Intel P965: Mid-Range Performance Sector Roundup
by Gary Key on October 20, 2006 9:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Gaming Performance- RTS & Simulation
While our previous tests were based around First Person Shooters we are going to take a look at how our motherboards perform with Real Time Strategy and Simulation games.
Company of Heroes
Company of Heroes was recently released and is proving to be a very addictive RTS game around the office. The game is extremely GPU intensive and also requires a hefty CPU at times. The game contains a built-in performance test that utilizes the game engine to generate several different action scenes along with a coffee argument as a sideline distraction before the war starts. We found the performance test gives a good indication of how well your system will perform throughout the game on average. Some of the in-game action sequences are more demanding than the performance test, but we generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average performance test frame rate above 35fps.
Rise of Legends
This game was released a few months back and like most real time strategy games is very CPU intensive but still offers a very visual experience. In order to experience the game properly you need a fast CPU, very good memory subsystem, and a decent GPU to play at the higher resolutions. This game has also proved to be very addictive around the office. We utilize FRAPs to capture the results from our replay file. Our benchmark consists of a one on one player game that takes approximately an hour to complete with some significant action throughout the game. Our camera movements are constant as we try to out play each other with a general tank rush between the two Vinci sides every few minutes. We set all video options to high but disable AA although we found it makes very little difference in the performance of the game at the lower resolutions. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 35fps.
Age of Empires III
Age of Empires III was released last fall and will soon be updated with The WarChiefs expansion pack. This particular game requires a decent CPU and a very capable GPU when utilizing the antialiasing options. We once again utilize FRAPS to capture the results from our replay file. Our benchmark consists of a four player scenario that takes approximately an hour to complete. Our playback file follows the action of the best player on our staff as he generally is involved in attacks from an early point in the game until he decimates everyone at the end. The camera movements are constant as is the action so we feel like this benchmark represents the typical game. We set all video options to high but disable AA. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 40fps.
GT Legends
Our final game is a racing simulation introduced last year that generally delivers a very accurate portrayal of driving the top sports cars in the 1960s and 1970s on some of the world's finest race tracks. The game is an update to GTR with improved physics and graphics. GTR2 was recently released but we were unable to test it in time for this roundup. Our test consists of racing our Mustang around the Monza GP track for three laps and capturing the results with FRAPS. We set all in-game options to their highest settings but disable AA although the game requires it for an enjoyable experience from the cockpit. The performance penalty on level three AA is minimal. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 45fps.
RTS Gaming Summary
Our results mirror the FPS benchmark scores with all of the P965 boards bunched together with the 975X board trailing slightly. However, in a reversal we see our 570SLI board being very competitive with the P965 offerings. Once again, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 motherboard places first or second in our RTS/Simulation benchmarks while providing the best overall minimum frame rates. We spent numerous hours testing each game in single player and on-line multiplayer modes with and without audio enabled. We did not note any issues during our game play experiences with this group of motherboards at stock or overclocked settings. Once you have setup any board here properly you can expect near trouble free operation during gaming.
While our previous tests were based around First Person Shooters we are going to take a look at how our motherboards perform with Real Time Strategy and Simulation games.
Company of Heroes
Company of Heroes was recently released and is proving to be a very addictive RTS game around the office. The game is extremely GPU intensive and also requires a hefty CPU at times. The game contains a built-in performance test that utilizes the game engine to generate several different action scenes along with a coffee argument as a sideline distraction before the war starts. We found the performance test gives a good indication of how well your system will perform throughout the game on average. Some of the in-game action sequences are more demanding than the performance test, but we generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average performance test frame rate above 35fps.
Rise of Legends
This game was released a few months back and like most real time strategy games is very CPU intensive but still offers a very visual experience. In order to experience the game properly you need a fast CPU, very good memory subsystem, and a decent GPU to play at the higher resolutions. This game has also proved to be very addictive around the office. We utilize FRAPs to capture the results from our replay file. Our benchmark consists of a one on one player game that takes approximately an hour to complete with some significant action throughout the game. Our camera movements are constant as we try to out play each other with a general tank rush between the two Vinci sides every few minutes. We set all video options to high but disable AA although we found it makes very little difference in the performance of the game at the lower resolutions. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 35fps.
Age of Empires III
Age of Empires III was released last fall and will soon be updated with The WarChiefs expansion pack. This particular game requires a decent CPU and a very capable GPU when utilizing the antialiasing options. We once again utilize FRAPS to capture the results from our replay file. Our benchmark consists of a four player scenario that takes approximately an hour to complete. Our playback file follows the action of the best player on our staff as he generally is involved in attacks from an early point in the game until he decimates everyone at the end. The camera movements are constant as is the action so we feel like this benchmark represents the typical game. We set all video options to high but disable AA. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 40fps.
GT Legends
Our final game is a racing simulation introduced last year that generally delivers a very accurate portrayal of driving the top sports cars in the 1960s and 1970s on some of the world's finest race tracks. The game is an update to GTR with improved physics and graphics. GTR2 was recently released but we were unable to test it in time for this roundup. Our test consists of racing our Mustang around the Monza GP track for three laps and capturing the results with FRAPS. We set all in-game options to their highest settings but disable AA although the game requires it for an enjoyable experience from the cockpit. The performance penalty on level three AA is minimal. We generally found the game to be enjoyable with an average frame rate above 45fps.
RTS Gaming Summary
Our results mirror the FPS benchmark scores with all of the P965 boards bunched together with the 975X board trailing slightly. However, in a reversal we see our 570SLI board being very competitive with the P965 offerings. Once again, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 motherboard places first or second in our RTS/Simulation benchmarks while providing the best overall minimum frame rates. We spent numerous hours testing each game in single player and on-line multiplayer modes with and without audio enabled. We did not note any issues during our game play experiences with this group of motherboards at stock or overclocked settings. Once you have setup any board here properly you can expect near trouble free operation during gaming.
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Gary Key - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
The DS4 will be reviewed. Gigabyte has stated they will not bring it into the US but we are still trying to convince them (really more like begging and calling our marketing rep at home on the weekends to beg some more) to release it in the States. The copper backplate can be removed off the DQ6 and I really did not see any benefit with it on in testing. It makes for a good rebate with the price of copper today. ;-)The AHCI issues stay the way they are at this time. It is frustrating to say the least. I was being a bit sarcastic in my statement but it is a little harder than it should be to enable AHCI on the ICH8R.
Ryan Norton - Sunday, October 22, 2006 - link
I'm in Taiwan, so the DS4 is all over the place :)Capt Caveman - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
Not sure if you live in the US or not but Gigabyte is not bringing/selling the DS4 to the US.Also, the copper backplate for the DQ-6, can be removed with a tworx(sp?) screwdriver. At XS, many just went to Home Depot and got longer screws for their HSF.
lopri - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
Excellent review that'll help potential buyers enormously. A couple things:1. Error in the chart (page 14): There is a discrepency between the chart (3-4-3) and the commentary (3-4-4) :)
2. In memory review Wesley always put tRP ahead of tRCD, while Gary does the opposite. It'd be nice to have a consistency for less experienced users!
3. Gary, did you test the P5W-DH with wirless module installed or without? I recently found out the wirless module could skew CPU/memory-sensitive benchmarks on this board big time. I'm not sure if my finding is true in general, but if it is, then the comparison between a board with such feature and a board without it can be unfair.
4. Can Sandra Unbuffered be really an indication of general performace? @400FSB, setting memory ratio 4:5 (DDR2-1000/4-4-3) boosted the score by a whooping 400~500 MB/s from the ratio 1:1 (DDR2-800/3-3-3), which never realized for other tests in a meaningful way. Oh this is about my own testing. :D
Thanks for the great review.
Gary Key - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
Thanks for the comments.1. The timing error is corrected. Jarred and I were editing at the same and we found out after the article went live that our saves to the final copy would overwrite each other. Bad timing for several other mistakes that have been cleared up now.
2. Wes is wrong. Just kidding, we will get on the same page. :)
3. I turned off the WiFi on the PSW-DH. The scores were even worse with it on. Not that they are bad but the board runs a little looser timings in order to overclock at the high end. DFI also does this with their boards targeted for the overclocking market.
4. Sandra Unbuffered can be an indication of performance in apps that are memory sensitive. This is not always the case but it is one of the better yardsticks available at this time.
Lothar - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
Do you plan on comparing the Gigabyte DS3 vs the S3 version for us to know if there are performance/overclocking issues with the S3?The only difference so far between the DS3 and S3 is "All Solid Capacitors".
Are there any other difference I'm missing?
The S3 is $110, and the DS3 is $150.
I have a hard time to justify paying an extra $40 for only "all solid capacitors"
The term is nothing but marketing to me so far.
I haven't seen any proof of a performance/overclocking issue between the two boards.
If you or anyone else plan on testing the differences or can provide something(Ex: any review link) stating otherwise, that would be great.
Nakazato - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
In theory, cleaner power.... but aside from the theory, the onboard sound does start flaking out the higher you go. This has been true on 2/2 boards I've tried it on. So an add-in card is needed for the higher overclocks... 460+ish.goinginstyle - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
No issue here with the Biostar board at 500FSB and the Realtek ALC-883. It sounds fine but a X-FI is still the way to go for gaming.Gary Key - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
Yes, the S3 will be in part two. :)
Lothar - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - link
The only other differences I found were RAID support and 2 extra USB ports...It's not worth the $40 price difference if performance and overclocking results are the same IMO.