MSI Z170A TOMAHAWK (MS-7970)

Performance Results

Benchmarks - missing SSD
Gaming 30% Raft	Desktop 67% Battle cruiser	Workstation 25% Surfboard


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing below expectations (25th percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 75 performed better. The overall PC percentile is the average of each of its individual components. Use the charts in the benchmark sections of this report to identify problem areas.
Processor	With a good single core score, this CPU can easily handle the majority of general computing tasks. Despite its good single core score this processor isn't appropriate for workstation use due to its relatively weak multi-core performance. Finally, with a gaming score of 63%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is above average.
Graphics	44.7% is a reasonable 3D score (RTX 2060S = 100%). This GPU can handle the majority of recent games but it will struggle with resolutions greater than 1080p at ultra detail levels. (Note: general computing tasks don't require 3D graphics)
Memory	16GB is enough RAM to run any version of Windows and it's more than sufficient for nearly all games. 16GB also allows for very large file and system caches, software development and batch photo editing/processing.
OS Version	Although Windows 10 is not the most recent version of Windows, it remains a great option.

Very high background CPU (67%). High background CPU reduces benchmark accuracy. How to reduce background CPU.

Run History

4 years ago, 4 years ago, 3 years ago, 3 years ago.

System	MSI MS-7970
Motherboard	MSI Z170A TOMAHAWK (MS-7970) (all builds)
Memory	4.2 GB free of 16 GB @ 2.4 GHz
Display	1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit colors
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20150907
Uptime	0.7 Days
Run Date	Sep 20 '20 at 08:14
Run Duration	184 Seconds
Run User	SGP-User
Background CPU	67%

PC Performing below expectations (25^th percentile)

Actual performance vs. expectations. The graphs show user score (x) vs user score frequency (y).

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i7-6700-$180 282,363 User benchmarks, average bench 72% U3E1, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 8 threads Base clock 3.4 GHz, turbo 3.65 GHz (avg) Performing way below expectations (8^th percentile)	63% Good	Memory 80.9 1-Core 77.8 2-Core 141 61% 99.9 Pts	4-Core 246 8-Core 348 37% 297 Pts	64-Core 450 28% 450 Pts
Poor: 60% ↑ This bench: 63% Great: 80%

Graphics Card	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10	3D DX11
AMD R9 390-$325 82,117 User benchmarks, average bench 50% Sapphire(174B E324) CLim: 1040 MHz, MLim: 1500 MHz, Ram: 8GB, Driver: 20.8.3 Performing below potential (9^th percentile) - GPU OC Guide	44.7% Average	Lighting 65.9 Reflection 0.08 Parallax 0.06 54% 22 fps	MRender 58.8 Gravity 55.5 Splatting 0.13 27% 38.1 fps
Poor: 45% ↑ This bench: 44.7% Great: 52%

Drives	Bench	Sequential	Random 4k
OCZ Trion 100 240GB-$95 9,561 User benchmarks, average bench 67% 117GB free (System drive) Firmware: SAFM11.2 Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete		Read 4,342 Write 33.5 Mixed 75.5 308% 1,484 MB/s	4K Read 542 4K Write 1.5 4K Mixed 3.1 826% 182 MB/s
Poor: 47% Great: 83%
Toshiba DT01ACA100 1TB-$30 763,289 User benchmarks, average bench 84% 445GB free Firmware: MS2OA750 Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete		Read 168 Write 157 Mixed 34.2 87% 120 MB/s	4K Read 0.7 4K Write 2 4K Mixed 0.6 133% 1.1 MB/s
Poor: 47% Great: 107%
Seagate BUP Slim BK 1TB 18,390 User benchmarks, average bench 39% 418GB free Firmware: 0302 SusWrite @10s intervals: 79 82 85 85 84 83 MB/s Performing above expectations (75^th percentile)	51.1% Above average	Read 94.8 Write 64.5 Mixed 54.5 SusWrite 83 55% 74.2 MB/s	4K Read 0.5 4K Write 2.5 4K Mixed 0.6 134% 1.2 MB/s
Poor: 14% ↑ This bench: 51.1% Great: 63%
WD Elements 25A2 1TB 31,808 User benchmarks, average bench 37% 147GB free, PID 25a2 Operating at USB 3.0 Speed SusWrite @10s intervals: 56 56 56 55 57 55 MB/s Performing below expectations (26^th percentile)	25.8% Poor	Read 85 Write 94.5 Mixed 30.7 SusWrite 55.8 87% 66.5 MB/s	4K Read 0.5 4K Write 0.4 4K Mixed 0.4 29% 0.43 MB/s
Poor: 14% ↑ This bench: 25.8% Great: 63%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
HyperX Fury DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GB-$299 20,912 User benchmarks, average bench 79% 2 of 4 slots used 16GB DIMM DDR4 clocked @ 2400 MHz Performing way below expectations (10^th percentile)	64.5% Good	MC Read 22.3 MC Write 26.3 MC Mixed 22.3 68% 23.6 GB/s	SC Read 12.5 SC Write 18 SC Mixed 16.5 45% 15.7 GB/s	Latency 78.9 51% 78.9 ns
Poor: 46% ↑ This bench: 64.5% Great: 91%

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System Memory Latency Ladder

L1/L2/L3 CPU cache and main memory (DIMM) access latencies in nano seconds

Custom PC Builder (Explore upgrades for this PC) Build your perfect PC: compare component prices, popularity, speed and value for money

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CPU

GPU

SSD

HDD

RAM

MBD

Typical Z170A TOMAHAWK (MS-7970) Builds (Compare 790 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings

Gaming 62%

Destroyer

Desktop 83%

Aircraft carrier

Workstation 49%

Yacht

Motherboard: MSI Z170A TOMAHAWK (MS-7970) - $200

CPU
Core i5-6600KIntel $81Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	271x
Core i7-6700KIntel $180Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	196x
Core i7-6700Intel $180Bench 72%, 282,363 samples	94x

GPU
GTX 1070Nvidia $132Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	129x
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	115x
GTX 970Nvidia $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	54x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	39x
970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GBSamsung $43Bench 276%, 367,854 samples	31x
750 EVO 250GBSamsung $55Bench 94%, 75,831 samples	19x

RAM
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $43Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	34x
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $40Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	20x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GBCorsair $40Bench 85%, 653,654 samples	18x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 99% - Outstanding

Total price: $556

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $279	Nvidia RTX 4060 $300	Crucial MX500 250GB $40
Intel Core i5-12400F $134	Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385	Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i5-12600K $184	Nvidia RTX 4070 $409	Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52

HDD	RAM	USB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $40	SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $35	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $43	SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $51	G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $351	SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16