Multi-threaded testing, storage performance
Multi-threaded tests - media encoding
Dual-core processing comes to the fore in our multi-threaded media-encoding tests. Not quite as fast as a well-tuned Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 965, sure, but leaps and bounds in front of an Athlon 64 FX-57's performance.
Multi-threaded tests - professional software
Dual-core goodness is further in evidence with our 3D software tests. In short, more validation that the AMD CPU of choice has to be a dual-core model.
Hard-drive performance
The nForce4 chipset carries 4 SATA2 ports that can transfer data at 300MB/s, and the supplied Samsung 250GB hard drive manages a burst speed in excess of SATA1's 150MB/s, according to HD Tach. Sustained read speed isn't too shabby, either.
Testing also highlighted an average USB2.0 read speed of 29.7MB/s, so there's nothing wrong with storage performance other than a lack of capacity which is easily fixed at the time of purchase via an optional upgrade.
