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Abit NI8 SLI: nVidia SLI for the Intel Gamer

 by Randi Sica & Wesley Fink on October 7, 2005 12:05 AM EST
19 Comments | Add A Comment
19 Comments
ABIT NI8 SLI - Overclocked 3D benchmark performance + SLI verification

As a measure of the effectiveness of the optimized bandwidth dialed in during testing, competitive 3D benchmarks were run apart from the standard AnandTech suite to determine how well ABIT did their homework toward the gaming end. This has been where they've built their reputation and we "put that reputation on the line". All posted scores reflect the overclocked P4 D840 EE running at 3520 MHz (16x220), memory at 770 MHz 3-2-2-8 1T, and a single 7800GTX run at 500 MHz core/1400Mhz memory, for the first tests. For the second round, we ran a pair of NVIDIA 6800Ultra's (448 MHz core/1296 MHz memory) to also verify proper SLI operation. For these tests only, the NVIDIA beta 81.26 drivers were installed.

First up is a run of 3DMark 2001 utilizing the single NVIDIA 7800GTX. 3DMark 2001 is still widely used because it is the most sensitive of the 3DMark tests to changes in CPU speed and memory bandwidth.


Click to enlarge.

A run of Aquamark 3 was made to assess any performance gains with system and graphics card overclocked in comparison to the standard AnandTech run. We were quite impressed with the substantial numbers produced for a single graphic card run.


Click to enlarge.

The final round found us verifying SLI operation, and verify it, we did. With the addition of a pair of NVIDIA 6800Ultra's using the same beta 81.26 Forceware drivers, we wanted to determine this system's performance relative to other P4/6800Ultra SLI combinations on Futuremark's ORB. It was a pleasant surprise to set new records in both 3DMark 2003 and 2005. As a longtime Captain/member of a competitive 3DMark Team, under the moniker "MrIcee", it was nice to see chart-topping performance with a new Abit board running the Intel version NVIDIA nForce4 SLI chipset.

3DMark 2003



3DMark 2005


ABIT, C19 and Corsair break the 1000 MHz barrier Test Setup
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  • TheInvincibleMustard - Saturday, October 8, 2005 - link

    Thanks for clearing that up, Wesley ... here I was thinking that AT had gone off their rockers for a moment :D

    -TIM

  • jojo4u - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    A new Forceware was also used in the gaming tests.

  • smn198 - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    Agreed. This is not a motherboard test.

  • TheInvincibleMustard - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    QFT ... what's the point in testing a new board while conveniently slipping a new processor into it as well? That's akin to "Let's compare this Accord versus this Corolla, oh and by the way, the Accord has nitrous, aftermarket shocks, aftermarket brakes, aftermarket muffler ..."

    Thanks for an article that shows that dual-core is better than single-core in multi-threaded applications ... funny, I thought Anandtech did one of those articles a while back ...

    -TIM

    PS -- WTF is up with no Firewire on this board? Mobos http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82...">less than $80 shipped have IEEE1394 connectivity for cryin' out loud ...

  • TheInvincibleMustard - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    Err ... well ... I tried to QFT, but apparently it didn't work? Whatever, I still agree with you guys.

    -TIM

  • ksherman - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    Man, I REALLY like the passively cooled chipset... wish DFI did that in the nF4 boards...

  • mongoosesRawesome - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    eh, not so impressed myself. what ABIT did looks expensive and it doesn't get the job done adequately. DFI includes temperature controlled fans in their BIOS, which makes their fans bearable. A nice thing about Nforce 3/4 boards is that you really only have one chip to cool.

    Who exactly is Abit targeting with this board? Who games with Intel? A64s are cheap, nforce 4 boards are cheap, and they perform better. I realize that in the corporate world, there are people out there that only use Intel, but I figured gamers were different. I just can't see this board really being that popular.

  • KristopherKubicki - Friday, October 7, 2005 - link

    ASUS did it first with the "Premium" series stuff.

    Kristopher

  • emc2-1955 - Sunday, August 29, 2010 - link

    I got an Abit NI8 SLI with an extreme processor and 4 gig of ram. The problem is that to takes forever to load. I've tried it with windows xp pro and windows 7 can anyone tell me what I chould check any tips
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