MSI Z170-A PRO (MS-7971)

Performance Results

Benchmarks - missing SSD
Gaming 25% Raft	Desktop 72% Battleship	Workstation 20% Surfboard


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing as expected (45th percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 55 performed better. The overall PC percentile is the average of each of its individual components.
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 65.7%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is above average.
Graphics	34.2% is a below average 3D score (RTX 2060S = 100%). This GPU can handle older games but it will struggle to render recent games at resolutions greater than 1080p. (Note: general computing tasks don't require 3D graphics)
Boot Drive	The boot partition is located on a mechanical or hybrid drive. Moving the system to an SSD will yield far faster boot times, better system responsiveness and faster application load times.
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 (11%). 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	9 GB free of 16 GB @ 2.1 GHz
Display	1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit colors
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20160122
Uptime	0 Days
Run Date	May 27 '23 at 02:05
Run Duration	113 Seconds
Run User	USA-User
Background CPU	11%

PC Performing as expected (45^th percentile)

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

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i5-6500-$138 241,476 User benchmarks, average bench 64% U3E1, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 4 threads Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.3 GHz (avg) Performing as expected (58^th percentile)	65.7% Good	Memory 82.8 1-Core 83.8 2-Core 184 68% 117 Pts	4-Core 280 8-Core 291 38% 286 Pts	64-Core 304 19% 304 Pts
Poor: 43% ↑ This bench: 65.7% Great: 73%

Graphics Card	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10	3D DX11
AMD R9 380-$200 83,027 User benchmarks, average bench 33% Asus(1043 049A) CLim: 990 MHz, MLim: 1375 MHz, Ram: 2GB, Driver: 22.6.1 Performing below potential (79^th percentile) - GPU OC Guide	34.2% Below average	Lighting 43.2 Reflection 46.5 Parallax 55.5 35% 48.4 fps	MRender 45.8 Gravity 43.1 Splatting 32.5 32% 40.5 fps
Poor: 31% ↑ This bench: 34.2% Great: 35%

Drive	Bench	Sequential	Random 4k	Deep queue 4k
Seagate Desktop SSHD 1TB-$67 105,708 User benchmarks, average bench 83% 27GB free (System drive) Firmware: CC41 SusWrite @10s intervals: 86 106 139 126 119 149 MB/s Performing below expectations (31^st percentile)	73.8% Very good	Read 137 Write 159 Mixed 66.7 SusWrite 121 88% 121 MB/s	4K Read 0.7 4K Write 2 4K Mixed 0.8 155% 1.17 MB/s
Poor: 48% ↑ This bench: 73.8% Great: 112%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
Unknown F4-2133C15-4GVR 0420 F4-2133C15-4GVR 0420 F4-2400C15-4GVR 0420 F4-2400C15-4GVR 16GB 7 User benchmarks, average bench 73% 2133, 2133, 2133, 2133 MHz 4096, 4096, 4096, 4096 MB Performing below potential (14^th percentile) - ensure that a dual+ channel XMP BIOS profile is enabled: How to enable XMP	69.8% Good	MC Read 23.6 MC Write 27.4 MC Mixed 23.7 71% 24.9 GB/s	SC Read 14.2 SC Write 26.7 SC Mixed 20.5 58% 20.5 GB/s	Latency 75.4 53% 75.4 ns
Poor: 70% ↑ This bench: 69.8% Great: 78%

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System Memory Latency Ladder

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

SkillBench Score 0: 0P 0R 0G 0B (High Scores)

Measures user input accuracy relative to the given hardware.

Score	Hit Rate	Shots	EFps	0.1% Low	Refresh Rate	Screen	Resolution	Monitor
0%	0%	0	66	55	60	23"	1280 720	ACR0318 Acer H236HL

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Typical Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) Builds (Compare 2,014 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 $124Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	708x
Core i7-6700KIntel $284Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	525x
Core i5-6500Intel $138Bench 64%, 241,476 samples	221x

GPU
GTX 1070Nvidia $200Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	303x
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $130Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	295x
GTX 970Nvidia $340Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	154x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $70Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	104x
850 Evo 500GBSamsung $160Bench 112%, 695,664 samples	53x
860 Evo 1TBSamsung $118Bench 112%, 602,853 samples	52x

RAM
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $40Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	98x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $43Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	72x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GBCorsair $45Bench 85%, 653,654 samples	54x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 86% - Excellent

Total price: $613

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $300	Nvidia RTX 3060 $290	Crucial MX500 250GB $27
Intel Core i5-12600K $200	Nvidia RTX 3060-Ti $300	Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $86
Intel Core i5-12400F $150	Nvidia RTX 4070-Ti $800	Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52

HDD	RAM	USB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $35	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $45	SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $30	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $43	SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $67	G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $381	SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16