Test Setup

 Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (2.4GHz) Socket 939
RAM: 2 x 512MB OCZ PC3200* Platinum Rev. 2
*The current equivalent OCZ memory is OCZ PC4800
Hard Drive(s): Seagate 120GB 7200 RPM SATA (8MB Buffer)
Video Cards: MSI NVIDIA 7800GTX
MSI RX1800
Video Drivers: NVIDIA Forceware 81.85 Release
ATI Catalyst 5.11 Release
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP2
Direct X 9.0c
Motherboards: Asus A8R-MVP (ATI RD480/ULi1575)
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
DFI LANParty UT RDX200 (ATI RD480)
ATI Crossfire AMD Reference Board
SiS 756 Reference Board
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 (ULi M1695/1567)
Sapphire A9RX480 (ATI)
Jetway 939GT4-SLI-G (nForce4)
ULi AP9567A (M1695/M1567)
DFI LANParty nF4 SLI-DR (nForce4)
DFI LANParty UT nF4 Ultra-D (nForce4)
MSI K8N Neo4/SLI Platinum (nForce4)

Tests used OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2, which uses Samsung TCCD chips. All memory ran at 2-2-2-7 timing in all benchmarks.

We tested with the NVIDIA 7800GTX using nVidia 81.85 drivers to provide the most up-to-date performance results. We also ran graphics and games benchmarks with the MSI RX1800 (X1800XT) using Catalyst 5.11 drivers. Resolution in all benchmarks is 1280x1024x32 unless otherwise noted. 3DMark and Aquamark3 benchmarks use "Standard Score" setup, which is 1024x768 video resolution.

Results for the Asus A8R-MVP are in red. Test results for other motherboards are in blue.

Overclocking & Memory Stress Testing: Asus A8R-MVP General Performance
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  • Wesley Fink - Friday, December 9, 2005 - link

    The PCIe giagbit cards should deliver the same performance as on-board PCIe Gigabit Ethernet. They generally use the same chips as on-board or variants f those chips. You can use the x1 PCIe slot with Crossfire IF your cards are single width. If the video cards are double width the PCIe x1 is blocked.

    We have a Syskonnect PCIe Gigabit Ethernet card and it uses the Marvel 88E8052 chip.
  • Ryan Norton - Monday, December 5, 2005 - link

    ...just wrote them basically begging for availibility info on this board. Anand's article has gotten me very very hyped for this product as a cheap SLI replacement for my MSI Neo4 Ultra -- HALF the price of an A8N32 seems like it can't be beat. For all that's worth, however, I still haven't found a single user experience with this board -- have the lucky people who have it (if there are any) forgotten about the internet?
  • imaheadcase - Thursday, December 8, 2005 - link

    It is now in stock at newegg
  • YellowWing - Monday, November 28, 2005 - link

    This board looks good for a HTPC, but I have one question about the HD audio, you do not mention if this board will do a real time encode of Dolby Digital on that coaxial SPDIF port. My minimum requirements for a HTPC main board include passive cooling and Dolby Digital out either optical or coaxial to connect with my home theater receiver. I would appreciate a standard line in each motherboard review that makes the Dolby Digital out capability of each main board clear.

    Keep up the great work.
  • imaheadcase - Monday, November 28, 2005 - link

    Man all these sweet deals at newegg but don't have this board yet :(
  • ElFenix - Saturday, November 26, 2005 - link

    thanks for all the updates, wes!
  • rjm55 - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link

    This looks like the perfect Socket 939 board. It's fast, passive-cooling, great overclocker, and cheap!! Even uses the ATI chipset and is built by the biggest board maker in the world, so how could I go wrong. Just put 2 on order at Buy.com. At $105 each they seemed like a perfect board for some Christmas builds.
  • Zebo - Saturday, November 26, 2005 - link

    Is'nt most of chipset in AMD CPU these days? I would'nt worry about that.
  • xsilver - Thursday, November 24, 2005 - link

    does asus ship this board with overclocking software for overclocking while booted in windows? what other mobo companies offer this? (I find this feature very handy on my abit)
    its most convienient to boot up and surf and run stock speeds and then overclock to play a game and then change back when you're finished

    I know utilities like rmclock and cpucool can do this but they dont work for all mobo's
  • Wesley Fink - Thursday, November 24, 2005 - link

    Yes, Asus includes some very good windows-based OC software with the A8R-MVP. AI Booster allows the control of OC in windows, and PC Probe 2 allows fan control and voltage/temperature monitoring. AMDZone descibes these software utilities in their A8R-MVP preview at http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&...">http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=m...q=viewar...

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