Intel Core i3-3220 review

Testing

To evaluate the Ivy Bridge processors we used the Asus Maximus V gene, one of several Z77 motherboards we are putting through their paces in the bit-tech lab right now.

To test the AMD FX-8350 we used the Asus Crosshair V Formula motherboard which is based on the AMD 990FX chipset and Socket AM3+ CPU socket.

For the Intel LGA1155 processors, we used the Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z and for the LGA1336 processors, we used the Asus Sabertooth X58.

Test Setup

Software

Below is a list of the applications we've used for our testing - most of them are available free for public consumption, although some are popular professional software applications.

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  
• Crysis 2
  
• WPrime v2.05
  
• Our own Media Benchmarks v2007.235
  
• Maxon Cinebench 11.5R (x64)

We've used Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1, as this is the most flexible and reliable 64-bit OS for testing the applications above.

Test Hardware

• Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 4GB graphics card (GeForce driver 306.97 WHQL)
  
• 120GB Patriot Wildfire SSD
  
• Enermax Revolution 85+ 1.05kW power supply
  
• Asus Maximus V Gene Motherboard
  
• Asus Crosshair V Formula motherboard
  
• Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboard
  
• Asus Sabertooth X58 motherboard
  
• 4/6GB (2GB DIMMs) Corsair 1,600MHz DDR3 memory (CL9)
  
• 16GB (4GB DIMMs) G.Skill 2,133MHz DDR3 memory (CL9)
  
• Corsair H100 CPU cooler for Ivy bridge LGA1155 CPUs,
• Corsair H80 CPU cooler for LGA2011 processors; Thermaltake Frio CPU cooler for AMD processors; Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro cooler for Intel LGA1155 processors and the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced for Intel LGA1366 processors.

For CPUs with on-board GPUs, we also tested them with no discrete GPU.

The table below lists how we overclocked each CPU that we benchmarked that is included in this article: