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.


In our multithreaded h.264 video encoding tests the X58 Pro stayed on par with the majority of X58 boards that we've tested, with a score that only the Gigabyte GA-EX58-DS4 has managed to beat.

GIMP Image Editing

Website: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)

Our GIMP image editing test simulates how well a PC can manipulate a collection of large digital photos, and to achieve a low time requires a PC with a powerful CPU, plenty of quick memory and efficient hard disk drive access.


With GIMP image editing, the MSI actually tops the tables with an impressive performance, stretching out a five second lead over the next best X58 motherboard and beating the Gigabyte UD4P by a significant eight seconds here.

Multitasking Performance

Website: MPC-HC
Website: 7-Zip

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.


Finally in the multitasking test the board performs really very well, only dropping a second to the much more expensive Foxconn and nosing ahead of the similarly priced Gigabyte boards too, although one to two seconds doesn't make an awful lot of difference in the real world.