MSI Big Bang-XPower II X79 Review – A World of Novelty Heatsinks
by Ian Cutress on February 25, 2012 3:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
- MSI
- X79
3D Movement Algorithm Test
The algorithms in 3DPM employ both uniform random number generation or normal distribution random number generation, and vary in various amounts of trigonometric operations, conditional statements, generation and rejection, fused operations, etc. The benchmark runs through six algorithms for a specified number of particles and steps, and calculates the speed of each algorithm, then sums them all for a final score. This is an example of a real world situation that a computational scientist may find themselves in, rather than a pure synthetic benchmark. The benchmark is also parallel between particles simulated, and we test the single thread performance as well as the multi-threaded performance.
Both single and multi-threaded performance is in the top half of the table, however almost all boards are within statistical variance on both tests.
WinRAR x64 3.93 - link
With 64-bit WinRAR, we compress the set of files used in the USB speed tests. WinRAR x64 3.93 attempts to use multithreading when possible.
Impressively the BBXP2 does well on our WinRAR test, coming in at under the golden three minute mark.
FastStone Image Viewer 4.2 - link
FastStone Image Viewer is a free piece of software I have been using for quite a few years now. It allows quick viewing of flat images, as well as resizing, changing color depth, adding simple text or simple filters. It also has a bulk image conversion tool, which we use here. The software currently operates only in single-thread mode, which should change in later versions of the software. For this test, we convert a series of 170 files, of various resolutions, dimensions and types (of a total size of 163MB), all to the .gif format of 640x480 dimensions.
For our FastStone test, the BBXP2 joins a group of boards near the top in at 56 seconds.
Sorenson Squeeze 6.0 - link
Sorenson Squeeze is a professional video encoder, complete with a vast array of options. For this test, we convert 32 HD videos, each a minute long and approximately 42 MB in size, to WMV 512KBps format. Squeeze can encode multiple videos at once, one for each thread.
In our Squeeze test, the board is about average compared to others we have tested.
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physical - Saturday, February 25, 2012 - link
I really don't like firearm themed heatsinks... I don't really like any sort of novelty heatsink. It makes my expensive components look cheap.CloudFire - Saturday, February 25, 2012 - link
Completely agree with you. It annoys me when companies put on gimmicky designs such as bullets/firearms as heatsinks. I've seen plenty of creative/awesome heatsink designs that uses unique angular designs and looks amazing, instead of this crappy feel of "firearms". It's a computer motherboard for crying out loud, not a damn rifle. One thing's for sure, I will never buy any product that has heatsinks looking like that.essemzed - Saturday, February 25, 2012 - link
+1!I would also add that being totally at ease with my penis and its performance, I do not feel compelled to find comfort in the purchase of this childish motherboard.
(apologies for my broken english!)
smz
Bownce - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - link
Freud wrote, "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity". Time to give the firearm bashing a rest and get back to tech.g00ey - Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - link
Sorry, but Freud never wrote that. The statement is a misconception and a paraphrase of Freud's work from "Guns, Murders, and the Constitution" (February 1990) by Don B. Kates, Jr.bigboxes - Saturday, February 25, 2012 - link
Anyways.... if you're through with your childish rant... who cares what it looks like? Look at the benchmarks, the feature set and the supplied software. If you don't have a window in your case why on Earth would you care what it looks like? Function over form is what I always say.CloudFire - Sunday, February 26, 2012 - link
Anyways, if you're through with your narrow point of view, what if someone has a window on their case and care what the mobo looks likes? I never knew that having an opinion that differs from yours, hail the almighty, makes that person childish. Get off your high horse.Sabresiberian - Sunday, February 26, 2012 - link
It's interesting that you claim bigboxes has a "narrow point of view", when you say you would never use a mainboard that uses firearm themed heatsinks.While I'm not thrilled with the heatsink looks in the pictures, if this board fit my needs the best, I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot by not using it because I think the heatsinks are ugly.
Appearance is largely a matter of personal taste in these things anyway. I rarely find fault in another person's desire for different esthetics than me, just in them finding fault in mine.
;)
CloudFire - Sunday, February 26, 2012 - link
I agree with you, everyone has their own personal opinion and it is about personal taste in esthetics. I merely voiced my own opinion but when someone else comes in and starts an ad hominem attack about how someone else opinion's is "childish" because it differs from theirs, then I would say that is a narrow point of view. Any person could have simply disagreed respectfully like how adults do and it would have been perfectly fine.Just like for you, if you used this board for it's features, I would have no problem and would not find any fault in your decision because it is your own opinion which I respect.
;)
Ben90 - Sunday, February 26, 2012 - link
The motherboard would look cool as hell if it wasn't for the Gatling gun and stupid heatsink. While I agree looks aren't everything, this mobo just screams "I'm a giant fag".