Test: Foxconn Blackops - UK

Test

The testsystem is :
Mainboard  - Foxconn Blackops  BIOS: G28
CPU - QX6850@3.0GHz  and E8500@3.0GHz
Graphics - BFG 8800 GTS 320MB
RAM - Patriot PC3-14400 CL8
PSU - OCZ 600W Powerstream
Harddisk - WD Raptor 80GB
 

Cooling
• XSPC X2O Delta, 10mm
• Hydor L30 pump, 1200L/h
• Alphacool NexXxoS Pro Dual radiator


Northbridge
• Foxconn 60mm fan - til luftkøling.
• X2O Pumpe/reservoir 400L/h
• BlackIce Extreme 120

Software
• Windows XP Pro w. SP2
• PCmark05
• CineBench 10
• SuperPI mod.1.5 XS
• DVD Shrink 3.2
• 3Dmark03
• 3Dmark06
• Aquamark3
• Crysis CPU timedemo
• FarCry Regulator Demo

PCmark05

This benchmark contains regular officetype tasks like unpacking zip archives, scanning for viruses, rendering a webpage ao.

Performance is on par with the two big-ones from ASUS, the Rampage and P5K3 Deluxe. We are off to a good start, let us see what happens when we go for some extensive multitasking.
 

Cinebench 10

The Cinebench test contains a small moviesequence running on OpenGL drivers, and a photo that is rendered twice. First with only one cpu core calculating, and then with all available cores put to maximum use. Ideally a quadcore cpu should quadruple the speed.

Blackops does really well in this test, and even manages to break the 10900 point barrier for the first time.
 

SuperPI 1M

It is time to crunch some numbers. One million decimals on PI must be calculated in shortest possible time.

Once again Blackops does well, and leans on abit IX38's 16.750 seconds.
 

DVDshrink 3.2

Before we hit the 3D marks, one final test to see if Blackops is up for some DVD conversion. 1.1GB of DVD files must be compressed to 60% of the original size.

The Blackops is only beaten by Foxconns own MARS board, and makes it in 48 seconds.
 

Right then - time for some 3D testing. You do not want to invest in a new board if it is not up to the 3D challenge.
 

3Dmark03

Excactly the same score ad the Gigabyte EP45-DS3R, and in the high ebnd of the scale.

3Dmark06

Lets see if the 06 version can offer some resistance..

This is a very tight run, and there is less than 1% difference in the scores. Blackops is in the middle.

Aquamark3

We will have one more synthetic test before we hit the demos. Aquamark is also an oldie, but still it gives us a quick overview of any potential performance problems.

A slap in the face for the competition here. I do not know why, but it seems as if Blackops loves the Aquamark test.

The rest is up to Crysis and FarCry demos. The benchmarks are run at different resolutions and filtering levels to give a more nuanced testsequence.

Crysis CPU benchmark

The demovesrsion of Crysis contains a CPU demo that I will use. The test is run at low, medium and high settings.

There are minor differences, but in general Blackops is at the top when it comes to the all important average framerate. Very good result.

Far Cry Regulator Demo

And to finish off, the CRYSIS predecessor FarCry. It still packs a punch and with all the eyecandy enabled you need a powerful system.
 

Here too Blackops gets a fine score.

All in all the Foxconn Blackops has a tendency to finish all our standard benchmarks in the high end of the scale, leaving nothing to complain about. Now all we need to find out, is how much juice is left in the grape. I am talking about overclocking ofcourse, and since this motherboard has a rather special cooling solution, I have decided to extend the effords a little on this one.