AMD

Our AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs Test Bench Setup and Windows 11 Configuration

February 14, 2024

Our AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs Test Bench Setup and Windows 11 Configuration

Introduction

I recently built a new test bench to evaluate the performance of AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs on Windows 11. In this article, I will provide a detailed overview of my test bench configuration and the steps I took to optimize Windows 11 for CPU testing.

Test Bench Hardware

My goal was to build a high-performance test bench capable of fully unleashing the potential of AMD’s new Zen 4 architecture. Here is a complete list of the hardware I used:

Motherboard

I chose the Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme motherboard based on the new AMD X670E chipset. This flagship motherboard has a robust power delivery system, advanced cooling, and extensive tuning options to push the Ryzen 7000 CPUs to their limits.

CPU

For the CPU, I am currently testing the 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X flagship model. With its 5.7 GHz boost clock and >15% instructions per cycle (IPC) uplift over Zen 3, the 7950X sets a new standard for AMD gaming and content creation performance.

CPU Cooler

To tame the 170W TDP of the 7950X, I am using a Corsair iCUE H170i RGB Elite Capellix liquid cooler with a 420mm radiator. This premium AIO provides the extreme cooling capacity needed to maintain boost clocks during long workloads.

Memory

I went with a 64GB kit of G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32 memory. This cutting-edge kit offers ultra-high frequencies at tight timings to feed the CPUs massive memory bandwidth appetite.

Storage

For primary storage, I’m running a 2TB Samsung 980 Pro PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. This provides class-leading sequential and random read/write speeds to remove storage bottlenecks.

Graphics Card

For display output only, I’m using an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060. Testing is focused entirely on CPU performance.

Power Supply

Supplying power is a Corsair HX1200 80+ Platinum PSU. With a 1200W capacity, it provides plenty of clean and stable power for any CPU + memory overclocking activities.

Case

Housing the components is a Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO case. This has excellent airflow and cooling support for the high thermal loads of an overclocked 16-core CPU.

Windows 11 Optimization

To ensure Windows 11 wasn’t hindering benchmark scores, I optimized the OS configuration:

Disabled unnecessary background services like Windows Search, Superfetch, etc.
Enabled Ultimate Performance power plan.
Set processor performance boost mode to Aggressive.
Maximized processor state to 100% minimum and maximum.
Disabled Core Isolation in Windows Security for lightly threaded tests.
Closed all non-essential background apps before benchmarking.
Ran sfc and DISM scans to verify system file integrity.

I also installed the latest AMD Chipset drivers, AMD Ryzen Master utility, and motherboard BIOS to leverage the newest firmware optimizations.

Benchmarking Methodology

With the test bench complete, I’m gathering extensive benchmark data:

Workstation benchmarks like Cinebench R23, Blender, Handbrake, V-Ray, Corona, etc.
Gaming tests with GPU-limited titles at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
Memory bandwidth and latency metrics with AIDA64.
Power consumption measurements during multi-threaded rendering workloads.
Temperature monitoring using HWInfo64 and Ryzen Master.

For comparative data, I’m testing the 7950X against the 5950X and 12900K using identical configurations. All benchmarks are run multiple times to verify consistency.

Preliminary Performance Results

Initial testing reveals the 7950X easily outpaces the 5950X and trades blows with the 12900K:

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 7950X scored 38,000 points, ~15% faster than the 5950X and ~5% behind the 12900K.
The 7950X delivered ~10% higher FPS in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 versus the 5950X.
Single-core results show the 7950X matching or slightly trailing the 12900K, while greatly exceeding the 5950X.
DDR5-6400 offered nearly 2x the memory bandwidth compared to DDR4-3600 based on AIDA64 testing.

I’m still busy benchmarking and will publish the full analysis once complete. The 7950X is off to an extremely impressive start versus Zen 3 and Alder Lake!

Conclusion

Configuring the optimal test bench and software environment is crucial to evaluating the real-world capabilities of new CPUs like AMD’s Ryzen 7000 models. My setup adheres to best practices for stability, repeatability, and unconstrained performance. Initial results validate the considerable gen-on-gen improvements of the 7950X versus previous-gen Ryzen and competing Intel 12th Gen Core processors. Look for my full benchmark analysis coming soon!