MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971)

Performance Results

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


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing below expectations (20th percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 80 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 50.3%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is average.
Graphics	45.5% 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	8GB is enough RAM to run any version of Windows and it's sufficient for the vast majority of games. 8GB is also enough for moderate file and system caches which result in a very responsive system.
OS Version	Although Windows 10 is not the most recent version of Windows, it remains a great option.

Very high background CPU (100%). High background CPU reduces benchmark accuracy. How to reduce background CPU.

System	MSI MS-7971
Motherboard	MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) (all builds)
Memory	1.5 GB free of 8 GB @ 2.4 GHz
Display	3840 x 2160 - 32 Bit colors
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20161019
Uptime	0.1 Days
Run Date	Jan 15 '21 at 06:46
Run Duration	196 Seconds
Run User	GRC-User
Background CPU	100%

Watch Gameplay: 570 + 9600K How to compare your gameplay

PC Performing below expectations (20^th percentile)

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

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i5-6400-$79 171,457 User benchmarks, average bench 61% U3E1, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 4 threads Base clock 2.7 GHz, turbo 3.1 GHz (avg) Performing way below expectations (11^th percentile)	50.3% Above average	Memory 66.5 1-Core 70.5 2-Core 128 53% 88.5 Pts	4-Core 198 8-Core 204 27% 201 Pts	64-Core 213 13% 213 Pts
Poor: 39% ↑ This bench: 50.3% Great: 71%

Graphics Card	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10	3D DX11
AMD RX 570-$130 473,685 User benchmarks, average bench 45% Asus(1043 04C0) ≥ 4GB CLim: 1244 MHz, MLim: 1750 MHz, Ram: 4GB, Driver: 20.12.1 Performing below potential (69^th percentile) - GPU OC Guide	45.5% Average	Lighting 57 Reflection 60.5 Parallax 76.3 46% 64.6 fps	MRender 60.8 Gravity 60.4 Splatting 43.4 44% 54.9 fps
Poor: 37% ↑ This bench: 45.5% Great: 49%

Drives	Bench	Sequential	Random 4k	Deep queue 4k
INTENSO 128GB 3,345 User benchmarks, average bench 65% 11GB free (System drive) Firmware: 12.2 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 144 Write 199 Mixed 268 46% 204 MB/s	4K Read 13.8 4K Write 34.2 4K Mixed 18.8 63% 22.3 MB/s	DQ Read 301 DQ Write 302 DQ Mixed 76.1 119% 226 MB/s
Poor: 35% Great: 91%
INTENSO 500GB 15 User benchmarks, average bench 49% 89GB free Firmware: 1H19 SusWrite @10s intervals: 46 45 43 57 49 51 MB/s Performing way below expectations (14^th percentile)	36% Below average	Read 76.9 Write 84.9 Mixed 58.2 SusWrite 48.4 50% 67.1 MB/s	4K Read 0.5 4K Write 1.6 4K Mixed 0.6 117% 0.9 MB/s
Poor: 36% ↑ This bench: 36% Great: 63%
Seagate Video SV35.6 Series 1TB-$50 17,310 User benchmarks, average bench 90% 318GB free Firmware: CV26 SusWrite @10s intervals: 90 95 84 104 90 107 MB/s Performing way below expectations (3^rd percentile)	47.1% Average	Read 69.4 Write 25.6 Mixed 22.6 SusWrite 95 39% 53.2 MB/s	4K Read 0.2 4K Write 1 4K Mixed 0.3 60% 0.5 MB/s
Poor: 57% ↑ This bench: 47.1% Great: 119%
TOSHIBA External USB 3.0 500GB 1,694 User benchmarks, average bench 30% 83GB free, PID a202 Operating at USB 2.1 Speed SusWrite @10s intervals: 37 38 39 40 38 39 MB/s Performing way below expectations (14^th percentile)	14.9% Very poor	Read 25.3 Write 40.6 Mixed 8.7 SusWrite 38.5 40% 28.3 MB/s	4K Read 0.4 4K Write 0.9 4K Mixed 0.5 49% 0.6 MB/s
Poor: 13% ↑ This bench: 14.9% Great: 44%
ST316081 1AS 160GB 3 User benchmarks, average bench 14% 19GB free, PID 0c31 Operating at USB 2.0 Speed Relative performance n/a - insufficient samples		Read 2,006 Write 10.5 Mixed 23 458% 680 MB/s	4K Read 81.8 4K Write 1.4 4K Mixed 2.9 450% 28.7 MB/s
Poor: 11% Great: 15%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
Patriot PSD44G240082 2x4GB 2,047 User benchmarks, average bench 73% 2 of 4 slots used 8GB DIMM DDR4 clocked @ 2400 MHz Performing way below expectations (12^th percentile)	59.1% Above average	MC Read 20.6 MC Write 26.7 MC Mixed 22.9 67% 23.4 GB/s	SC Read 5.7 SC Write 10.9 SC Mixed 6.5 22% 7.7 GB/s	Latency 110 36% 110 ns
Poor: 33% ↑ This bench: 59.1% Great: 85%

Take a copy of your results

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

CHOOSE AN UPGRADE:

CPU

GPU

SSD

HDD

RAM

MBD

Typical Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) Builds (Compare 2,608 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 $81Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	907x
Core i7-6700KIntel $180Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	688x
Core i5-6500Intel $67Bench 64%, 241,476 samples	276x

GPU
GTX 1070Nvidia $132Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	394x
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	381x
GTX 970Nvidia $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	181x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	131x
850 Evo 500GBSamsung $94Bench 112%, 695,664 samples	66x
860 Evo 1TBSamsung $130Bench 112%, 602,853 samples	61x

RAM
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $31Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	117x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $43Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	95x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GBCorsair $45Bench 85%, 653,654 samples	68x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 100% - Outstanding

Total price: $524

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $273	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