MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978)

Performance Results

Benchmarks - missing SSD
Gaming 25% Raft	Desktop 59% Gunboat	Workstation 19% Surfboard


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing below expectations (33rd percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 67 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 an average single core score, this CPU can handle browsing the web, email, video playback and the majority of general computing tasks including light gaming when coupled with an appropriate GPU. Finally, with a gaming score of 50.4%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is average.
Graphics	45.3% 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.

Sub-optimal background CPU (13%). High background CPU reduces benchmark accuracy. How to reduce background CPU.

Run History

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

System	MSI MS-7978
Motherboard	MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) (all builds)
Memory	12.6 GB free of 16 GB @ 2.4 GHz
Display	1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit couleurs
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20170424
Uptime	1 Days
Run Date	Oct 29 '19 at 21:25
Run Duration	131 Seconds
Run User	FRA-User
Background CPU	13%

PC Performing below expectations (33^rd percentile)

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

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i3-7300-$97 1,568 User benchmarks, average bench 70% U3E1, 1 CPU, 2 cores, 4 threads Base clock 4 GHz, turbo 2.2 GHz (avg) Performing way below expectations (3^rd percentile)	50.4% Above average	Memory 73.1 1-Core 58.8 2-Core 102 49% 78.1 Pts	4-Core 163 8-Core 161 22% 162 Pts	64-Core 161 10% 161 Pts
Poor: 58% ↑ This bench: 50.4% Great: 77%

Graphics Card	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10	3D DX11
AMD R9 290-$399 68,699 User benchmarks, average bench 46% Sapphire(174B E285) CLim: 1000 MHz, MLim: 1300 MHz, Ram: 4GB, Driver: 19.10.2 Performing below potential (37^th percentile) - GPU OC Guide	45.3% Average	Lighting 50.6 Reflection 57.8 Parallax 74.6 41% 61 fps	MRender 59.2 Gravity 56.3 Splatting 74.9 53% 63.5 fps
Poor: 41% ↑ This bench: 45.3% Great: 50%

Drives	Bench	Sequential	Random 4k	Deep queue 4k
PNY CS900 120GB-$25 42,924 User benchmarks, average bench 69% 15GB free (System drive) Firmware: CS900612 Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete - Ensure that this drive is connected to a SATA 3.0 port with a SATA 3.0 cable		Read 63.2 Write 261 Mixed 27 27% 117 MB/s	4K Read 21.4 4K Write 47 4K Mixed 22.8 86% 30.4 MB/s	DQ Read 77.2 DQ Write 153 DQ Mixed 161 110% 130 MB/s
Poor: 42% Great: 87%
Hitachi HTS545050A7E380 500GB 64,410 User benchmarks, average bench 41% 298GB free Firmware: GG2OACY0 SusWrite @10s intervals: 89 88 85 87 87 90 MB/s Performing above expectations (78^th percentile)	51.2% Above average	Read 91 Write 86.7 Mixed 32.8 SusWrite 87.5 54% 74.5 MB/s	4K Read 0.5 4K Write 1.5 4K Mixed 0.5 104% 0.83 MB/s
Poor: 17% ↑ This bench: 51.2% Great: 58%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT DDR4 2400 C16 2x8GB-$118 9,846 User benchmarks, average bench 77% 2 of 4 slots used 16GB DIMM DDR4 clocked @ 2400 MHz Performing way below expectations (14^th percentile)	67.7% Good	MC Read 21.1 MC Write 30.8 MC Mixed 24.5 73% 25.5 GB/s	SC Read 6.3 SC Write 19.9 SC Mixed 18.8 43% 15 GB/s	Latency 94.4 42% 94.4 ns
Poor: 45% ↑ This bench: 67.7% Great: 87%

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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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SSD

HDD

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MBD

Typical Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) Builds (Compare 2,313 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings

Gaming 51%

Yacht

Desktop 87%

Aircraft carrier

Workstation 44%

Speed boat

Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) - $150

CPU
Core i7-6700KIntel $180Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	818x
Core i5-6600KIntel $130Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	631x
Core i7-6700Intel $180Bench 72%, 282,363 samples	227x

GPU
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	316x
GTX 1070Nvidia $132Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	305x
GTX 970Nvidia $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	223x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	117x
850 Evo 500GBSamsung $90Bench 112%, 695,664 samples	74x
970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 1TBSamsung $95Bench 310%, 455,997 samples	55x

RAM
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $43Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	98x
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $31Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	83x
Fury DDR4 2133 C14 2x8GBHyperX $125Bench 73%, 59,072 samples	71x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 86% - Excellent

Total price: $589

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $269	Nvidia RTX 4060 $295	Crucial MX500 250GB $40
Intel Core i5-12400F $133	Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385	Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i5-12600K $177	Nvidia RTX 4070 $539	Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52

HDD	RAM	USB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $45	SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $37	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