Source: http://www.pconline.com.cn/diy/main/pc/0408/433384_15.html
Preface:
After more than a year, AMD has been promoted and operated in the market, and the Athlon 64 processor with 64 computing power has received the support and affirmation of the market and user recently adjusted the price of 64 computing power. High performance platform players' favorite. On the increasingly mature product line, AMD has further subdivided the Athlon 64 series of product layout.
Migrant manufacturers have launched their own motherboards that support AMD. Who is more performance in the current high-end AMD motherboard? With such a question, the Pacific Evaluation Office brought everyone two giants in the motherboard - ASUS K8T800 PRO chip and two motherboard performance tests for MSI NFORCE3 ULTRA chips. Asus A8V, the K8T800 PRO chip we have already conducted a detailed introduction. So we focus on the K8N NEO2 of MSI NFORCE3 ULTRA chip.
NVIDIA continues to fight the 64-bit platform for new architectures with a chipset named NFORCE3 with an advantage. NVIDIA has launched NFORCE3 150 and 250GB series, mainly for the market's Socket 754 popular platform.
With NVIDIA's main competitors VIA in the 64-bit platform, the K8T800 upgraded to K8T8T8T8T800PRO, K8T800PRO provides support for the Athlon 64 processor for the Socket 939 interface, and increases 800 MHz Hypertransport bus to 1GHz, and supports AGP and PCI Frequency lock. NVIDIA NFORCCE3 250GB only supports 600 MHz and 800 MHz's Hypertransport bus advantages have no longer exist.
At the beginning of June this year, NVIDIA released the NFORCE3 ULTRA chipset, inherited all NFORCE3 250GB all functions that had been successful in 64, such as Gigabit Lan Gigabit NIC, through ICSA-certified hardware firewall, Serial ATA 150 interface and Ultra ATA 133 Mixed RAID disk array.
The difference between NFORCE3 Ultra and NForce3 250GB is a few aspects: First, NFORCE3 Ultra MCP provides support for the Athlon 64 processor of Socket 939 and 1GHz Hypertransport bus; second, NVIDIA NFORCE3 Ultra MCP provides native Gigabit Ethernet interface More than 200% of the bandwidth than the traditional PCI interface Ethernet, while the CPU usage is reduced by 20%; in addition, NVIDIA NFORCE3 ULTRA MCP provides a unique hardware firewall solution, and the user's personal computer is from any hackers. At the same time, it also comes with a lot of advanced features, and can perform remote management; NVIDIA NFORCE3 ULTRA MCP supports more advanced memory features, including multi-hard drive RAID arrays, it also provides four sets of SATA The two sets of PATA interface support can support up to eight hard drives; in addition, NVIDIA also proposes the concept of autotuning, this new feature in NVIDIA NFORCE3 MCP can automatically use the CPU clock The frequency is adjusted to the best working state, thereby further promoting system performance.
product description:
The MSI MSI K8N NEO2 received this time is already proximate the finished engineering sample. The packaging has been designed, and the macaro-style design is used in the past style. This motherboard is outside the attachment and related information. There is no different from the finished product. Since the NFORCE3 series chipset uses a single-chip design, the main board of the motherboard and the traditional split are completely different, and the layout can be more relaxed. This K8N NEO2 uses a black PCB board design, which has a larger entry with a consistent red PCB board. The PCB plate of this plate is very special and has been treated with matte. The color of the entire motherboard plugin is also very bright, attracting eye. This board still uses the standard ATX large board structure, and the component design of each major product is not too large.
The power supply portion on the board uses three-phase power supply module, and three MOSFET chips (two panels, one plate in the bottom) are provided, and the MOSFET chip is separately wired, which is more advantageous for power supply. Heat dissipation.
A very thick steel sheet is tightened with a very thick steel plate with a very thick steel plate with a radiator buckle to prevent the retaining of the main board after the heat sink is mounted.
The power supply portion is used as a KZJ capacitor of seven 6.3V 1800 and the four 16V 1500 micro-developed KZG electrolytic capacitors.
The memory slot is designed above the CPU socket. The memory slot uses two different color distinguished single channels and dual-channel mode memory installation methods. It should be noted that this motherboard is not mounted on the slot of the same color to activate the dual channel mode, but inserted in different colors. On the slot, the green and blue-purple matching can normal activation of the dual channel operating mode.
Since the NFORCE3 series of chipsets do not provide support for PCI-Express and DDR2 memory, the board is still provided on the board and the five-traditional PCI slots.
The I / O expansion interface is relatively rich. Because more chips are integrated on the board, the expansion interface is complete, providing the keyboard mouse interface of PS / 2, ECP print interface, COM port, SPDIF coaxial output interface, IEEE 1394 Interface, two RJ45 network interfaces and audio interfaces that provide 8-channel output.
Two traditional IDE interfaces and four SATA interfaces are provided, two of which are provided by Marvell's 88SR3020 SATA bridge chip, which matches NVIDIA's NFORCE3 ULTRA MCP chipset to implement all the features of NVIDIA RAID. In addition, several disk interfaces of this board are unlikely. First, the IDE and FLOPPY interface are placed on the right side of the radiator, affecting the heat dissipation effect of the heat sink, and is the common problem of the NFORCE3 series chipset, and placed the SATA interfaces of the two groups above the AGP slot, for the equipment The installation brings a little unnecessary trouble.
The high-speed fan in the NFORCE3 ULTRA main chip is installed on the MSI graphics card, which effectively disperses huge heat.
This NFORCE3 ULTRA chip production cycle is 04, the version is A2, manufactured by Taiwan.
The board is integrated with two NIC chips, in which Realtek's RTL8110S chip provides support for 10M to 100M network interface, while Marvel's 88E1111-RCJ belongs to a Gigabit network chip, which brings users a broader network bandwidth. And it has a unique network diagnostic tool VCT virtual cable diagnostics, display network connection status in a graphical interface, and the controller can remotely detect network connection status within 100 meters, and report the connection error distance to assist the user to diagnose network failures.
Sound cards use Raltek Alc850 chips with high cost performance, users can provide users with cost 8-channel output scheme. The IEEE1394 FireWire interface supported by the motherboard is also supported by the usual VIA VT6306 control chip. The VT6306 integrates the physical layer and the data link layer, which can be connected directly to the PCI bus, and can provide up to three fire-wire interfaces. Sample engineering template
MSI unique Corecell intelligent monitoring chip can adjust the speed of the heat dissipation fan based on the system load and environmental operating temperature in the system.
Rich intended interface support
BIOS option introduction:
It can be seen that the "manual" adjustment method of the BIOS is relatively rich.
The CPU voltage increases from 1.55V to 1.85V to each level of 0.05V for user adjustment, and the adjustment of memory voltage is 2.5V to 2.85V, and the increase is 0.05V.
AGP also supports voltage adjustment, from 1.5V to 1.85V for users to choose, and the BIOS of this board also provides a dynamic overclocking option for user selection.
When you start, press and hold the F11 key, you can enter the first-start-up device, and avoid the user to enter the BIOS related option for adjustment.
Motherboard driver and related software installation menu directory
MSI K8N NEO2 supports the following features:
· Includes MSI Live BIOS, Live Driver, Live Utility, and Live Monitor • Online Update BIOS, drivers and related tool software · Live Monitor can automatically detect system information and recommended users to update the latest BIOS and drivers
· Speedster technology: Bring a stable platform for overclocking platform · Power Pro technology: Adjust power supply amplitude · Buzzfree technology: automatic detection system load condition and temperature, achieve temperature and fan speed balance point · Life Pro technology: Extend host Life of boards, CPUs and fans combined with MSI PCALBERT and FUZZY Logic's two featured software. Provide users with overclocking options, including higher voltage adjustment, outgoing frequency, and lock function of AGP / PCI operating frequency. · Provide a complete hardware monitoring interface, including real-time monitoring of fan speed, voltage, and temperature.
· AMD new generation POWERNOW! Technology, can effectively reduce the power consumption of the computer · Control fan speed according to temperature requirements, effectively suppress noise in the chassis
· Automatic overclocking function: Moderately adjust the operating frequency of the CPU for the CPU usage of the program, providing the user with a preset overclocking environment, avoid unnecessary overclocking risks, with six-stage shift function, users can follow Adjust its frequency
testing platform:
Hardware platform
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 3800 (Newcastle)
Motherboard
ASUS A8V Deluxemsi K8N NEO2
RAM
GEIL DDR400 256M x 2 Dual Channel
hard disk
WesternDigital Raptor 36G
Graphics card
Gainward Geforce FX 6800 128M International
software platform
system software
WindowsXP Professional (5.01.2600 SP 1) English DirectX 9.0B
driver
NVIDIA 2kxp ForceWareDrive V4.27NVIDIA 61.76 WinXP2K International WHQLVIA HYPERION 4IN1 451V
testing software
CPUz 1.23 Business Winstone 2004 Multimedia Content Creation Winstone 2004 ZDNet Winbench 99 SISoftware Sandra 2004 Madonion 3DMark 2001SE Futuremark 3DMark03 Futuremark PCMark04 AQUAMARK 3.0 Quake3 Arena V1.29 Demo UnrealTourament 2003 Demo Super PIWinRaR 3.30 in this test, we joined the main nForce3 chipset Competitors Based on the ASUS A8V Deluxe of the VIA K8T800PRO chipset, the ASUS ASUS A8V Delux, we have made relevant introductions and tests, please click here for details.
CPUZ 1.23:
ASUS A8V Deluxe
MSI K8N NEO2
CPU Clocks
Core Speed
2403.1 MHz
2411.0 MHz
Multiplier
X12
X12
Htt
200.3 MHz
200.9 MHz
Memory Timing
FREQUENCY
200.3
200.9
FSB: DRAM
CPU / 12
CPU / 12
Cas latency
2.5
2.5
Ras to cas delay
3
3
Ras Precharge
3
3
CYCLE TIME (TRAS)
8
8
Bank Cycle Time (TRC)
12
12
DRAM IDLE TIMMER
16
16
We first use CPUZ to compare the working state of the CPU frequency and memory. Since the MSI MSI K8N NEO2 CPU works in 200.9 MHz is close to 1 MHz than the default frequency, and ASUS ASUS A8V Deluxe is only 200.3 MHz, so MSI K8N NEO2 CPU operating frequency is also close to 10 MHz higher than ASUS A8V Deluxe, a slightly higher frequency, has a certain help for MSI next test. Business Winstone 2004:
In the commercial test of Winstone 2004, the MSI MSI K8N NEO2 is first brought to ASUS A8V Deluxe.
MultiMedia Content Creation Winstone 2004:
Let's take a look at the score of multimedia testing. In the test of MCCW 2004, MSI K8N NEO2 continues to lead the opponent with a small score.
ZDNET WinBench 99:
In the WinBench 99 test, K8N NEO2 reflects the advantages of NFORCE3 series, mainly in disk performance, and throws A8V Deluxe with a relatively old VT8237 South Bridge with a large gap.
Sisoftware Sandra 2004:
In the test of Sisoftware Sandra 2004, there is a project between the CPU calculation test, the gap between the two is not obvious, and each has its own strengths.
In the multimedia test item of the CPU, both still do not pull the distance and behave average.
In the project of the memory bandwidth test, the advantages of MSI K8N NEO2 become very obvious, leading their opponents with about 20% advantage.
In a project of disk performance test, the gap between the two can be within the error range.
Futuremark pcmark04 120:
In the machine performance test of PCMARK04, the K8N NEO2 based on the NFORCE3 chipset scores in memory tests, ideal, with K8T800PRO ASUS A8V Deluxe, and its disk strength is backward opponent. Other scores, the gap between the two is not obvious. Madonion 3dmark 2001SE 330:
Futuremark 3dmark03 340:
In the newly old two generations of 3dmark test, both exert the levels, which can be almost consistent, and can basically be considered as an error range.
Aquamark 3.0:
In the test of Aquamark 3.0, MSI K8N NEO2 is a little ahead of the A8V Deluxe of the opponent ASUS with a weak advantage.
Quake III Arena V1.29 Demo:
In the OpenGL project test of this quake3, K8N NEO2 continues to lead to about 15% of performance advantages.
UnRealTourance 2003 Demo:
In the test of the two items of UT2003 Flyby and Botmatch, MSI K8N NEO2 continued to take the lead.
SuperPi:
In the comparison test of the SuperPi computing speed, K8N NEO2 is slightly leading a little higher than the slightly higher frequency.
WinRar Compress Time:
We joined WinRAR compression time comparison, the file size was set to 1.16G, and the level of compression was set to Best, the format was ZIP. From a speed, ASUS's A8V Deluxe is still backward opponents a little.
to sum up:
As can be seen from the above series of test data, the new generation of NFORCE3 ULTRA chipsets and K8T800 are substantially the same in the same case, and NFORCE3 ULTRA represents a slight highlight, especially in their memory and disk performance. It can win with a large advantage. In most test items, the MSI's K8N NEO8 Based on the NFORCCE3 ULTRA chip, the motherboard is high. It can be seen that VIA's K8T800PRO is kicked behind by NVIDIA's NFORCE3 ULTRA series, whether the VIA will repeat the mistakes on the Socket 462 platform? Then you can pay attention to the performance of the next-generation chipset K8T890 VT8251 released in the third quarter.
NFORCE3 ULTRA once again makes NVIDIA temporarily achieved significant success on the AMD platform, and its single-chip design is very successful. In the support of the SATA interface, it is more complete compared to the VIA's VT8237 South Bridge. VIA VT8237 South Bridge When the user uses the SATA interface hard drive installation system, you must insert a floppy disk installation related disk drive to install the system. Users who have given abandoned floppy drives. In addition, NFORCE3 integrated hardware firewall is also a place that has to be praised, combining related management software to form a very effective protection barrier, users from so many influences of so many viruses and hackers. It also looks forward to the next generation of NVIDIA's next-generation NFORCE4 series chipset to bring us more surprises.
Editor: This review is compared with MSI and ASUS motherboards, but the real protagonist nForce3 and K8T800, MSI VS ASUS is not the ultimate, who is gone, the final result is that nForce3 is still slightly wins in this evaluation.
