Standard Gaming Performance

As usual, gaming performance was tested with a variety of current games. We ran benchmarks with our standard 1280x1024 resolution without antialiasing enabled (and generally without anisotropic filtering, though that varies by game). Given the number of users that run 19 inch LCDs these days, 1280x1024 represents one of the most commonly used resolutions. We could certainly increase the amount of eye candy being displayed in most of the games, but as this is a motherboard benchmark we aren't particularly interested in maxing out the graphics cards for all tests.

Gaming Performance - Battlefield 2

Gaming Performance - F.E.A.R.

Gaming Performance - Half Life 2

Gaming Performance - Quake 4

Gaming Performance - Serious Sam II

As we commented in our previous Conroe Buyers Guide, gaming benchmarks at these settings are generally very close together, and few people would notice a difference between the various motherboards. With the latest BIOS, the Abit board places pretty consistently right in the middle of all the results. Discounting the ASRock board - which is in a completely different price category and is usually at the bottom of our performance charts - the spread between the fastest and slowest motherboards is only 1%-3%. Basically, your purchase decision should be based on price, features, availability, and manufacturer more than gaming performance.

General Performance and Overclocking High-Res Gaming and Conclusion
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  • JarredWalton - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link

    We would still prefer physical X16 slots with X1 connections, though. Since PCIe is backwards compatible, there's little reason to use X1 connectors.
  • DigitalFreak - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link

    I give up. You know what I mean.
  • JarredWalton - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link

    Some NICs and at least one TV Tuner (PowerColor Theater 550).
  • yacoub - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link

    So in an era where most people use the on-board NIC and don't bother with a TV tuner, it'd be a waste then? :)
  • Hikari - Monday, July 24, 2006 - link

    It depends.

    What if you what 10GbE or fiber as opposed to that 1GB copper that is built in?

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