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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  • BPB - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    This doesn't make sense: "there will never be another Asus product purchased by our company". Why would a business care about overclocking? A business should care about STABILITY.
  • DigitalFreak - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    They should have moved the only PCI-E 1x slot to the left. They way it is now, you lose that slot when using a dual slot cooler in the PCI-E 16x slot closest to the processor. Hopefully that will be changed on the AM2 version of the board.
  • aguilpa1 - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    a 7800 and 1900 this way we can better gauge the mean performance of the "board" with identical comparison to other previously tested boards because not everyone is going to run out and get a $600 1900 ATI just for this board.
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    We DID test the A8R32-MVP with both the X1900XT and the 7800GTX. If you closely at the standard gaming performance graphs on p.9 you will see the orange bars are the A8R32-MVP test eith the X1900XT and the green bars are the same A8R32-MVP tests with the 7800GTX. The other board results are with the 7800GTX so if you compare the green bar to all the blue bars you are comparing 7800GTX performance on ATI and nVidia. In addition, all the bars are labeled with the test board and test video card to prevent confusion.

    This is explained in Test Setup on p.6, and in my comment above, "We reported both results so you could compare 7800GTX performance to the previous boards also tested with the 7800GTX. Since the X1900XT is the latest and fastest video card the results were included for Reference only. As someone else pointed out, when testing Dual X16 Video you have to run SLI on nVidia and Crossfire on ATI (or Intel)."
  • aguilpa1 - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    never mind, I see someone asked the same question, but were not given a reasonable answer anyways
  • BPB - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    This is exciting news. But I plan on getting the X1900 AIW, which won't do Crossfire. So, when are we going to see non-Crossfire (Xpress 200-type) versions of this chipset? In the end I may get this board, but I'm hoping I can save a few bucks by getting one without the added cost of Crossfire.
  • Wesley Fink - Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - link

    RD580 is only available as the dual x16 version. With both x16 lanes off the north bridge you can't really leave out a chip, as you can in the nVidia version right now, and lower the price. The single X16 slot and dual x8 Crossfire will be provided by RD480.
  • n7 - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    Looks like a superb motherboard for the price!
  • Zebo - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    Look perfect to me. Black, high clocker, built like a tank and relativly inexpensive. I wish they had this two months ago - U seen my DFI chipset mod what a PITA to get silent chipset sitting right under card.:( Not only is ATI chispet seemingly cooler leaving us with passive solutions they clock at least as well if not better.

  • Zebo - Friday, February 17, 2006 - link

    Also the gap between PCIe cards is perfect to run water blocks too and well as nV/ATI silencers w/o touching or being cramped..

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