Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (AMD 780G)
Author:
Date: 28.03.2008 |
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Performance tests
Note that Gigabyte MA78GM-S2H sets the nominal FSB speed to some overstatement:
Above all, we were interested by the performance of the integrated video core in both the nominal and the overclocking mode. We'll be comparing the speed versus other motherboards based on integrated chipsets, as well as versus one of the weakest discrete video cards (NVIDIA GeForce FX5750).
In our test setup, we used the following hardware:
| Test setup |
| CPU |
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (real clock speed 2.2 GHz) |
| Cooler |
Gigabyte G-Power |
| Video subsystem |
Integrated graphic core Radeon HD3200
External video card Gigabyte FX5750 (GeForce 5750; PCI Express x16)
Driver version: 93.71 WHQL |
| Sound card |
- |
| HDD |
Samsung HD160JJ |
| Memory |
2x 1024 MB GoodRAM DDR2 GP1066D264L5/2GDC |
| Power supply unit |
FSP 550 W |
| OS |
Windows XP SP1 |
Benchmarking:
Fantastic! The integrated video core Radeon HD3200 has proved as fast as an external video card (albeit cheap and old). Moreover, the functional superiority of Radeon HD3200 is seen better in modern games, as well as in the "hard" modes. You can see that the superiority at speed of running 3D applications as compared to the previous integrated chipset is simply enormous.
In the end, we make the conclusion that the outcomes of releasing the chipset 780G will be indeed perceivable for the IT industry. In particular, the competitors (Intel and NVIDIA) will have to release integrated chipsets of the same performance level and, which is no less important, with the same level of support for modern graphic technologies (I wonder how Intel will cope with that challenge).
The next conclusion - with the emergence of 780G-based motherboards, users will be able saving some amount through not buying an external video card. That is, the video core Radeon HD3200 will allow playing albeit old but scene-intensive games comfortably. This video core will also provide a comfortable experience while viewing high-quality high-definition (HD) films. Since motherboards based on 780G provide image output to two monitors and even four, if one more video card is installed, these boards will be in demand in not only the home but the corporate sector as well. And to thrill the buyer down, AMD is offering the Hybrid Crossfire technology. That is, if the user saves a bit more money and purchases an external video card (certainly, based on an AMD chip), then the Radeon HD3200 core will operate together with the chip of the new video card and take on part of the computational job. Therefore, the system performance will be even higher!
By the way, the high performance level makes the chipset 780G quite acceptable for operation with Vista. So we'll be testing all the forthcoming boards with this operating system (and at the same time change the list of test applications). In fact, programmers at AMD/ATI find it a priority task to develop drivers for Vista, to the detriment of debugging software to be operated under XP, unfortunately. Therefore, although XP is simpler and easier for some users, they will find it difficult to reveal the capabilities of the 780G. The thing is, there is a number of problems: you can't set a higher refresh rate (more comfortable) on the CRT monitor; part of gaming applications and benchmarks (Aquamark, PCMark, Far Cry) won't start or start up with errors. As regards Vista, we found none of the above issues.
Final Words
AMD 780G has proved so multifunctional, high-quality, and attractive a product, that it is really difficult to examine it from all the aspects within a single review. So, in the forthcoming reviews we'll be looking into such aspects like performance of 780G in Vista, performance in the Hybrid Crossfire mode, operation in multi-monitor configurations. We haven't yet finished with the overclocking - AMD has got the OverDrive utility in stock. Once we have outlines the major features, we can make some conclusions regarding the chipset 780G.
AMD 780G has proved more than good. However, we can't yet call it "the best integrated chipset", or "an event of the Core 2 Duo level", or reward it with another title. To do that, we need to test a number of competitor new products (in particular, NVIDIA has prepared a couple of interesting chipsets), wait until the motherboards have arrived in the retail (and look at their price), as well as wait until high-quality drivers for XP have been developed (or persuade AMD to remove support for XP from the specifications of 780G).
Now, conclusions regarding Gigabyte MA78GM-S2H. It is a high-quality implementation of the 780G capabilities, without any visible flaws. To the credit of Gigabyte, we note that they have installed an additional Firewire controller, as well as equipped the boards with good enough overclocking tools. Besides, the board supports part of Gigabyte's proprietary utilities (EasyTune, @BIOS, and FaceWizard).
ConclusionPros:
- excellent stability and performance;
- integrated graphic core Radeon HD3200;
- one PCI Express x16 (PCI-E v2.0) slot;
- support for Hybrid Crossfire and SurroundView;
- support for SerialATA II (6 links, RAID);
- support for ParallelATA (1 link);
- Gigabit LAN controller and integrated 8-channel High Definition Audio;
- support for USB2.0 (12 ports) and Firewire (2 ports);
- a pack of Gigabyte's proprietary technologies: (Q-Flash, EasyTune 5 Pro, FaceWizard, @BIOS, CMOS profiles, etc.);
- superb tuning of the Smart Fan (a very quiet board).
Cons:
- flaws in the EasyTune 5 Pro.
The board's specific features:
- good results for overclocking the CPU and the core Radeon HD3200.
Recently, first motherboards based on 780G have appeared in Russia at prices starting with $80!
- Discuss the material in the conference
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