Abit AB9-Pro: Mainstream P965 Performance and Pricing
by Gary Key on July 24, 2006 4:45 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Standard Gaming Performance
As usual, gaming performance was tested with a variety of current games. We ran benchmarks with our standard 1280x1024 resolution without antialiasing enabled (and generally without anisotropic filtering, though that varies by game). Given the number of users that run 19 inch LCDs these days, 1280x1024 represents one of the most commonly used resolutions. We could certainly increase the amount of eye candy being displayed in most of the games, but as this is a motherboard benchmark we aren't particularly interested in maxing out the graphics cards for all tests.
As we commented in our previous Conroe Buyers Guide, gaming benchmarks at these settings are generally very close together, and few people would notice a difference between the various motherboards. With the latest BIOS, the Abit board places pretty consistently right in the middle of all the results. Discounting the ASRock board - which is in a completely different price category and is usually at the bottom of our performance charts - the spread between the fastest and slowest motherboards is only 1%-3%. Basically, your purchase decision should be based on price, features, availability, and manufacturer more than gaming performance.
As usual, gaming performance was tested with a variety of current games. We ran benchmarks with our standard 1280x1024 resolution without antialiasing enabled (and generally without anisotropic filtering, though that varies by game). Given the number of users that run 19 inch LCDs these days, 1280x1024 represents one of the most commonly used resolutions. We could certainly increase the amount of eye candy being displayed in most of the games, but as this is a motherboard benchmark we aren't particularly interested in maxing out the graphics cards for all tests.
As we commented in our previous Conroe Buyers Guide, gaming benchmarks at these settings are generally very close together, and few people would notice a difference between the various motherboards. With the latest BIOS, the Abit board places pretty consistently right in the middle of all the results. Discounting the ASRock board - which is in a completely different price category and is usually at the bottom of our performance charts - the spread between the fastest and slowest motherboards is only 1%-3%. Basically, your purchase decision should be based on price, features, availability, and manufacturer more than gaming performance.
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Zebo - Monday, July 31, 2006 - link
I do not understand not finding the MAX FSB of these Conroe Boards by lowering multiplier to say 6-7. Many of us want to buy a Yugo(E6300) and make a Mercedes (3000Mhz +) and with these crappy sub 400Mhz bus speeds shown here: http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/abitab9proupdat...">http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/abitab9proupdat...We will be unable to do so. The very best board there can crank a E6300 up to 2800Mhz? Yes or No? No probably but we will never know based on your limited info.
Tujan - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - link
What is the least wattage power supply that would be used with these boards. For examples sake,the Abit board just reviewed ?700 watts is fairly large wattage. I would like to use a 450 watt high efficiency unit. Or 500 watt at the most.
Whats the 'least' wattage power supply that you might use.? Considering you wouldn't be doing any of the tweaks,that is running the board at factory stats. [1]?
This board is going to cost how much ? [2] Is this board in the same range as the 975s from Intel ? Or within the same range as the 945 MBs wich run the Pentium,Pentium Ds (Prescotts)?
Gary Key - Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - link
What CPU? Conroe/Pentium D and a X1900XT would still justify 500w range if you expect to upgrade to the next generation video card and also overclock. Conroe and a 7800GT as an example would be fine with a high quality 400~450w power supply and still allow decent headroom for overclocking.
A high quality 400w power supply would be fine, depending on the 12V rails a 350w might suffice with zero overclocking and a 7600 / X1600 level video card, all of this depends on the number of drives, cooling, and cards you add-on.
At this point, $140, probably come down $125 as more boards are introduced in this price range.
Tujan - Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - link
Thanks for reply. Yes probably an Antech power supply. True Power,or Smart Power HE unit. Most of my regards in builds doesn't dismiss the overclocker market. Still it is good to know what the normal configuration will require.7600GT,or 1600XT, Maybe a single large Sata,or two high-end Sata 3s in Raid 0. USBs in use,keyboard etc. 2 gigs of Ram. Core Duo 6300 . Creative latest sound card. DVD /DVD writer.
144$,.. not bad for sure.
xsilver - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link
does this uguru bios allow on the fly overclocking without reboot? (in windows)actually do all motherboards pretty much allow that these days?
Gary Key - Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - link
It normally does, testing a new version now that works with the latest bios and P965. Hopefully, I can report on it before the 965 roundup.DigitalFreak - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link
7 slot motherboards? First it dropped to 6 slots, and now it's down to 5! With dual slot GPU coolers becoming commonplace, we need all the slots we can get.monsoon - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link
I know you CONROE overclocking dedicated article is still on the way; I just wanted to mention I'm one among those who would rather see the E6600 results rather than the E6700 or other, if we have to choose one CPU only....Also, do you think an overclocking comparison between MEROM and CONROE ( and YONAH ) is coming in the future ?
Thanks for another great article; I'll be drooling until one of those chips is in my hands...
;)
JarredWalton - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link
Right now, E6600 chips would top out at the same spot on most motherboards. The boards are holding back the E6700, not the CPU - except for the ASUS P5WDH, of course. So until the companies can get better OC'ing BIOS versions out, you're limited to 9x367 (roughly) with this Abit board.As far as comparing Merom and Conroe overclocking, that will be a bit difficult since Merom is going to fit in a different socket and won't be available for a few months more. The most we got out of Yonah on the AOpen motherboard was about 2.8 GHz, Conroe is clearly the better choice for overall performance since high end cooling is allowing people to reach 4.0 GHz and beyond. Merom could be interesting in that it will have higher multipliers so you won't need the high FSB speed support, but the inability to run Merom chips in socket 775 boards means you'll have to go for something like the AOpen board we reviewed, which is very expensive, though granted it's about the same price as most of the 975X Conroe motherboards.
dugbug - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link
Do you really think it will be two+ months before we see a merom laptop? What about sneek-preview laptops for review sites? Info on merom can't get here fast enough :)