FSB Overclocking Results
Our 4000+ CPU posted average results in the stock multiplier overclocking test. We noticed an anomaly with this particular CPU after upgrading the board to the latest BIOS revision 1.1d. During testing with the original BIOS revision 1.0e, we were able to reach a stable overclock of 251HTT x12. We could still reach this level with the 1.1d BIOS but the board would not complete our benchmark test suite. We ended up dropping all the way down to a 238HTT setting before the board could complete our test suite. However, our maximum HTT level attained with the 1.0e BIOS was 265HTT x9. The board clearly shines with the 1.1d BIOS resulting in a benchmark suite stable setting of 320HTT x9.
This is clearly an impressive showing by the ECS engineering group at this time. We did not have to change our memory timings as they remained at an impressive 2.5-3.-3-7 1T level throughout testing at the 320HTT x9 setting. Also, voltage only needed to be increased to 1.475V and remained consistent throughout testing. We did not notice any abnormal or out of range voltage fluctuations with this board.
Our Opteron 170 posted excellent results at the stock and lowered CPU multiplier settings. We did not notice the same anomaly with our Athlon64 4000+ CPU at the stock settings. At these overclocked settings the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 for a minimum of four hours without issue. Overall the board would make a very good platform for overclocking, though it could still use additional voltage options for the memory and chipset.
Memory Tests
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ECS KA1 MVP to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400 at the best performing memory timings the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7v. We were able to operate the memory at this configuration up to a 226HTT x12 setting. We will now install all four available memory slots that results in more strenuous requirement on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7 but required the command rate be increased to 2T along with a voltage increase to 2.75. We tested memory modules from several different suppliers with the same results.
| Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego) AMD Opteron 170 (Toledo) |
| CPU Voltage: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ : AMD Opteron 170 : |
1.475V (1.4000V default) 1.400V (1.3000V default) |
| Memory Settings: | 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (12x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (10x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (9x) |
| Memory Voltage: | 2.8V |
| LDT Multiplier: | 5x - 240HTT, 4x - 285HTT, 3x - 315HTT |
| Memory: | OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition |
| Cooling: | Zalman CNPS9500 |
| Power Supply: | PC Power and Cooling 850 SSI |
| Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+ |
238HTT x 12 (2855MHz) +19% |
| Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+ |
320HTT x 9 (2879MHz) +60% |
| Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Opteron 170 |
285HTT x 10 (2850MHz) +42% |
| Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Opteron 170 |
315HTT x 9 (2835MHz) +57% |
Our 4000+ CPU posted average results in the stock multiplier overclocking test. We noticed an anomaly with this particular CPU after upgrading the board to the latest BIOS revision 1.1d. During testing with the original BIOS revision 1.0e, we were able to reach a stable overclock of 251HTT x12. We could still reach this level with the 1.1d BIOS but the board would not complete our benchmark test suite. We ended up dropping all the way down to a 238HTT setting before the board could complete our test suite. However, our maximum HTT level attained with the 1.0e BIOS was 265HTT x9. The board clearly shines with the 1.1d BIOS resulting in a benchmark suite stable setting of 320HTT x9.
This is clearly an impressive showing by the ECS engineering group at this time. We did not have to change our memory timings as they remained at an impressive 2.5-3.-3-7 1T level throughout testing at the 320HTT x9 setting. Also, voltage only needed to be increased to 1.475V and remained consistent throughout testing. We did not notice any abnormal or out of range voltage fluctuations with this board.
Our Opteron 170 posted excellent results at the stock and lowered CPU multiplier settings. We did not notice the same anomaly with our Athlon64 4000+ CPU at the stock settings. At these overclocked settings the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 for a minimum of four hours without issue. Overall the board would make a very good platform for overclocking, though it could still use additional voltage options for the memory and chipset.
Memory Tests
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ECS KA1 MVP to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400 at the best performing memory timings the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.
| ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 2 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 2 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 5 |
| Command Rate: | 1T |
| Voltage: | 2.7V |
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7v. We were able to operate the memory at this configuration up to a 226HTT x12 setting. We will now install all four available memory slots that results in more strenuous requirement on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.
| ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Banks) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 2 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 2 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 7 |
| Command Rate: | 2T |
| Voltage: | 2.75V |
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7 but required the command rate be increased to 2T along with a voltage increase to 2.75. We tested memory modules from several different suppliers with the same results.
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Per Hansson - Saturday, April 8, 2006 - link
Well, from your last mobo review: "Attention - Per Hansson by Gary Key on: Mar 23, 2006 12:06 AMRating: 4Our next article will have a high resolution picture of the capacitors and other items of importance in a pop-up window. I am sure the capacitors utilized on this board will be of interest to you. ;->"
Gary Key - Saturday, April 8, 2006 - link
Please email me - I have the photographs. We are doing some revisions on the engine and could not get these in but I did take the photographs for you.
Stas - Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - link
I always had nVidia and ViA chjpset based mobos. Now I really want an ATi based mobo. Very nice perfromance and overclockablility. It's good that ECS made a board like that, better for the competition. I got tired of seeing 1337 ASUS and DFI mobos, now it's time for less popular companies.SilverTrine - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
And somehow Nvidia gets a pass for all their issues. The original Nforce was a totally unstable board on par with something like Abits awful KG7. Yet the fanboism let many to the slaughter with that board. Nforce 2 also had severe USB and IDE problems, yet fanboism kept most of that in the dark.Hopefully we can all get past the fanboism and be honest about things, as long as people are getting paid to post on boards that is a pipe dream though. We simply have to call these vultures on their conduct.
QueBert - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
I owned a number of Nf2 MB's, and now a Nf3. SW-IDE doesn't work at all on any of them for me. Infact on 1, it actually caused my burner to not burn until I uninstalled them. Nf3 I have the lovely NF Firewall thing, does this work even somewhat for anyone? I'm not a fan boy, but from my past Nvidia experince (and remember I run a NF3 board now...) the ATI couldn't possibly be much worse. could this board be bad? sure, you can take a decent chipset and ruin it with a poorly designed motherboard.bob661 - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
I'm going to test the firewall sometime when I get the chance. I'm willing to bet I won't have problems but I could be wrong.Regs - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
Examples of the peripherals that are suffering? Any one else want to fill me in?
Gary Key - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
The Firewire and Marvel Gigabit Ethernet controller are tied to the SB450. The performance of these items are sub-par compared to results on other boards. This is explained in the test detail sections and the final words recap. We have a new bios today that should bring the performance of both peripherals up to par with other boards that utilize this same components. However, there is nothing that can be done with the USB 2.0 performance although it really is not that bad. :)JakeBlade - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
I find it amazing that this website can test a motherboard more thoroughly than the company who makes it. Pathetic.highlnder69 - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
You might want to fix the word mothergoard in the title to be motherboard..