NVIDIA nForce 500: Biostar and MSI Aim for the Gold
by Gary Key on June 8, 2006 4:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Setup
Both boards fully support all AMD AM2 processors. We have recently switched our benchmark processor to a 4800+ AMD X2. Dual core really makes a difference in certain multi-tasking scenarios, as was demonstrated in the dual core performance preview. If you are interested in how the various chipsets perform in a real world multitasking setup please take another look at that review or visit our Intel Core Duo Review for benchmarks comparing Intel Core Duo against AMD Opteron.
A 2GB memory configuration is now standard in the AT test bed as most enthusiasts are currently purchasing this amount of memory. We chose memory from Corsair that would offer a wide range of memory settings during our stock and overclocked test runs. Our memory timings are set based upon determining the best memory bandwidth via MemTest 86 and our test application results. All other components in our two test configurations are exactly the same with the boards being set up in their default configurations.
Our video tests are run at 1280x1024 single, 1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF single and SLI with our EVGA 7900 GTX cards. Our reference ATI AM2 board is also tested at the same resolutions and is run using an X1900 XT and X1900 CrossFire card. Our audio tests will not include the ATI AM2 board as we did not have time to complete the game tests with the newly released BIOS. Our Foxconn AM2 board was retested with a new BIOS release so scores are not comparable to our previous articles with this board. Please refer to our nForce 500 Review for the full system specifications for our Socket 939 test system and reasoning behind our test settings.
Both boards fully support all AMD AM2 processors. We have recently switched our benchmark processor to a 4800+ AMD X2. Dual core really makes a difference in certain multi-tasking scenarios, as was demonstrated in the dual core performance preview. If you are interested in how the various chipsets perform in a real world multitasking setup please take another look at that review or visit our Intel Core Duo Review for benchmarks comparing Intel Core Duo against AMD Opteron.
| Performance Test Configuration - BioStar TForce 590-SLI | |
| Processor: | AMD Athlon 64 X2 - 4800+ (AM2) |
| RAM: | 2 x 1GB Corsair Twin2x2048-8500C5 DDR2-800 as noted at (CL3-3-3-8) |
| Hard Drive(s): | 1 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM SATA (16MB Buffer) 1 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300R0 300GB 7200 RPM IDE (16MB Buffer) |
| Optical Drive: | BenQ DW1655 |
| System Platform Drivers: | NVIDIA 9.34 |
| Video Cards: | 1 x EVGA 7900GTX - All Tests 2 x EVGA 7900GTX for SLI Tests |
| Video Drivers: | NVIDIA 91.27 |
| Cooling: | Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 |
| Power Supply: | OCZ GamexStream 700W |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
| Performance Test Configuration - MSI K9N SLI Platinum | |
| Processor: | AMD Athlon 64 X2 - 4800+ (AM2) |
| RAM: | 2 x 1GB Corsair Twin2x2048-8500C5 DDR2-800 as noted at (CL3-3-3-8) |
| Hard Drive(s): | 1 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM SATA (16MB Buffer) 1 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300R0 300GB 7200 RPM IDE (16MB Buffer) |
| Optical Drive: | BenQ DW1655 |
| System Platform Drivers: | NVIDIA 9.34 |
| Video Cards: | 1 x EVGA 7900GTX - All Tests 2 x EVGA 7900GTX for SLI Tests |
| Video Drivers: | NVIDIA 91.27 |
| Cooling: | Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 |
| Power Supply: | OCZ GamexStream 700W |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
A 2GB memory configuration is now standard in the AT test bed as most enthusiasts are currently purchasing this amount of memory. We chose memory from Corsair that would offer a wide range of memory settings during our stock and overclocked test runs. Our memory timings are set based upon determining the best memory bandwidth via MemTest 86 and our test application results. All other components in our two test configurations are exactly the same with the boards being set up in their default configurations.
Our video tests are run at 1280x1024 single, 1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF single and SLI with our EVGA 7900 GTX cards. Our reference ATI AM2 board is also tested at the same resolutions and is run using an X1900 XT and X1900 CrossFire card. Our audio tests will not include the ATI AM2 board as we did not have time to complete the game tests with the newly released BIOS. Our Foxconn AM2 board was retested with a new BIOS release so scores are not comparable to our previous articles with this board. Please refer to our nForce 500 Review for the full system specifications for our Socket 939 test system and reasoning behind our test settings.
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Puddleglum - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
First comes AMD, then comes Intel. You must wait. Are you opposed to the 965/975x?Conroe comes out in about a month, so I'm sure you'll be seeing massive amounts of reviews in the coming weeks/days.
Myrandex - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
I don't know if it is just me, but it looks like in the graphical layout of the 570 that it says 16x connection to the first video card than an 8x connection to the second. I think it should have 16x / SLI (8x) or something on it.Jason
Myrandex - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
Also the following needs changed:The Realtek ALC-883 codec offers competitive CPU utilization rates when compared to the Realtek ALC-882 on the Asus board.
I think the Asus needs to be changed to Biostar.
JarredWalton - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
Asus changed to Biostar. As for the nF570 graphic, the X16 is because if you use a single GPU, you can get all 16 lanes, but if you use two GPUs, both will get 8 lanes. Yeah, it could be done better, but that image is direct from NVIDIA.Regards,
Jarred Walton
Editor
AnandTech.com
shortylickens - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
They jusy had to add two more digits, didnt they?Couldnt call it the Nforce 55, 57 and 59. Are they trying to compete on names again? Must need that extra digit I guess.
Before long we'll have Radeon XXXYYYZZZ9700 Thousand Million Pro Uber Leet Haxor and then we'll see GeForce 999 FXZ 88000 Ultra Grand Prix GT XML.
Then someone will get the idea to simplify the naming system and the whole mess starts over.
Visual - Friday, June 9, 2006 - link
Does the XML model also offer XSLT hardware acceleration? That'd rock, explorer is so slow on it...But I think I'll hold up for now till I can get the Turbo-Diesel Injection models.
Schizzlefuzz - Thursday, June 8, 2006 - link
I've only used Biostar for budget builds before, using DFI and Asus for performance builds, but the TForce 590 SLI Deluxe might be added when I start building AM2 systems for customers.