Graphics Performance and Encoding

3DMark03 Performance

3DMark05 Performance

MPEG-4 Encoding Performance - 'Sum of All Fears' Ch. 9

It was not really surprising that the Asus A8N32-SLI topped the results for both 3DMark2003 and the most recent 3DMark2005. This was true for both single video and SLI. However, using the latest drivers on the dual x8 DFI kept results much closer than you might expect. The Asus was only 0.75% to 0.9% faster in 3DMark03, and 1.0% to 2.0% in 3DMark05. These differences are all much smaller than the margin of error on these tests, and the differences are not significant.

Media Encoding was among the best that we have tested on a Socket 939 board, but the entire range of test results is so tightly clustered, it would be a mistake to attribute any significance to this encoding score.

Certainly, 3D Graphics benchmarks and Encoding show no real difference in performance from the Dual x8 design to the latest Dual x16.

General Performance Gaming Performance
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  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Both the Asus and DFI were definitely running 1 x16 in single video card mode. The single video card results - using the same 81.85/6.82 drivers, video cards, CPU, and memory - were the most surprising results. I really don't have an explanation for the performance differences here, since there is very little performance difference in older titles but a large difference in the just released games. We are hoping nVidia can shed some light on these benchmark results.
  • n7 - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    This actually looks like a very good mobo.

    However, knowing Asus, i'm sure we will we won't find it reasonably priced anywhere.

    If it came down in price, & they offered a non-SLI version for those of us who don't want SLI, i'd get interested :)
  • aLeoN - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    What kind of rich enthusiast wouldn't want to spend top dollar for the top of the line equipment? Don't get me wrong, I'd like exactly what you do but they've only changed to 8 phase cooling and x16 sli over the current nf4 boards right? Imo it doesn't sound like a very profitable idea if you threw phase change cooling onto an A8N-E but I'll keep my fingers crossed for the both of us.
  • Zebo - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    hehe - the real trick is turning pyrite into gold..Tortise into hare... Anyone can empty thier wallet out or max thier credit card out, as the case may be, on top of the line eqiupment. Takes real skill to turn budget parts into them. IMO.
  • aLeoN - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Right on man! I have a friend who demands near top of the line and doesn't hesitate to have something better than our circle of friends. I'm planning a OC rig for just about a grand that would topple his $3000+ (invested in over a couple years) rig, forcing him to upgrade it with his $1500 now (he was saving it till something good came out or me and a couple other friends get something better). It's people like these that drive our economy! =D
  • gnumantsc - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Wes the chart for Far Cry on Single Video shows a percent increase of 0.4% with the numbers showing 74.3 vs. 47.5. Shouldn't it be 74.5?
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    The chart is correct, and I did a dyslexic in the table. The correct numbers are 47.3 nad 47.5. The table has been corrected.
  • Zebo - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Yes sir just gunna have to wait for another C51 review to see if it's nV's chipset or something ASUS is doing. Definity shocking to see large performance gaps like that so I'm sure you tested and retested and retested after that too.
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Sorry, I will fix the Typo. I made sure all jumpers were reset to single video mode on the DFI and double checked the readout in BIOS before runnign single video tests.
  • Phantronius - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Damnit, I spent alot of money on my Asus A8N Premium board. Grrrrrrr...!! I want a 17% boost in single card performance!!!

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