Test Setup

We compared the performance of the Abit Fatal1ty AA8XE with the 1066 FSB 3.46EE to performance results with the Intel 925X motherboard. We tested the 925X with the fastest 800FSB processor available, which is the 560 at 3.6GHz. Since the fastest gaming performance we have tested is with the Athlon 64 processor, results were included for the fastest current A64 processors - the FX55 and the 4000+ on the nForce 4 PCI Express Reference board. To remove the video card as a performance factor, all benchmarks were run with the PCI Express nVidia 6800 Ultra.

The configuration was kept as close as possible between the 3 motherboards, but we are forced to compare apples to oranges in some cases. This means using DDR400 memory at 2-2-2-10 on the AMD systems and DDR2-533 at 3-3-3-10 on the Intel systems, but as we saw in the DDR vs. DDR2 review, the performance of fast DDR400 and DDR533 is very close.

 Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): Intel 3.46EE (1066FSB) Socket 775
Intel 560 (3.6GHz) Socket 775
AMD FX55 (2.6Ghz) Socket 939
AMD 4000+ (2.4GHz) Socket 939
RAM: 2 x 512MB Crucial DDR2-533
2 x 512MB OCZ 3200 Platinum Rev. 2 DDR
Hard Drive(s): Maxtor 250GB MaXLine III (16MB buffer)
Video Card(s): nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra PCIe
Video Drivers: nVidia 61.77 Graphics Drivers
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP1
Power Supply: OCZ Power Stream 520 (520W)
Motherboards: Abit Fatal1ty AA8XE (Intel 925XE)
Intel 925XCV (Intel 925X) Socket 775
Intel 915GUX (Intel 915G) Socket 775

At stock settings, Fatal1ty is overclocked to 271 FSB. For a fairer comparison, the FSB was set to 267. Since most will want to see gaming benchmarks with this gaming board, the Game Accelerator was left to the default "Enabled" mode. Unfortunately, the only 1066 processor currently available is the $1000 3.46EE that we used for benchmarking.

Features and Overclocking Performance Tests
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  • topcat903 - Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - link

    I agreed with post#4 totally.
  • GnomeCop - Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - link

    I think I threw up in my mouth a little...
  • johnsonx - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    @10, Linkcat:

    at 1600x1200, all the platforms would most likely be GPU bound. 1024x768 is a better resolution to see which platform is faster.
  • phaxmohdem - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    What a tool. Who else wants to join me in kicking this dude in the ballz. I don't even know why I want to, but my foot feels compelled to inflict pain on this poor kid. Perhaps I should seek professional help.
  • Decoder - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    Its clear, AMD FX-55 performs a fatal1ty on Abit AA8XE + P4 3.46EE.

  • Linkcat - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    1024x768? is that the resolution harcore gamers run these days? It would be more useful if the comparison showed the performance differences at 1600x1200.
  • Gioron - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    I think the words "What in hell were they thinking?" sums up this board best. Great implementation, poor platform choice. Now is not the time to claim that an Intel board is the "best of the best" for gaming performance.
  • Adul - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    Guys adjust your reading glasses. This is a first look and not an in depth review.
  • drifter106 - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    Glad to see you make the effort to show the other side of the coin....
  • ariafrost - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - link

    w00t! Go ABIT! :P

    But... wait... I have an NF7-S Rev. 2 right now... where's the nForce 4 SLI based NF8-S ABIT!? :(

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