We now move on to graphical performance – as the i7 has performed so similarly to the i5 i’d expect its gaming credentials to be just as impressive.

First up we take a look at the Futuremarks 3DMark Vantage benchmark program.


Vantage.

There wasn’t much point in adding the additional i5 results for the stock and 3.2ghz clocks since the i7 pipped it every time. Even with a 220mhz deficit the i7 returned a better Vantage result and almost matched it @ 3.15ghz.

Blacksite came next.


Blacksite.

Overall performance was good and was virtually identically comparable to the i5 and Maximus Gene III combo.

The last test involved Race Driver GRID.


Race Driver GRID.

Again performance was very nearly the same as the i5 system.

In each case all clocks at all resolutions were perfectly playable.