Conroe Buying Guide: Feeding the Monster
by Gary Key & Wesley Fink on July 19, 2006 6:20 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Setup
Test conditions were maintained the same, as much as possible, over the platforms tested. For better comparison standard test results (1280x1024) were run with a single NVIDIA 7900GTX on all platforms. A single ATI X1900XTX was also tested at standard resolutions on the Intel 975X boards which support CrossFire. Consider this result a sanity check for single card performance and CrossFire. It should not be directly compared to other test results. Since SLI and CrossFire are not yet interchangeable, 1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF SLI was run on the single NVIDIA-based board with a pair of 7900GTX cards. 1600X1200 4xAA/8xAF CrossFire was run on the Intel 975X boards using a Master+Standard X1900XT CrossFire setup. All results are reported in our charts and color-coded for easier identification of results.
All Core 2 Duo benchmarking used Corsair PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066) 2GB kit at 3-3-3 timings at 2.2V. In recent months the memory market has moved from a 1GB kit to a 2GB kit being the common memory configuration. Our new DDR2 test standard is 2GB.
| Performance Test Configuration | |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 (X2, 2.67GHz, 4MB Unified Cache) |
| RAM | 2 x 1GB Corsair Twin2X2048-8500C5 Tested at DDR2-800 3-3-3 2.2V |
| Hard Drive(s) | Hitachi 250GB SATA2 enabled (16MB Buffer) |
| System Platform Drivers | Intel - 8.0.1.1002 NVIDIA - 6.86 |
| Video Cards: | 1 x EVGA 7900GTX - All Standard Tests 2 x EVGA 7900GTX - SLI on NVIDIA 1 x ATI X1900XTX - ATI Standard Tests on Intel 2 x ATI X1900XT (Master+Standard) - CrossFire on Intel |
| Video Drivers: | NVIDIA 91.31 ATI Catalyst 6.6 |
| CPU Cooling: | Tuniq Tower 120 |
| Power Supply: | OCZ GameXstream 700W |
| Motherboards: | ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (Intel 975X) Intel 975XBX (Intel 975X) ASUS P5B Deluxe (Intel P965) ASUS P5N32-SLI (nF4 SLIX16 Intel) Biostar TForce P965 Deluxe (Intel P965) Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6 (Intel P965) DFI Infinity 975X/G (Intel 975X) ASRock 775Dual-VSTA (VIA PT880 PRO) |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
Test conditions were maintained the same, as much as possible, over the platforms tested. For better comparison standard test results (1280x1024) were run with a single NVIDIA 7900GTX on all platforms. A single ATI X1900XTX was also tested at standard resolutions on the Intel 975X boards which support CrossFire. Consider this result a sanity check for single card performance and CrossFire. It should not be directly compared to other test results. Since SLI and CrossFire are not yet interchangeable, 1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF SLI was run on the single NVIDIA-based board with a pair of 7900GTX cards. 1600X1200 4xAA/8xAF CrossFire was run on the Intel 975X boards using a Master+Standard X1900XT CrossFire setup. All results are reported in our charts and color-coded for easier identification of results.
All Core 2 Duo benchmarking used Corsair PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066) 2GB kit at 3-3-3 timings at 2.2V. In recent months the memory market has moved from a 1GB kit to a 2GB kit being the common memory configuration. Our new DDR2 test standard is 2GB.
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Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Hi,We used 0701. The bios versions used for each board are listed at the bottom of the features chart.
Thanks.
vmsein - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
I missed that! Thank you very much again:)Bochista - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Can we see some results for 1920 x 1200 for 23 & 24 inch monitors as well as some 2560 x 1600 results for 30 inch monitors? Also, can we see the 7950 GX2 in action where all MBs would be on an equal SLI footing?Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
We will place this on our suggestion list for Roundup Two and discuss it with the Video editors this week.ivoloos - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
The article says "Users need to realize that the nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition will still use the C19 SPP that is on this board."I remember me that a while ago I've read somewhere NVIDIA is busy with a new SPP that will replace the C19 and should arrive somewhere around Q1 next year. Someone know whether this is this correct, or will the C19 not be replaced?
Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Yes, NVIDIA is readying a new Intel Chipset that is scheduled for release in the winter. The current C19 is now at a C1 revision, the original P5N32-SLI shipped with revision A3.ivoloos - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Ah, Thanks!!I plan to buy me a Core 2 Dou/Extreme system about a year from now, let's say somewhere around the release of Intels Bearlake chipset. The decision will be made then, after having a clear view at the features of that chipset and the new NVIDIA chipset.
The article, which is very good by the way, made some doubts rise about whether that what I've read was correct or not.
I'm curious about the period when we can expect the new NVIDIA chipset to appear on the motherboards. Any news about that (Q1/2007 perhaps?), or is too early to say something about this?
imaheadcase - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
I want to build a value SLI motherboard with conroe.Maybe compare 6 value SLI motherboards with conroe and 2 gigs of value ram in the future when boards are released?
Thanks!
RogueSpear - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link
Am I the only one who thinks that the phrase "Value SLI" is a bit like "Military Intelligence" ?Gary Key - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link
Great statement!!! :) I guess value in the sense that the 570SLI boards will be about $50~$75 less than the 590SLI boards. However, unless you want to really overclock the FSB, even the 570SLI boards will be a value compared to the P965 boards.