Test Setup
Test conditions were maintained the same, as much as possible, over the platforms tested. Our game test was run at a setting of 1280x1024 HQ to ensure our MSI HD 2900 XT is not a bottleneck.
We selected the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 as our processor of choice since it allows us several different choices with the front side bus settings and represents Intel's latest CPU offering, well for now. We are utilizing Microsoft Vista Ultimate 64-bit as our operating system along with a 2GB memory configuration for this preview. We will also provide Vista 64-bit results with 4GB of memory in the full review. Our test results were not adversely affected with 4GB of memory. We did notice stability problems when overclocking the memory past DDR3-1800 with 4GB installed. ASUS is currently working on this and we attribute these problems to a very early BIOS release.
We utilize new drive images on each board in order to minimize any potential driver conflicts. Our 3DMark results are generated utilizing the standard benchmark resolution for each program. We run each benchmark five times, throw out the two low and high scores, and report the remaining score. All results at stock speeds for this article are with memory timings at 5-5-5-15 (DDR3-1333) and at 6-6-6-15 (DDR3-1600) for our overclocking tests. Where possible, memory sub-timings were set exactly the same to ensure consistency between the boards.
Our choice of software applications to test is based on programs that enjoy widespread usage and produce repeatable and consistent results during testing. Microsoft Vista has thrown a monkey wrench into testing as the aggressive nature of the operating system to constantly optimize application loading and retrieval from memory or the storage system presents some interesting obstacles. This along with what we still see as a lack of driver maturity will continue to present problems in the near future with benchmark selections. Our normal process is to change our power settings to performance, delete the contents of the Prefetch folder, and then reboot after each benchmark run. This process results in consistency over the course of benchmark testing. All applications are run with administer privileges.
| ASUS P5E3 Deluxe / P5E3 Premium Testbed | |||||||||||||||||||
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 Quad Core, 3.0GHz, 2x6MB Unified Cache, 9x Multiplier, 1333FSB |
||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Voltage | 1.250V Stock | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cooling | CoolIT Freezone | ||||||||||||||||||
| Power Supply | OCZ 1000W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Memory | Corsair CM3X1024-1800C7D
| Memory Settings |
5-5-5-15 (DDR3-1333) |
Video Cards |
MSI HD X2900 XT 512MB |
Video Drivers |
ATI Catalyst 7.10 |
Hard Drive |
Western Digital 7200RPM 750GB SATA 3/Gbps 16MB Buffer |
Optical Drives |
Plextor PX-B900A, Toshiba SD-H802A |
Case |
Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evo |
BIOS |
Deluxe - 601 / Premium 110 |
Operating System |
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit |
. |
| |
Test conditions were maintained the same, as much as possible, over the platforms tested. Our game test was run at a setting of 1280x1024 HQ to ensure our MSI HD 2900 XT is not a bottleneck.
We selected the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 as our processor of choice since it allows us several different choices with the front side bus settings and represents Intel's latest CPU offering, well for now. We are utilizing Microsoft Vista Ultimate 64-bit as our operating system along with a 2GB memory configuration for this preview. We will also provide Vista 64-bit results with 4GB of memory in the full review. Our test results were not adversely affected with 4GB of memory. We did notice stability problems when overclocking the memory past DDR3-1800 with 4GB installed. ASUS is currently working on this and we attribute these problems to a very early BIOS release.
We utilize new drive images on each board in order to minimize any potential driver conflicts. Our 3DMark results are generated utilizing the standard benchmark resolution for each program. We run each benchmark five times, throw out the two low and high scores, and report the remaining score. All results at stock speeds for this article are with memory timings at 5-5-5-15 (DDR3-1333) and at 6-6-6-15 (DDR3-1600) for our overclocking tests. Where possible, memory sub-timings were set exactly the same to ensure consistency between the boards.
Our choice of software applications to test is based on programs that enjoy widespread usage and produce repeatable and consistent results during testing. Microsoft Vista has thrown a monkey wrench into testing as the aggressive nature of the operating system to constantly optimize application loading and retrieval from memory or the storage system presents some interesting obstacles. This along with what we still see as a lack of driver maturity will continue to present problems in the near future with benchmark selections. Our normal process is to change our power settings to performance, delete the contents of the Prefetch folder, and then reboot after each benchmark run. This process results in consistency over the course of benchmark testing. All applications are run with administer privileges.
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Kougar - Saturday, November 17, 2007 - link
Ah, you are correct. G45 will be the GMA X4500 with DX10 and HD playblack offloading support, if the wiki is anything to go by. At least they seem to understand Intel's nomenclature! But that makes two of the three G31, G33, and G35 pretty superfluous, since they supposedly use mostly similar or different variations of the same G965 design that G45 will then supersede? I had thought G35 was released, but you are also correct it has not. G45 is due at the same time as the rest of the 45 chipset launches in 2Q'08, so what is the point of launching G35 just for one quarter except to help push more parts?Sadly this does not explain P45 or X48... both of which only offer a higher official FSB rating. Suffice to say if X48 doesn't offer any improvement over X38, then why would P45 offer the same over P35. X38 is nothing more than a P35 with extra PCIe lanes, which is fine, but it makes P45 and X48 rather moot points. The goal of a business is to turn a profit, but forcing a steady stream of superfluous rebadged "new" hardware down the industry's throat is not a good thing.
ninjit - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - link
Personally I really wish they dropped PS/2 altogether from new motherboards, but I find it a little odd that they included a PS/2 Keyboard port, but no mouse one.
I thought it might be a typo, but the board picture only seems to show the purple keyboard ps/2 port as well.
Gholam - Sunday, November 18, 2007 - link
Intel DP35DP has a nice little bug where you get locked out of the system after doing a BIOS upgrade. All "USB Root Hub" devices fail to start; you have to delete and redetect them - but since the only way to connect mouse and keyboard is via USB, they don't work, and the only way to resolve it is to use a remote connection via LAN.Likewise, on Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R, a Logitech G15 keyboard connected via USB doesn't function with Vista x64 boot loader - the "F8" part. A PS/2 keyboard must be used to access startup options.
TA152H - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - link
I'd rather they drop an additional USB ports and keep the PS/2 ports.Why would anyone want to connect their mouse and keyboard to a USB port? It does not function better, and has higher overhead. It's kind of funny how much importance people place into ringing that last cpu cycle out of their machine, and then the nitwits put in a USB keyboard and mouse.
Guess who invented USB? Intel maybe? Why do you think Intel would want this lousy technology? Because it made people want faster CPUs. Why do we need something other than PS/2 ports for a mouse or keyboard? They don't do the job properly, and efficiently? Or wait, if we have USB ports, we can use them for something else in case we don't need to use a keyboard or mouse. Yes, that must be it! Except, how often don't you need a keyboard or mouse on a desktop machine and desperately need an extra USB port or two? Hmmmm, I'm thinking next to never.
USB is a bad, inefficient technology. For things that don't matter like cameras, it doesn't matter (naturally). For anything else, you've made a compromise you probably shouldn't have made. It sucks for hard disks, it sucks for mice and keyboards, although it's good for powering portable refrigerators ( http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0...">http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0... ). Maybe that's what it should be used for. Everything else pretty much has a better choice of an existing interface.
jonp - Thursday, November 15, 2007 - link
Yes, let's keep the PS/2 keyboard and mouse connections. I have a KVM that I don't want to replace and a mix of systems across time. The latest edition is a MB with PS/2 keyboard but no mouse. The first PS/2 to USB converter was trash. The 2nd one works better but still the mouse hangs up without warning at the darndest times.At slightly off the topic, it seems that Intels dropping of IDE/PATA was a bit premature as all the MB manufacturers have to add back a JMicron (or someone elses) chip for IDE hard and CD/DVD drives....
takumsawsherman - Thursday, November 15, 2007 - link
Absolutely. There's nothing worse than having the Mobo not like your choice of USB keyboard and refuse to recogize F-Keys or Del upon boot. PS/2 is reliable, and has no disadvantages over USB that I can think of for keyboards. I think I heard something about precision mice that seemed to favor USB, but I've never had an issue with using my PS/2 connector with my USB mouse (till the adapter broke due to leverage issues). My mouse is now plugged in via USB and I don't feel any more precise or that my mousing has improved.USB is a hellspawn of a standard, and I wish that Firewire would have taken off instead. Some will blame Apple for the licensing garbage, and maybe that is true, but Apple's first iMac had USB and no Firewire. That is when USB really took off. Meanwhile, much like PS/2, ADB (the bus used for keyboards and mice on old Macs) was a better standard, and many complained about the USB keyboards not keeping up with typing, and of course the old keyboard combinations did not work as well, due to a lack of hardware interrupt, I think. No more rebooting from the keyboard when locked up, force quit didn't always come up. Lots of issues.
Back to this board, I see they put FW400 on it, but felt that for $230, the customer should pay for their own FW800, even though it has been out for 4 years. Some premium.
leexgx - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - link
rants aside, keeping the PS/2 keyboard connector is an good idea as it allways works as with windows that is an slight chance that the usb kayboard may not not of been detected yet or you mate be stuck with the found new hardware box but unable to press enter hehi still use an ps/2 keyboard and an usb mouse so works well as it is
PLaYaHaTeD - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - link
Double paragraph on the first page,On Test Setup, memory is "Corsair GARY FIX THIS"
Raja Gill - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - link
oops sorry was posted during final edit, it's all fixed now...