ASUS P5NSLI: Core 2 Duo and SLI on a Budget
by Gary Key on August 22, 2006 5:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Setup
Our test setup is not our normal configuration due to time constraints for generating this early look review. We are using the test configuration from our recent Core 2 Duo memory performance articles since we had a base of information with the E6300 and several competing Intel and VIA based motherboards. Since our P965 board does not support SLI, our E6700 results will be using the NVIDIA 7950GX2 video card. These tests results will be minimal but will show a higher end configuration for comparison today.
Our E-6700 / 7950GX2 configuration was operated at a resolution of 1280x1024 with 4xAA/8xAF settings. We will have full test results with this board in our upcoming P965 roundup utilizing our standard hardware configuration.
Our test setup is not our normal configuration due to time constraints for generating this early look review. We are using the test configuration from our recent Core 2 Duo memory performance articles since we had a base of information with the E6300 and several competing Intel and VIA based motherboards. Since our P965 board does not support SLI, our E6700 results will be using the NVIDIA 7950GX2 video card. These tests results will be minimal but will show a higher end configuration for comparison today.
| Performance Test Configuration | |
| Processor: | Intel Core 2 Duo - E6300 Intel Core 2 Duo - E6700 |
| RAM: | 2 x 512mb TwinMOS Twister DDR2-667 - E6300 Tests 2 x 1GB SuperTalent DDR2-800 - E6700 Tests |
| Hard Drive(s): | 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB |
| System Platform Drivers: | Intel Chipset Software - 8.0.1.1002 NVIDIA Platform Driver - 8.22 |
| Video Cards: | 1 x EVGA 7600GS (PCI Express) for E6300 tests 1 x Gigabyte 7950GX2 (PCI Express) for E6700 tests |
| Video Drivers: | NVIDIA nForce 91.31 WHQL - E6300 tests NVIDIA nForce 91.45 - E6700 tests |
| Cooling: | Scythe Infinity |
| Power Supply: | Fortron Source FX700-GLN |
| Operating System: | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
| Motherboards: | ASRock 775Dual-VSTA (VIA PT880Pro) ASRock ConRoeXFire-eSATA2 (Intel 945P) Biostar TForce 965 Deluxe (Intel P965) DFI Infinity 975X/G (Intel P975X) ASUS P5NSLI (NVIDIA 570SLI) ASUS P5B-Deluxe (Intel P965) E6700 Test |
Our E-6700 / 7950GX2 configuration was operated at a resolution of 1280x1024 with 4xAA/8xAF settings. We will have full test results with this board in our upcoming P965 roundup utilizing our standard hardware configuration.
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Calin - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
I wonder if the FSB wall (the 320-321 MHz) the mainboard run into is real or an engineering trick... Conspiracy theory, but I think that the top-end chipset might reach a much higher FSB, luring overclockers to pay a handfull of dollars for the premium chipsetGary Key - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
On the previous C19A boards we hit 268FSB with a Pentium 4. We were starting at a 200FSB level. We are now starting at a 266FSB and hitting around the 320FSB level which is actually lower from the base. The Intel NVIDIA chipsets have never been good overclockers and our sample will not even post past 325FSB. We are expecting our final NF590SLI sample this week so it will be interesting if there is a cap although I doubt it.
shabby - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
321 max fsb? Who in their right mind would buy this mobo when the gigabyte ds3 hits speeds over 500fsb?bob661 - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
Because this board costs $120 or lower and has more features (SLI). Not everyone OC's their motherboard. Besides, the DS3 has questionable stability. Why would I or other non-OCers would want to pay $140+ for a board (DS3) that has less features and less stability? Also, DS3's are NOT hitting 500 fsb regularly. A fortunate few are getting 500 fsb but not everyone.DigitalDivine - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
i thought asus would have phased out their signiture gold puke color by now. that board is probably the ugliest i've seen come out of asus, it's not subtle, but bright!!!! black is a very nice color... stick with black... or go platinum silver (i miss my soyo dragon)...the sad part in all of this is that their low cost subsidiary "asrock" offers a very tasteful blue color for their boards.
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This board will be excellent for when i buy a conroe though, maybe i'll wait to see what other manufacturers will be able to put out.
R3MF - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
why does the Intel version of the 570SLI have only 20 PCIe lanes when the AMD version of the 570SLI has 28 PCIe lanes?Gary Key - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
They are not utilizing the same chipset. The 570SLI for Intel Edition is just updated marketing language for the existing C19A+/MCP51(nForce 430).