MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971)

Performance Results

Benchmarks - missing SSD
Gaming 0% Incomplete	Desktop 0% Incomplete	Workstation 0% Incomplete


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing above expectations (72nd percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 28 performed better. The overall PC percentile is the average of each of its individual components.
Processor	With a brilliant single core score, this CPU is the business: It demolishes everyday tasks such as web browsing, office apps and audio/video playback. Additionally this processor can handle very light workstation, and even some very light server workloads. Finally, with a gaming score of 73.2%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is good.
Graphics	59.8% 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.

High background CPU (30%). High background CPU reduces benchmark accuracy. How to reduce background CPU.

Run History

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

System	MSI MS-7971
Motherboard	MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) (all builds)
Memory	10.2 GB free of 16 GB @ 2.1 GHz
Display	1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit colors, 1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit colors
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20160830
Uptime	3 Days
Run Date	Oct 26 '20 at 21:26
Run Duration	227 Seconds
Run User	NOR-User
Background CPU	30%

PC Performing above expectations (72^nd percentile)

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

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i5-6600K-$130 342,244 User benchmarks, average bench 72% U3E1, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 4 threads Base clock 3.5 GHz, turbo 4.1 GHz (avg) Performing as expected (55^th percentile)	73.2% Very good	Memory 90.6 1-Core 128 2-Core 253 88% 157 Pts	4-Core 313 8-Core 387 45% 350 Pts	64-Core 502 31% 502 Pts
Poor: 57% ↑ This bench: 73.2% Great: 85%

Graphics Cards	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10
AMD R9 270X-$199 77,943 User benchmarks, average bench 27% Sapphire(174B E271) CLim: 1070 MHz, MLim: 1400 MHz, Ram: 2GB, Driver: 19.20 Performing way above expectations (98^th percentile)	29.3% Poor	Lighting 38.3 Reflection 34.5 Parallax 46.2 31% 39.7 fps	MRender 24.8 Gravity 27.5 Splatting 37.9 26% 30.1 fps
Poor: 25% ↑ This bench: 29.3% Great: 29%
Nvidia GTX 1060-6GB-$117 1,368,019 User benchmarks, average bench 56% MSI(1462 328B) ≥ 4GB CLim: 1949 MHz, MLim: 2002 MHz, Ram: 6GB, Driver: 452.06 Performing way above expectations (95^th percentile)	59.8% Above average	Lighting 74.9 Reflection 71.7 Parallax 64.8 61% 70.5 fps	MRender 69.1 Gravity 69.3 Splatting 71.3 57% 69.9 fps
Poor: 51% ↑ This bench: 59.8% Great: 60%

Drives	Sequential	Random 4k	Deep queue 4k
Kingston A400 240GB-$28 424,288 User benchmarks, average bench 66% 160GB free (System drive) Firmware: R0105A Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete	Read 457 Write 359 Mixed 398 90% 405 MB/s	4K Read 40.5 4K Write 107 4K Mixed 28.8 155% 58.9 MB/s	DQ Read 222 DQ Write 327 DQ Mixed 1.3 78% 184 MB/s
Poor: 33% Great: 100%
Hitachi HDS721010KLA330 1TB-$47 10,943 User benchmarks, average bench 38% 58GB free Firmware: GK0KA9CA Relative performance n/a - benchmarks incomplete	Read 0.2 Write 0.5 0% 0.35 MB/s	4K Read 0 0% 0 MB/s
Poor: 23% Great: 46%
WD Blue 500GB (2008)-$29 203,744 User benchmarks, average bench 48% 304GB free Firmware: 05.01D05 Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete	Read 121 Write 112 Mixed 80.7 78% 104 MB/s	4K Read 0.9 4K Write 1.5 4K Mixed 0.9 165% 1.1 MB/s
Poor: 28% Great: 69%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
Kingston 9905678-033.A00G 4x4GB 9 User benchmarks, average bench 72% 4 of 4 slots used 16GB DIMM DDR4 clocked @ 2133 MHz Performing below potential (39^th percentile) - ensure that a dual+ channel XMP BIOS profile is enabled: How to enable XMP	70.7% Very good	MC Read 25 MC Write 27.1 MC Mixed 21.6 70% 24.6 GB/s	SC Read 15.2 SC Write 29 SC Mixed 23.9 65% 22.7 GB/s	Latency 66.4 60% 66.4 ns
Poor: 65% ↑ This bench: 70.7% Great: 77%

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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 Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) Builds (Compare 2,626 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings

Gaming 61%

Destroyer

Desktop 82%

Aircraft carrier

Workstation 48%

Yacht

Motherboard: MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) - $180

CPU
Core i5-6600KIntel $130Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	911x
Core i7-6700KIntel $180Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	694x
Core i5-6500Intel $67Bench 64%, 241,476 samples	278x

GPU
GTX 1070Nvidia $132Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	398x
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	382x
GTX 970Nvidia $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	182x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	132x
850 Evo 500GBSamsung $94Bench 112%, 695,664 samples	66x
860 Evo 1TBSamsung $140Bench 112%, 602,853 samples	62x

RAM
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $31Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	117x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $48Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	95x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GBCorsair $40Bench 85%, 653,654 samples	70x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 96% - Outstanding

Total price: $573

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-12600K $171	Nvidia RTX 4060 $293	Crucial MX500 250GB $39
Intel Core i5-13600K $273	Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385	Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i3-12100F $80	Nvidia RTX 4070 $500	Samsung 870 Evo 250GB $45

HDD	RAM	USB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $40	SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $32	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $48	SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $62	G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $351	SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16