Test Setup

 Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (2.4GHz) Socket 939
RAM: 2 x 512MB OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2
Hard Drive(s): Seagate 120GB 7200 RPM SATA (8MB Buffer)
Video AGP & IDE Bus Master Drivers: NVIDIA nForce 6.66
Video Cards: NVIDIA 6800 Ultra (PCIe)
NVIDIA 6800 Ultra (AGP)
Video Drivers: NVIDIA nForce 77.77
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP2
Direct X 9.0c
Motherboards: ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 (ULi M1695/1567)
Sapphire A9RX480 (ATI)
Jetway 939GT4-SLI-G (nForce4)
ULi AP9567A (M1695/M1567)
Abit An8 Fatal1ty
Biostar NF4UL-A9
Chaintech VNF4-Ultra
DFI LANParty UT nF4 Ultra-D
ECS KN1 Extreme
Epox 9NPA+ Ultra
Winfast NF4UK8AA (Foxconn)
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
DFI LANParty nF4 SLI-DR
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI
MSI K8N Neo4/SLI Platinum

Tests used OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2, which uses Samsung TCCD chips. All memory ran at the best timings for the chipset in all benchmarks. This means 2-2-2 base timings with the optimal tRAS for the tested chipset - 7 for nForce4/ATI Rx480, and 10 for ULi.

The NVIDIA 6800 Ultra was used for testing both PCIe and AGP performance on the ASRock board, the ULi Reference board, and the Biostar. The 6800 Ultra video cards were tested at the same video timings and differed only in interface - AGP or PCIe. Resolution in all benchmarks is 1280x1024x32 unless otherwise noted.

Results for the ULi chipset boards are in orange for AGP and red for PCIe.

Memory Stress Testing General Performance & Encoding
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  • Marlin1975 - Wednesday, September 7, 2005 - link

    Just be careful. Asrock rarely upadtes their BIOS, has no support, etc... So if there is a problem, you better fix it yourself.
  • nemesismk2 - Friday, September 9, 2005 - link

    Everything you have said is not true, I have owned a asrock k7s8x, asrock k7s8xe+, asrock k8 upgrade 760 gx and now a asrock 939 dual sata 2. I have found their support to be excellent and they only release bios updates when they are needed which is not often because their motherboards are very reliable. My first asrock motherboard the k7s8x was purchased in 2003 and it is still in use today and running perfectly.
  • Googer - Wednesday, September 7, 2005 - link

    Dear Wesley,


    Can AGP and PCI-express video cards run side by side in the same motherboard at the same time? Could I 2 PCI-express cards and my AGP 9700pro all at the same time for some Triple monotor action?

    Thanks.
  • FriedRiceBob - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    There are uli 1695 boards that do support that (their reference board, for instance), however this asrock board only has (1) PCIe x16 port.

    Also, while running a setup with multiple cards, you would probably want only chipsets from one company, to minimize driver troubles (an ATI PCIe card to go with your 9700)
  • FriedRiceBob - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    erp.

    I just glanced back at the reference board review, and the feat was achieved through the use of a riser card out of the x16 slot, covering the AGP slot in the process.

    ULi touts a "triple graphics interface" meaning PCIe, AGP8x, and PCI, I am unsure of the compatability with an SLI + AGP setup, but I'm sure some inventful motherboard manufacturer will put it into practice if it's feasible
  • touchmyichi - Wednesday, September 7, 2005 - link

    looks awesome! Perfect timing since my Neo 2 just bit it.

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