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.


The HandBrake test didn't go well for the UD3R, with it mincing around the bottom of the graph along with Foxconn's Blood Rage a couple of seconds behind the rest of the pack.

GIMP Image Editing

Website: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)


The UD3R did redeem itself in the Gimp image editing tests though, with a strong second place to it's equally price direct competition, the MSI X58 Pro, which was a few seconds faster.

Multitasking Performance

Website: MPC-HC
Website: 7Zip

To run multiple applications well you need a powerful (ideally multi-core) CPU and plenty of RAM. Our multitasking test performs a massive file backup (with encryption) using 7-Zip, while simultaneously playing back a HD movie file using Media Player Classic, making it a seriously demanding test for any PC.


We saw the same in the multitasking tests, with the two 'affordable' Core i7 motherboards beating all the more expensive competition. However, in this test the UD3R edged ahead of the MSI X58 Pro and the Foxconn Blood Rage. That the two cheaper X58 boards have such a strong showing in the the Gimp and multitasking tests merely shows that BIOS engineers and board designers are really getting their heads around Core i7. The poor showing from the UD3R and the MSI X58 Pro in the HandBrake test shows that the more expensive boards are still superior when handling heavy workloads.