Roundup tests of motherboards aimed at Intel Core 2 Duo processors
Author:
Date: 09.07.2007
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Today, we are updating the roundup tests of motherboards aimed at Intel Core 2 Duo processors which were fist published half a year ago. What has changed since then? Fist, Intel has released its 3rd series of chipsets which now includes 7 new products (integrated G31, G33, G35, mainstream P35, high-end X38, and the business chipsets Q33 and Q35). The most interesting of them are P35 and X38, but first products based on X38 will appear only by the end of this year, and P35 in combination with ICH9(R) is more likely a stage in evolution, rather than revolution. See for yourselves: first performance tests of P35 with DDR-3 memory demonstrate no performance boost as compared to P965 + DDR-2, and the price of DDR-3 memory is prohibitive. Regarding the support for 1333 MHz system bus, we can say that it is small step forward. Some reviewers have already questioned the performance boost of these processors. For now, we can't tell anything specific, since we haven't yet run respective tests. But in any case, processors with the 1333 MHz bus offer support for most of high-end motherboards aimed at P965!
All that allows for making the following conclusion: motherboards built on 975X and P965 chipsets will still remain in high demand, and products on their base will find their consumers at least until late 2007.
A few words on NVIDIA chipsets. The release of nForce 6xx series has made it possible for manufacturers to produce respective motherboards which by their specifications are on par with those based on Intel chipsets. Before the release of this series, NVIDIA chipsets were anyway popular but they hardly overclocked. The nForce 6xx series has no issue like that - most boards equipped with both high-end (680i SLI) and low-end (650i SLI) chipsets can easily cope with the FSB speed as high as 500 MHz. Besides, NVIDIA chipsets offer the two advantages: they normally support 1 ParallelATA line more than competitor products do. Secondly, they support the SLI technology. Unless NVIDIA enables support for the SLI in the Intel X38 chipset, the nForce 6xx series will be beyond any competition at that!
A couple of hints as to how to read this review. The text is long enough (30 motherboards), so the most important information is presented in the table of specifications and in the conclusions. Note that the newest motherboards are highlighted in bold type in the table, with the description of each at the end of the pages, and a reference to a complete and detailed review of the motherboard.
As we already stated, almost every new review starts with a mention of Intel Core 2 Duo processors. That is understandable because the release of Intel's new architecture is a mini revolution that brings CPU over to a new level of performance and power consumption. It's just these specifications that resulted in that almost all the PC enthusiasts somehow or other are planning for migration to a new platform (or have already migrated to it). Therefore, an important issue of choosing the right motherboard aimed at Core 2 Duo comes up. It should be noted that all the motherboards of the previous generation are incompatible to new processors (although they are of LGA775 Socket). And it is neither the developers nor chipsets that are to blame for this situation, but it is a result of the fact that the motherboards were developed before receiving the Core 2 Duo specifications. Therefore, the power supply module of these chipsets does not allow using Conroe processors (a module meeting the VRM 11 specification requirements is required). In other words, all the previous motherboards based on i975X and NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition chipsets, however good they are, are being sent to the garbage heap of computer history. And we (users) start choosing new motherboards.
For now, there exist motherboards with support for Core 2 Duo based on Intel 975X and P965 chipsets, as well as NVIDIA nForce4 SLI IE, nForce 570/590 SLI IE, and nForce 680i SLI/650i SLI. Besides, it should be noted that part of the manufacturers have released motherboards based on outdated chipsets of the i945P series with the VRM11 power supply module. However, these boards are aimed solely at the value sector of the market, that is, where AMD Athlon64 CPUs still rule. From the viewpoint of PC enthusiasts, they are of little appeal. On the other hand, with the release of cheap Intel E2160 and E2140 based on the Core architecture, we can no longer assert AMD's domination in the value sector.
Chipsets
Let's talk in a bit more detail about the chipsets P965, 975X, and NVIDIA nForce4 Intel Edition, nForce 570/590 SLI, as well as the new nForce 6xx series. To start with, look at the comparative specifications table.
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NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI |
NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI IE |
NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI |
NVIDIA nForce 650i Ultra |
Intel 975X |
Intel P965 |
| Market sector |
high-end + SLI |
high-end + SLI |
middle-end + SLI |
middle-end |
high-end + Crossfire |
high-end + Crossfire / middle-end |
| Socket |
Intel Socket 775 |
Intel Socket 775 |
Intel Socket 775 |
Intel Socket 775 |
Intel Socket 775 |
Intel Socket 775 |
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Supported processors
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Core 2 Extreme (dual and quad core)
Core 2 Quad
Core 2 Duo
Celeron D
Pentium 4
Pentium D 9XX
Pentium D 8XX
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| FSB speed (MHz) |
1333 MHz |
1066 MHz |
1333 MHz |
1066 MHz |
1066/1333* MHz |
1066/1333* MHz |
| Overclocking capability (3dnews.ru) |
Good |
Poor |
n/a |
n/a |
Very Good |
Excellent |
| Support for NVIDIA SLI™ / AMD-ATI Crossfire |
SLI (2 x16) |
SLI (2 x16) |
SLI (2 x 8) |
- |
Crossfire (2 x 8) |
Crossfire (16 + 4) |
| Support for the third PCI Express x16 slot |
+ (8 lanes) |
+ (8 lanes) |
- |
- |
+ (2/4 lanes) |
- |
| Support for SLI-Ready Memory (MHz) with EPP |
1200 MHz |
n/a |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Support for DDR2 memory (MHz) |
800 MHz |
667 MHz |
800 MHz |
800 MHz |
667 MHz |
800 MHz |
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Support for PCI Express
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No. of lanes
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46 |
48 |
18 |
18 |
20 |
20 |
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Q-ty of links
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9 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
n/a |
n/a |
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PCI Express configuration
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16, 16, 8, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 |
16, 16, 8, 1, 1, 1,1, 1, 1, 1, 1 |
8, 8, 1, 1
or
16, 1, 1 |
16, 1, 1 |
8,8,1,1,1,1 |
16,1,1,1,1 |
| Q-ty of SATA/PATA links |
6/1 |
6/1 |
4/2 |
4/2 |
4/1 |
6/0 |
| Support for RAID |
0, 1, 0+1, 5 |
0, 1, 0+1, 5 |
0, 1, 0+1, 5 |
0, 1, 0+1, 5 |
0, 1, 0+1, MatrixRAID |
0, 1, 0+1, MatrixRAID |
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| Integrated support for Gigabit Ethernet |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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| Support for USB |
10 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
| PCI |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Audio |
HDA (Azalia) |
HDA (Azalia) |
HDA (Azalia) |
HDA (Azalia) |
HDA |
HDA |
As we can see from the table, the expansion options of the 680i SLI chipset are on par with 590 SLI. The same can be said about the functionality: the kit of NVIDIA proprietary technologies is the same as before. In particular, all the chipsets of the nForce 6xx series support the MediaShield (including RAID Morphing and Cross-Controller RAID), FirstPacket, LinkBoost, and SLI-Ready Memory, as well as the nTune Utility. Besides, the nForce 680i SLI chipset supports the DualNet (+ TCP/IP Acceleration) technology. For details of these technologies, read the review on nForce 5xx series chipsets.
This table requires some comments to accentuate some fundamental distinctions of the chipsets. First, despite the official specifications of memory frequencies, motherboard manufacturers have implemented a complete set of memory frequency multipliers in their products (using some technical tricks). In the end, motherboards based on i975X/P965 offer a really wide selection of multipliers (including support for DDR2-1066 memory):
Available memory frequencies on ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (i975X)
While we are talking about memory, let's outline a very important point: the chipset i975X offers support for the reducing multiplier (DDR2-400) for FSB = 266 MHz, i.e. the memory frequency = 3:4 of the FSB speed, which allows for a substantial overclocking of Core 2 Duo processors while keeping the memory frequency within the reasonable limits. Example: at FSB = 533 MHz the memory frequency will be 400 MHz, which is equivalent to DDR2-800.
It is not by accident that I specified such a high frequency. The thing is, Core 2 Duo runs at relatively low frequencies (the clock speed of E6300 = 1.86 GHz), and the system bus speed is as high as 266 MHz (1066QPB). Therefore, the multipliers of Conroe and Allendale processors are within 7 to 10. In view of the technology limit of the 65-nm process of Core 2 Duo = 3.5 GHz, the operating frequencies of the overclocked system will be within 400 to 500 MHz (E6300: 500 MHz x 7 = 3500 MHz).
The chipset P965 does not have a reducing multiplier for the memory frequency. That is, it loses to i975X at that. However, the differences in the design and process technology (P965 is made following the "finer" process technology) resulted in higher overclocking capability of P965! We also note here that to attain high results the user would have to raise voltage on the north bridge (both for P965 and 975X).
However, the chipsets P965 and 975X are not direct competitors and are aimed at different market sectors. P965 is used to manufacture middle-end and high-end motherboards, and i975X - only for high-end products. The key distinction between these chipsets is support for the ATI Crossfire (or AMD/ATI Crossfire) technology. In particular, 975X-based motherboards do support it, and with two PCI Express x16 slots they allocate 8 bus lanes to each. The chipset P965 lacks such functionality, however, some motherboards do have 2 PCI Express x16 slots each onboard. At the same time, for the first slot 16 lanes are allocated, whereas for the second slot - 2 or 4.
In autumn 2006, the situation radically changed: ATI was acquired by AMD, and the latter enabled support for the Crossfire on P965. Respective amendments were introduced to Catalyst 6.9 (and further) drivers. In the end, users of P965-based motherboards with two PCI Express x16 slots will leverage the advantages of two ATI video cards running in the Crossfire mode. At the same time, it should be noted that performance boost will be lower than in the same video cards installed on an i975X-based motherboard. In fact, if we disregard the Crossfire technology, the presence of two PCI Express x16 slots allows plugging in four monitors to a single system.
As regards the SLI technology, Intel's chipsets do not support it (although that is quite possible using unofficial modified drivers). Therefore, if the user is up to merging two video cards into an SLI, he would need a motherboard based on any nForce chipset with support for SLI. By the way, overclocking of motherboards based on nForce 6xx series chipsets is very simple and is not accompanied by a synchronous rise in the memory frequency. The user simply fixes the memory frequency and then builds up the FSB speed.
The next radical distinction between 975X- and P965-based motherboards is in different south bridges. Motherboards based on 975? use ICH7(R), whereas those based on P965 user newer ICH8(R). Nevertheless, the new is not always the best. Although the number of USB 2.0 ports has been increased (to 10) in the south bridge ICH8(R), with the number of Serial ATA channels increased to 6, the support for Parallel ATA has gone, unfortunately. Therefore, users of such hard disks will not be able easily upgrading the motherboard. Most users are using PATA CD and DVD drives. Anyway, motherboard manufacturers have found a way out of the trouble and started installing cheap additional controllers (even Intel does that on its boards). Therefore, all who are after the direct support for Parallel ATA should forget about P965 and choose between motherboards based on 975X and nForce4 chipsets.
A few words on the integrated G965 chipset. That is a modification of the chipset P965 with integrated graphic core X3000 (Intel GMA X3000). Let's dissuade you from buying motherboards based on this chipset: the raw graphic drivers are the cause of low performance in 3D applications (somewhere as the level between i915G and i945G), and the middling 2D quality is simply tiring to the eyes.
Next
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Content: |
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- Page 1 - Chipsets
- Page 2 - Roundup table of motherboards
- Page 3 - abit AW9D-MAX, abit AB9 Pro
- Page 4 - ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe, ASUS P5W64-WS Pro
- Page 5 - ASUS Commando, ASUS P5B Premium Vista Edition
- Page - ASUS P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi, ASUS P5B-E
- Page 7 - P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe, Striker, P5N32-E SLI, and P5N32-E SLI PLUS
- Page 8 - ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium, ASUS P5N-E SLI
- Page 9 - Gigabyte 965P-DQ6, Gigabyte 965P-DS4
- Page 10 - Gigabyte 965P-DS3, Gigabyte 965G-DS3
- Page 11 - Foxconn 975X7AB, Foxconn P9657AA-8EKRS2H
- Page 12 - MSI P6N SLI Platinum, MSI P965 Platinum
- Page 13 - MSI P965 Neo, MSI P965 Neo2
- Page 14 - Intel D975XBX2 (i975X), Intel DG965RYCK
- Page 15 - ECS NF650SLIT-A, ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A
- Page 16 - ECS PN2 SLI2+, ECS P965T-A
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Page 17 - Performance, conclusions
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