Testing Configuration

Test Configuration – Hardware

  • Intel Core i7-8700K (HyperThreading and Turbo boost are on to 4.7 GHz for all cores; Coffee Lake DX11 CPU graphics).
  • EVGA Z370 FTW motherboard (Intel Z370 chipset, latest BIOS, PCIe 3.0/3.1 specification, CrossFire/SLI 8x+8x, Realtek ACL-1220 audio), supplied by EVGA
  • HyperX 16GB DDR4 (2×8 GB, dual channel at 3333 MHz), supplied by HyperX
  • RTX 2080 Ti 8GB FE, stock Founders Edition clocks, on loan from NVIDIA
  • 480 GB Team Group SSD
  • 1.92 TB San Disk enterprise class SSD
  • 2 TB Micron 1100 SSD
  • Seasonic 850W Gold Focus power supply unit
  • EVGA CLC 280mm CPU water cooler, supplied by EVGA
  • EVGA Nu Audio stereo PCIe sound card, on loan from EVGA
  • Diamond 7.1 USB sound card.
  • Edifier R1280T active desktop speakers
  • Grado SR60e headphones
  • EVGA DG-77, mid-tower case supplied by EVGA
  • Monoprice Crystal Pro 4K

Test Configuration – Software

  • Nvidia GeForce 417.01 WHQL drivers
  • Highest quality sound (stereo).
  • Windows 10 64-bit Home edition.  Latest DirectX
  • Metro Exodus patched to its latest build.

Primary PC Game 

  • Metro Exodus

Primary Music (CDs)

  • A Decade of Steely Dan
  • Supernatural, Carlos Santana
  • IZ the Man and His Music in Concert, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
  • Songs of Experience, U2
  • Audio tracks courtesy of EVGA (wav. audio)

Primary Comparison Method 

Windows 10 instant software switching between sound cards, A/B.  Two sound cards are both connected simultaneously to the Edifier R1280T speaker inputs and auditioned at the same volume by switching back and forth while listening to well-known and well-recorded audio CDs.