EVGA X58 Classified - Trophy Board
by Rajinder Gill on May 8, 2009 3:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Testbed Setup
| EVGA X58 Classified Overclocking / Benchmark Testbed |
|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-920 D0 - Batch 3850A796 Quad-core, 2.66GHz Cache, 20x Multiplier (21x Turbo). 4X256K L2 Cache 8M L3 Cache |
| CPU Voltage | Various |
| Cooling | Dtek Fuzion CPU cooler, 2 x PA120.2 Radiators, 3X Noctua NF-P12 120MM fans, DDC Ultra with Petra top. Dual Cascade cooling 2x1.5HP rotary compressors |
| Power Supply | PCP 1200W |
| Memory | Corsair Dominator GT 7-8-7-20 2000MHz 6Gb kit. |
| Memory Settings | Various |
| Video Cards | MSI 4870X2 |
| Video Drivers | Catalyst 9.4 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 7200RPM 250GB SATA 3/Gbps 16MB Buffer |
| Optical Drives | Plextor PX-B900A, Toshiba SD-H802A |
| Case | Open Test Bed - Dimastech Benching Station, Lian-Li V2110 |
| BIOS | IX58S21R |
| Operating System | Vista 64 Bit SP1 |
| . | |
Base gaming benchmarks are located here. All other system benchmarks follow the same X58 board trend - nothing more than a 0.5%~1% difference between each board. Our focus today is aimed at the heavy overclocking side, which is what the Classified is all about.
Since the preview, we have received a number of BIOS releases with each adding a touch more functionality and addressing problems that were brought to light since the launch. Functionality wise, the board is 99.5% complete. The remaining fix addresses S3 fan speed resume which works fine for some users and not others. Overclocking enhancements have also been made to earlier BIOSes, with individual adjustments to memory timing functions like Round Trip Latency available for user manipulation to help maintain system stability at higher memory clock speeds.
On the overclocking front, we have found the Classified offers a little more stability at lower system voltages when compared with the EVGA X58 SLI or other boards in its price range. In 24/7 systems, the differences are relatively small and not something we'd pinpoint as a clear win, although any gains in this department are always desirable. The real test comes when the boards are pushed under subzero cooling, which is where the Classified is head and shoulders above the pack in our testing to date. So let's see where things get truly interesting for those who love to benchmark....
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JackFoobar - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
Yea, and Hechler & Koch in Germany hasn't shipped any US parts in 4 months. While it's unrelated to computers, it's a similar issue. Overseas shipments have been slacking since the election.C'DaleRider - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
I suppose you can fix a 40mm fan to the sink, but has anyone tried a solution like the Antec Spot Cooler aimed at the sink instead? I've found the Spot Cooler to be a very flexible solution to difficult cooling problems.icingdeath88 - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
Neat, good find. I'd never seen anything like that before. bet it would be kinda loud and whiny though.QChronoD - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
I enjoy reading about boards like these, especially when you guys get to break speed records and all that.But would it be too difficult to put together a small writeup every few months on the new boards that have come out. I want to upgrade my old A64X2 system to an i7 920, but the damn motherboards are so expensive. I can find prices on boards easily, but its hard to find reviews about many of them from places that I trust to know what they're doing.
takumsawsherman - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
Not only are the motherboards expensive, most don't seem worth it. I won't mention the fact that this $400 board doesn't even have Firewire 800. The $600 mac mini has this, and that includes a processor, graphics, and hard drive, and and enclosure. Oh wait, I just did.Rajinder Gill - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
I'd have thought people who are still intent on Firewire do what you did - buy an Apple. I hardly think those that benchmark for fun are bothered about Firewire. In fact, I happen to know that most disable it in the BIOS. Others that care about any form of high speed interface are more concerned about the next step for USB. It's not the intended market of the board at all IMO.JAG87 - Friday, May 8, 2009 - link
QFT. What do you need firewire for? I always disable it together with onboard audio. If you need fast access to external storage you should be using eSata, plus USB 3.0 is coming and it will make firewire obsolete for good.Anyway my own opinion of the board having owned it since day 1, is that it's simply the best overclocking desktop board ever made. The only boards that have touched the same heights as the classified are some DFI boards. The difference with DFI is, you have to put up with ridiculous bioses that have settings which neither you are I have ever heard of before, and their support compared to EVGA.
I have a shitty C0 chip and I can clock it at 200x21 without touching any voltages on the board just vcore. It all depends on the chip, but the board itself can do 200 bclk at stock VTT, which is 1.2V for this board rather than 1.1V. If you don't have crazy IMC demands like Rajinder, you can leave every voltage at stock and still achieve 200 bclk. That's just amazing IMO.
takumsawsherman - Saturday, May 9, 2009 - link
Well, if you ever want to record music using your computer (Cubase, etc), good luck with USB-XLR interfaces. Unless you are using Firewire, be prepared to waste a lot of time recording over and over because USB falls off too quickly.Meanwhile, I'll take a Firewire 800 external drive interface over eSATA any day. They are far more durable when you are actually using the plug for it's intended purpose (plugging and unplugging and moving the drive, etc).
Then, of course, you can daisy chain your devices. It'd be one thing if this was a $150 board. But for $400 you should be getting the best of everything. Nothing should be second rate so that they can save $5.
erple2 - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - link
You're complaining that this board doesn't have some feature for an audience it wasn't intended for? Is it just me, or does that sound a little ... odd?I suppose you're also the type to complain that the necessary sound and video equipment to record a live concert doesn't fit into a Lotus Elise?
Honestly, you need to realize who the intended audience for this product is. This board is intended, rather strictly, for the overclocking crowd, not for the general public that wants to use some FireWire peripherals.
JackFoobar - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
I seem to see this mentioned in every review on anandtech. What's the obsession with that interface? Nobody I know uses it unless they are apple people. I'd like the best of everything on the board too, but firewire isn't the best of anything. Why bother.