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 AGP & IDE Bus Master Drivers: ATI 6.2 Catalyst
NVIDIA 6.70
Video Card(s): MSI X1900XT
ATIX1900XT Crossfire
MSI NVIDIA 7800GTX
MSI NVIDIA 7800GTX SLI
Video Drivers: ATI Catalyst 6.2
NVIDIA nForce 81.98 Release
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP2
Direct X 9.0c
Motherboards: Asus A8R32-MVP (ATI RD580/ULi1575)
Asus A8R-MVP (ATI RD480/ULi1575)
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe (nF4 Dual x16)
DFI LANParty UT RDX200 (ATI RD480/SB450)
DFI LANParty nF4 SLI-DR (nForce4)

Tests used OCZ PC4800 Platinum (current equivalent to standard OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2), which uses Samsung TCCD chips. All memory ran at 2-2-2-8 timings in all benchmarks.

We tested with the NVIDIA 7800GTX on the Asus A8R32-MVP to provide test results that could be compared to the most up-to-date performance results. Resolution in all benchmarks is 1280x1024x32 unless otherwise noted. 3DMark and Aquamark3 benchmarks use "Standard Score" setup, which is 1024x768 video resolution.

We also tested using the latest ATI X1900XT to provide comparison results to the NVIDIA 7800GTX. Additional ATI Crossfire testing was performed on the Asus A8R32-MVP at a resolution of 1600x1200, with antialiasing and anisotropic filtering, to provide comparison results to the Asus A8N32-SLI NVIDIA SLI results - NVIDIA Dual x16 to ATI Dual X16.

The NVIDIA 7800GTX and ATI X1900XT are readily available for purchase in the marketplace. Since the 7800GTX 512 is not available for sale anywhere and has not been available for weeks, it seemed unfair to compare x1900XT results to products that are not available for purchase.

Results for the Asus A8R32-MVP are in light green for 7800GTX, orange for X1900XT, and red for x1900XT Crossfire. Similarly, test results for the Dual x16 NVIDIA Asus A8N32-SLI are in light green for the single 7800GTX and dark green for 7800GTX SLI. Results for other boards in the comparisons are light blue and represent test results with a 7800GTX.

Memory Testing: Asus A8R32-MVP General Performance
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  • Beenthere - Monday, February 20, 2006 - link

    No flames at Anandtech. Asus is the mfg. and the one responsible for delivering a proper vcore circuit design, using quality components, etc.

    Don't shoot the messenger for stating the facts. If Asus didn't have design and engineering problems their mobos wouldn't have these confirmed issues reported by numerous hardware review sites.
  • arswihart - Sunday, February 19, 2006 - link

    Do you have to use the same color RAM slots on ASUS boards for dual-channel, as shown in the pic in this review?
  • Shimmishim - Sunday, February 19, 2006 - link

    it's good to see you catch your mistakes from your previous reviews. i hope next time you'll take users comments/emails more seriously than just brushing it off simply as "others can do it..." other than that. this board looks great! its a shame all this good stuff is coming out 1/2 quarters before AM2 is being released.
  • godrod - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    I need to know on this board if you only have one video card (x1800XT) can you put it into the upper PCI-E slot closest to the CPU socket or does it have to go into the lower slot like the SD480 boards.
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    A single video card can go into either x16 PCIe slot. We tried both slots and it will work wekk in either.
  • arswihart - Sunday, February 19, 2006 - link

    this looks nice, I haven't moved from AGP yet, this may just make me do it
  • Beenthere - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    After Asus's false advertising of the A8R-MVP as being designed for "Serious Overclockers"; After Asus's failure to fix the long list of defects on the A8R-MVP which include 1T memory, Vcore instability, BIOS issues, etc.; After Asus's failure to acknowledge the known problems with the A8R-MVP; After Asus's refusal to even discuss the problems of the A8R-MVP with customers; After Asus's refusal to provide a proper BIOS upgrade to correct the defects in the A8R-MVP; After Asus's denial that the A8R-MVP mobo even existed after people bought it; After Asus's refusal to provide the same BIOS to consumers that they provided to Anandtech...

    there will never be another Asus product purchased by our company. Asus can stick their entire product line where the Sun don't shine. They've burned us for the last time. They may think they got away with defrauding consumers with the defective A8R-MVP mobos but they are in for one big surprise.
  • DanaGoyette - Sunday, February 19, 2006 - link

    Refusal to provide the same BIOS...
    Hey, that gives me an idea! I wonder if Anandtech still has their A8R-MBP -- if they do, they should make a bios backup and post it!
  • matthewfoley - Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - link

    If any of you read the article they offered anyone who emailed them a copy of the same bios that they used. If you really want it I can get it for you.
  • DanaGoyette - Sunday, March 5, 2006 - link

    Oh, I don't even have the board, but shouldn't it be easy to post the BIOS on the site rather than just through e-mail?

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