Handbrake H.264 Encoding

Website: HandBrake
Our test uses HandBrake - an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder, available for MacOS X, Linux and Windows - to encode a high resolution MPEG-2 video using the H.264 codec. This primarily tests multi-threaded CPU and memory subsystem performance.


Not an especially good start for Renaissance with the board coming in joint last with the Foxconn Blood Rage. It’s likely that a common component in the two boards is slightly impeding the Core i7’s ability to tear through the H.264 encoding test.

GIMP Image Editing

Website: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)


The Foxconn failed to pull back from its bad start in the GIMP image editing test, where it was by far the slowest X58 board we've tested. Its score of 363 is a massive 24 seconds slower than others we've seen in the X58 family.

Multitasking Performance

Website: MPC-HC
Website: 7-Zip


Rather bizarrely, the board excelled in the multitasking test. Again these results are comparable to the Foxconn Blood Rage and is likely to be because they share common components.