...
Now if only I could get a proper coretemp program to monitor temps under Vista x64..... (I mean proper core temps, not ASUS Probe temps..)
PrinceGaz - Saturday, February 10, 2007 - link
I know it is already overclocked to 3.2GHz, but it would have been nice if you reported the core-temperatures and found out how much further it would overclock. Assuming of course the options were available in the BIOS for further overclocking and over-volting.anandtech02148 - Saturday, February 10, 2007 - link
Lianli Case would be luxury and modular. you can take out parts just so to fit a 8800gtx.$4000 to spend, there's a riches that this Gateway can only show with a quad cpu. no fancy rams or mobos.
Genx87 - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
Yup that's a Gateway. I hate their cases btw.bamacre - Saturday, February 10, 2007 - link
Yeah, me too. I think as far as OEM's, Dell has the best cases, hands down.Vidmar - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
One thing I didn't see mentioned in your article is that all Gateways are now being built (assembled) in the USA. Also all Gateway support is located in the USA as well. I think these two points are major pluses for that company.Vidmar - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
Ahh now I do see a bit on the support "Finally, Gateway also makes a point that they now offer 100% North America based phone support, so that should generally keep the communication barrier down to a minimum".Thanks!
Crassus - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
Revisiting the AMD Quad FX-74 power draw under load:When I looked at those numbers, suddenly a scene from one of the Harry Potter movies popped up in my mind. It's Harry waving his wand at something shouting "Ridiculous". In this case, it's a FX-74.
For the record: I run a X2 and am pretty happy with it, and I'm not going to swap it out anytime soon.
shortylickens - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
This baby uses my companies memory.Operandi - Friday, February 9, 2007 - link
For $4,000 that is pretty blah looking box compared to an XPS or a Lian Li for your custom build.Also in regards to the PSU. Delta make very high quality units, much better then 90% of the "enthusiasts" class PSUs at any rate.