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Budget Computing: Nine H55 And H57 Motherboards Compared
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1. Is Size A Feature?

The H55 and H57 chipsets may eventually be found in more systems than the P55, which debuted alongside Intel's Lynnfield-based Core i5 and Core i7 processors. After all, the H55 and H57 chipsets are aimed at the cost-conscious segments, where value is often more important than performance (and since Intel's chipsets now play such a small role in determining performance, this is a fair enough assessment).

Realizing that a majority of our readers are indeed interested in the value attainable from a more affordable platform, we decided to dedicated our largest H55 motherboard comparison to getting the most for your money. We requested that manufacturers send us their products best representing the greatest combination of features per dollar.

The result was an eclectic mix of ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX products that present value in several different ways. Our next page shows that the microATX motherboards offer the most features, while larger and smaller competitors use size to separate themselves from the herd.

Found on one of the motherboards being reviewed today, Intel’s H57 chipset is functionally very similar to the less-expensive H55. It includes a bit more USB 2.0 connectivity and the addition of Rapid Storage Technology, enabling software-based RAID support. The remaining motherboards employ H55, with two fewer USB 2.0 ports and SATA RAID modes disabled.

2. Features Comparison

Home theater builders will be happy to see that every motherboard in today’s comparison supports combined video and audio signals using either HDMI or DisplayPort, while a dual-display output capability is a boon to office users. Yet none of these platforms are capable of providing dual-link DVI, so users who require 2560x1600 pixels of desktop space on a single display will likely need to add a video card.

H55 Motherboard Features
 ASRock
H55M-Pro
Asus
P7H55D-M EVO
Biostar
TH55XE
PCB Revision1.041.03G5.0
ChipsetIntel H55 ExpressIntel H55 ExpressIntel H55 Express
Voltage RegulatorSix Phases12 PhasesSeven Phases
BIOSP1.60 (01/21/2010)9994 (01/20/2010)H55AA107 (01/07/2010)
133.3 MHz BCLK133.9 MHz (+0.43%)133.4 MHz (+0.05%)133.3 MHz (+0.0%)
Clock GeneratorICS 98LPRS142AGLFICS 9LPRS140CKLFRealtek RTM885T-926
Internal Interfaces
PCIe x162 (x16/x4)1 (x16)1 (x16)
PCIe x1/x41/00/20/1
Legacy PCI112
USB 2.03 (6 ports)3 (6 ports)3 (6 ports)
IEEE-1394111
Serial Port111
Parallel Port1None1
FloppyNoNoNo
Ultra-ATA 133None1 (2 drives)1 (2 drives)
SATA 3.0 Gb/s565
SATA 6.0 Gb/sNoneNoneNone
4-Pin Fan221
3-Pin Fan112
FP-AudioYesYesYes
CD-AudioNoNoNo
S/PDIF I/OOutput OnlyOutput OnlyNone
Power ButtonNoNoYes
Reset ButtonNoNoYes
CLR_CMOS ButtonJumper OnlyJumper OnlyJumper Only
Diagnostics PanelNonePass/Fail LEDsPass/Fail LEDs
I/O Panel Connectors
P/S 2112
USB 2.06 (1 Shared w/eSATA)44
USB 3.0None2None
IEEE-1394111
Network1SingleSingle
eSATA1 (Shared with USB)11
CLR_CMOS ButtonNoNoNo
Digital Audio OutOptical, HDMIOptical, HDMIOptical, HDMI
Digital Audio InNoneNoneNone
Analog Audio566
Video OutputsDVI, HDMI, VGADVI, HDMI, VGADVI, HDMI, VGA
DVI Dual LinkNoNoNo
Dual MonitorYesYesYes
Mass Storage Controllers
Chipset SATA6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s5x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
1x eSATA 3.0 Gb/s
Chipset RAID ModesNoneNoneNone
Add-In SATANone88SE6111 PCIe
1x eSATA 3.0 Gb/s
None
Add-In Ultra ATANone88SE6111 PCIeJMB368 PCIe
USB 3.0NoneNEC D720200F1None
IEEE-1394VT6308S PCI
2x 400 Mb/s
VT6315N PCIe
2x 400 Mb/s
FW3227 PCI
2x 400 Mb/s
Gigabit Ethernet
Primary LANRTL8111DL PCIeRTL8112L PCIeRTL8111DL PCIe
Secondary LANNoneNoneNone
Audio
HD Audio CodecVT1718SALC889ACL888
DDL/DTS ConnectNoneNoneNone
H55 Motherboard Features
 ECS H55H-IEVGA H55Foxconn
H55MX-S
PCB Revision1.01.01.1
NorthbridgeIntel H55 ExpressIntel H55 ExpressIntel H55 Express
Voltage RegulatorFour PhasesSix PhasesSix Phases
BIOS080016 (01/08/2010)080016 (12/22/2009)996F1P02 (01/08/2010)
133.3 MHz BCLK133.6 MHz (+0.20%)133.2 MHz (-0.10%)133.0 MHz
Clock GeneratorICS RS4180BLICS 9LPRS139AKLFICS RS4105BL
Internal Interfaces
PCIe  x161x (x16)2 (x16/x4)1 (x16)
PCIe x1/x40/00/00/1
Legacy PCINone32
USB 2.02 (4 ports)2 (4 ports)3 (6 ports)
IEEE-1394None1None
Serial PortNoneNone1
Parallel PortNoneNoneNone
FloppyNoneNoYes
Ultra-ATA 133None1 (2 drives)None
SATA 3.0 Gb/s486
SATA 6.0 Gb/sNoneNoneNone
4-Pin Fan113
3-Pin Fan150
FP-AudioYesYesYes
CD-AudioNoNoNo
S/PDIF I/OOutput OnlyBothOutput Only
Power ButtonNoYesNo
Reset ButtonNoYesNo
CLR_CMOS ButtonNoYesJumper Only
Diagnostics PanelNoneNumericNone
I/O Panel Connectors
P/S 2None11
USB 2.0686
USB 3.0NoneNoneNone
IEEE-1394None1None
NetworkSingleSingleSingle
eSATA1NoneNone
CLR_CMOS ButtonNoneYesNo
Digital Audio OutOptical, HDMIDisplayPort OnlyOptical, HDMI
Digital Audio InNoneNoneNone
Analog Audio666
Video OutputsDVI, HDMI, VGADVI, VGA,
DisplayPort
HDMI, DVI-I
(Supports VGA)
DVI Dual LinkNoNoNo
Dual MonitorYesYesYes
Mass Storage Controllers
Chipset SATA4x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
1x eSATA 3.0 Gb/s
6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
Chipset RAID ModesNoneNoneNone
Add-In SATANoneJMB363 PCIe
2x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
None
Add-In Ultra ATANoneJMB363 PCIeNone
USB 3.0NoneNoneNone
IEEE-1394NoneTSB43AB22A PCI
2x 400 Mb/s
None
Gigabit Ethernet
Primary LANRTL8111DL PCIe88E6057 PCIeRTL8111DL PCIe
Secondary LANNoneNoneNone
Audio
HD Audio CodecALC892ALC889ALC888S
DDL/DTS ConnectNoneNoneNone
H55 Motherboard Features
 Gigabyte
H55M-USB3
Intel
DP57KG
MSI
H55M-ED55
PCB Revision1.0E47218-4021.0
NorthbridgeIntel H55 ExpressIntel H57 ExpressIntel H55 Express
Voltage RegulatorSeven PhasesThree Phases
Five Phases
BIOSF3a (01/08/2010)2251 (01/25/2010)1.4 (01/12/2010)
133.3 MHz BCLK132.9 MHz (-0.32%)133.4 MHz (+0.05%)133.7 MHz (+0.28%)
Clock GeneratorRealtek RTM885N-914SLG505YC264CTMSI LRS4116AL
Internal Interfaces
PCIe  x162 (x16/x1)1 (x16)2 (x16/x4)
PCIe x1/x40/00/01/0
Legacy PCI2None1
USB 2.03 (6 ports)3 (6 ports)3 (6 ports)
IEEE-13941NoneNone
Serial Port111
Parallel PortNoneNone1
FloppyYesNoNo
Ultra-ATA 1331 (2 drives)None1 (2 drives)
SATA 3.0 Gb/s746
SATA 6.0 Gb/sNoneNoneNone
4-Pin Fan221
3-Pin Fan003
FP-AudioYesYesYes
CD-AudioYesNoYes
S/PDIF I/OBothOutput OnlyOutput Only
Power ButtonNoNoYes
Reset ButtonNoNoYes
CLR_CMOS ButtonJumper OnlyJumper OnlyNo
Diagnostics PanelNoneNoneNone
I/O Panel Connectors
P/S 21None1
USB 2.0466
USB 3.02NoneNone
IEEE-13941NoneNone
NetworkSingleSingleSingle
eSATA1 (Powered)11 (Powered)
CLR_CMOS ButtonNoNoNo
Digital Audio OutOptical, DisplayPortOptical, HDMIOptical, DisplayPort
Digital Audio InNoneNoneNone
Analog Audio656
Video OutputsDVI, HDMI, VGA,
DisplayPort
HDMI, DVI-I
(Supports VGA)
DVI, VGA,
DisplayPort
DVI Dual LinkNoNoNo
Dual MonitorYesYesYes
Mass Storage Controllers
Chipset SATA6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s4x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
1x eSATA 3.0 Gb/s
6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
Chipset RAID ModesNoneRAID 0/1/5/10None
Add-In SATAJMB363 PCIe
2x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
NoneJMB363 PCIe
1x eSATA 3.0 Gb/s
Add-In Ultra ATAJMB363 PCIeNoneJMB363 PCIe
USB 3.0NEC D720200F1NoneNone
IEEE-1394TSB43AB23 PCI
2x 400 Mb/s
NoneNone
Gigabit Ethernet
Primary LANRTL8111D PCIeIntel WG82578DC PHYRTL8111DL PCIe
Secondary LANNone None
Audio
HD Audio CodecALC889ALC889ALC889
DDL/DTS ConnectDolby Digital LiveNoneNone
3. ASRock H55M Pro

ASRock usually overwhelms its competition by expanding value across multiple markets, providing the chipset’s full set of features, plus its legacy connections and overclocking capability. The H55M Pro continues that trend, beginning with its triple-interface, dual-display, and integrated video outputs.

Yet, most of its competitors also offer HDMI, DVI, and VGA capabilities, so ASRock enhances value by also including two graphics card slots. Bandwidth limited by its four 2.5 Gb/s pathways, the second slot doesn’t interfere with onboard graphics. A card placed in the white slot can therefore be used in addition to any CPU-integrated controller or primary graphics card, to enhance multi-display capability.

Layout for the H55M Pro is superb, with USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 FireWire front-panel connections located at the bottom-front corner of the circuit board for easy cable connections in any microATX case. The five SATA ports are also ideally located for reaching drives at either end of the case, and the front-panel audio header is even found near the midpoint of the motherboard’s rear, rather than the harder-to-reach bottom corner. The blue PCI Express (PCIe) x16 and x1 slots are even perfectly located for use with dual riser cards in low-profile cases.

Budget overclockers will be thrilled that this LGA 1156 motherboard also supports many LGA 775 CPU coolers via a second set of mounting holes. This only applies to coolers that use spring pressure to hold pressure against the heat spreader, since the thinner LGA 1156 package won’t make contact with solid-mount devices like Swiftech’s Apogee Drive.

One thing noticeably missing from the H55M Pro is the floppy connector, although the solder points for its pins are still present. Windows XP users who would like to add AHCI drivers during installation without jumping through hoops will be disappointed, as the rear-panel eSATA port is connected to the same H55 Express SATA controller. Also lacking pins is the CD In connection used by legacy TV tuner cards for an internal audio pass-through. However, parallel and serial port breakout connections still make the motherboard a drop-in upgrade for some business applications, which are features that are attractive to system integrators.

BIOS Features

ASRock was one of the first companies to apply its full range of overclock settings to low-cost microATX motherboards, although many of its competitors have followed suit. Opening the OC Tweaker menu reveals a range of settings typically found on similarly priced full-sized models.

Basic frequency and voltage controls should allow the H55M Pro to at least reach the stability limits of its onboard hardware, if not the limits of some processors. ASRock adds access to three custom BIOS profiles at the bottom of this menu.

A simplified DRAM timing menu still contains all the settings we typically use with automatic settings for those not manually adjusted.

Accessories

With no Ultra ATA or floppy interface on the H55M Pro, the presence of only two SATA cables marks our only disappointment in its installation kit. System integrators will probably want to contact ASRock directly concerning availability of legacy-interface breakout cables.

4. Asus P7H55D-M EVO

Premium brand Asus takes features to a higher level with its moderately-priced P7H55D-M EVO, adding independent USB 3.0, eSATA, and Ultra ATA controllers, plus VRM sinks on a brawnier 8+3 phase voltage regulator, compared to lower-cost competitors.

The two USB 3.0 ports will get the most attention from home theater PC builders, who have become the most likely target market for full-feature integrated graphics products. Yet that same USB 3.0 controller might also appeal to compact game system builders, who can ignore the dual monitor-capable HDMI, VGA, and DVI connections in favor of installing the graphics card of their choice.

Our biggest reservation concerning the P7H55D-M EVO layout is the lower-rear corner placement of the front-panel audio header, a location that has caused us building grief as recently as last fall. A swap in positions of the PCIe x16 and x1 slots is somewhat harder to assess, since the design makes the x1 slot the primary expansion point for the riser cards of some low-profile cases. Builders who rely on integrated video will appreciate that the x1 slot doesn’t interfere with the graphics function of appropriate processors, while those who wish to add a better-featured graphics card might be hampered.

Unique to Asus motherboards is the MemOK button, which slows memory speed and timings when engaged to allow easier installation of problematic modules.

BIOS Features

A standard set of overclocking controls combined with an enhanced voltage regulator could make the P7H55D-M EVO an attractive choice for compact game system builders with somewhat limited budgets.

All the most important controls are easily accessible from the Ai Tweaker main menu, with Load-Line Calibration reducing voltage “droop” under full load.

Memory controls are a little more elaborate, but Asus still supplies automatic configuration settings for each timing selection to ease manual configuration.

Up to eight custom BIOS configurations can be stored as user profiles, allowing tuners to store a known stable configuration before trying something that might not be bootable.

Accessories

As with ASRock, Asus disappoints slightly by including only two SATA cables. However, it surprises us by also adding a legacy Ultra ATA ribbon to the P7H55D-M EVO’s installation kit.

5. Biostar TH55XE

Biostar has spent the last few years trying to make the biggest splash possible in the overclocking arena, yet the company still knows how to add value through features. A Web price starting at around $105 gets TH55XE buyers a choice of HDMI, DVI, and VGA outputs, dual-display compatibility, eSATA, IEEE-1394, and a variety of internal interfaces.

A DVI-I connector on the back panel gives the appearance of support for a second VGA monitor, but dual-analog displays are not an option for any of today’s products. Standard DVI-to-VGA adapters won’t work with this digital-only output, which probably uses the “wrong” connector in order to expand compatibility with dual-format cables.

Among the TH55XE’s internal interfaces are PCIe x16 and x4, two PCI, and four DIMM slots. While home theater and compact gaming system builders will prefer the three dual-port USB and single FireWire headers, system integrators will appreciate the legacy Ultra ATA, parallel, and serial ports that make this a drop-in upgrade for many older systems. Biostar even added internal power and reset buttons for the bench testing crowd.

Internal SATA port count is reduced to five, since Biostar relies on the chipset for eSATA, but we don’t perceive that as a major limitation since smaller cases usually have fewer than six drive bays. Perpendicular SATA ports are also ideal for small cases, as these are less likely to be blocked by nearby drive cages and Biostar places all five far below the PCIe x16 slot to allow installation of big graphics cards.

The TH55XE is, in fact, one of the few motherboards about which we have no layout complaints, as even the front-panel audio and FireWire headers are each located several inches away from the bottom rear corner to ease cable installation. Yet, we do wish that the x4 slot were of the open-ended variety, even though mounting an x16 card there (for additional displays) would have required relocation of the clock battery.

Biostar is one of the few companies to provide MOSFET sinks for the CPU voltage regulator of an inexpensive microATX motherboard, adding to the confidence of any mid-market overclocker seeking big performance from a small package.

BIOS Features

The TH55XE includes all of the overclocking features found in most of its bigger brothers, with separate submenus allowing access to the more expert-friendly settings.

There aren’t any automatic settings for individual timings, but the timings detected at boot remain when manual configuration mode is selected. Changing unfamiliar settings to higher-speed defaults requires one to choose automatic timing mode, set the higher memory speed, and reboot.

Biostar allows both over-voltage and under-voltage settings for the CPU and DRAM. Overclockers will appreciate the ability to set the CPU core to 200mV over stock and the DRAM up to 2.55V, although silent PC enthusiasts might be disappointed by the CPU core voltage limit that only goes as low as 80mV below stock and 1.30V DRAM.

Biostar’s CMOS Data Reload feature allows saving custom BIOS configurations as user profiles, and the TH55XE supports up to 10 of these.

Accessories

One great place for a value-oriented manufacturer to stand out visually is with its installation kit. Biostar doesn’t. Included, but not shown, is a single four-pin-to-SATA power adapter and a Velcro strap that held these cables together.

6. ECS H55H-I Mini-ITX

When asked to provide its best features-for-the-money motherboard, ECS surprised us by sending a mini-ITX unit. Short on size, but par for the course with regard to features, the H55H-I supports up to two monitors from its HDMI, DVI, and VGA connectors. It also offers eSATA, and both coaxial and optical digital audio outputs.

Anyone who’s ever wondered why so many mini-ITX cases have dual slots when the motherboards support only a single card need look only at the H55H-I’s PCIe x16 2.0 slot, an interface that can support even the fastest graphics cards. Finding a high-capacity power supply to fit those small cases becomes the biggest challenge in building an ultra-portable gaming PC.

Yet, we know that AMD’s DTX standard is the real reason why cases such as Silverstone’s Sugo SG05 have two slots, and crowding around the CPU socket makes us wish the larger “tiny” standard had prevailed. Arctic Cooling’s Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 performance CPU cooler still fits the H55H-I in standard orientation with memory modules up to 35mm tall.

It’s difficult to criticize the H55H-I layout without suggesting alternatives that simply don’t exist. The mini-ITX form factor leaves no room at the front edge, so builders who need something a little smaller than microATX are often forced to live VIA’s dream, regardless of its limitations.

BIOS Features

Overclocking settings might be the most surprising feature of ECS’ H55H-I, with voltage and frequency limits that probably exceed the capabilities of any component that fits into such a small area.

Setting the performance level to Enhanced reveals the CPU ratio setting, but prevents the system from booting. Putting aside that little BIOS glitch, we were able to use the full range of DRAM timings, adjust CPU base clock, and set reliable voltage levels for our dual-core processor.

Accessories

The capacity limits of typical mini-ITX cases removes any reservations we might have otherwise had about the presence of only two SATA cables in its installation kit.

7. EVGA H55 ATX

We expected at least one manufacturer to respond to our “features for the money” theme with a full-sized motherboard, and EVGA filled that gap with its H55. The short name hides an otherwise mid-featured motherboard with an enormous voltage regulator heat sink, two x16-length PCIe slots, and dual-monitor support for integrated graphics across DVI, VGA, and DisplayPort interfaces.

We’re not entirely sure how well an integrated graphics motherboard fits into the product portfolio of a graphics card manufacturer, although EVGA could use the lackluster performance of Intel’s HD Graphics engine as a compelling reason to advise a GPU upgrade. The firm’s H55 price even falls between its P55 LE and P55 SLI, although current rebates make the better-featured P55 SLI a more interesting value for anyone who isn't planning to use the Clarkdale-based processor's integrated graphics.

Anyone with a greater appreciation for full-sized integrated graphics solutions will likely move on to notice the lack of PCIe x1 slots. The x16 slot and integrated graphics engine are mutually exclusive, so buyers who really need the board for its combination of integrated graphics and expansion card support will be limited to one PCIe card through its four-lane secondary x16 slot. Three legacy PCI slots sweeten the pot for old-timers.

EVGA does an excellent job of keeping its front-panel connections out of the difficult-to-reach bottom rear corner, placing front-panel audio above the four-lane PCIe slot. The bottom front corner supports a single FireWire and two dual-port USB 2.0 headers, along with the two SATA ports and the Ultra ATA interface of a JMB363 ATA controller.

In addition to its good layout, the H55 from EVGA boasts power, reset, and CLR_CMOS buttons along its bottom edge; a PORT 80 diagnostics display, six fan connections, a row of voltage detection points between DIMM slots and the upper edge, and a redundant CLR_CMOS button on the I/O panel. All of these features could assist competitive overclockers seeking record results for the H55 chipset.

BIOS Features

EVGA’s H55 BIOS contains most of the settings of its similarly priced P55 SLI with the most important voltage and clock speed settings on the main page of its Frequency/Voltage Control menu.

The H55 allows tuners to set boot voltage and running voltage separately to overcome “cold boot” issues, adding DRAM reference voltage adjustment to assist memory overclockers. Integrated graphics core voltage is adjustable, but its clock setting is missing from BIOS.

The H55 memory submenu includes only the most important timings, each adjustable to automatic mode when manual values are uncertain. It’s often necessary to return to the main menu and manually select a corresponding QPI frequency after adjusting DRAM clock ratio, where complete configurations can be saved as one of four user profiles.

Accessories

The EVG H55 is far from inexpensive, yet its installation kit contains only two SATA cables.

8. Foxconn H55MX-S

As the only microATX motherboard in today’s lineup to provide two memory slots, it’s no surprise that the H55MX-S is also the least expensive. Yet the basic features are there for any non-overclocker who appreciates good value, including dual-display capability over an HDMI and a DVI-I port that, unlike those of competing microATX motherboards, actually supports a DVI-to-VGA adapter (since there's not a separate VGA output to monopolize the GPU's single analog pipeline).

The H55MX-S also supports upgrading from integrated to discrete graphics via a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, although users who want both integrated and discrete graphics to function simultaneously must instead use either the x4 slot or legacy PCI.

The H55MX-S also includes a floppy header and internal serial port breakout, in addition to a rear-panel serial port, making it a good choice for some business system upgrades. However, the lack of any parallel port is somewhat of a setback for the system integrator market, since many legacy software packages require a parallel port security dongle.

Long double-slot graphics cards don’t fall within the H55MX-S’ market, so we were only slightly disappointed when our GeForce GTX 260 graphics card blocked access to two of its SATA ports. A little more concerning is the bottom-rear corner front-panel audio connection, which can be difficult to reach with the short cables of some cases.

BIOS Features

BIOS tuning of the H55MX-S is limited to DRAM speed, timings, and voltage. The CPU ratio can be changed downward, but the base clock and core voltage can only be altered via software.

Accessories

As the least-expensive motherboard in today’s lineup, the H55MX-S has nothing to be ashamed about for its scarcity of drive cables. Instead, the presence of two cables can be viewed as an indictment of its pricier competitors. The one thing we would have liked to see (but not pay for) is a DVI-to-VGA adapter, since the board supports it and has no VGA output on the I/O panel.

9. Gigabyte H55M-USB3

Gigabyte is the second company to take our “features for the money” concept well into the features category by providing a USB 3.0-compatible motherboard. Yet, its H55M-USB3 pushes a little further towards the premium market by also providing both HDMI and DisplayPort interfaces. A total of four onboard video outputs are configurable across two display devices.

Other handy (but less spectacular) features include a second x16-length slot, but further examination showed that slot is limited to only one 2.5Gb/s pathway. The primary x16 slot has 32 times the bandwidth, but installing a graphics card there prevents the integrated graphics ports from working.

Windows XP users will appreciate the easier installation of AHCI drivers via the H55M-USB3’s floppy connector, while system integrators will have just as much appreciation for the board’s ability to support legacy serial and Ultra ATA devices. Missing, however, is the parallel port so often required by system integrators to support legacy software security dongles.

As the H55M-USB3’s primary market, high-end media center PC builders won’t likely notice the legacy hardware and might instead focus on the motherboard’s true PCIe x16 and PCI slot positions, which perfectly match the card riser locations of many low-profile cases. Support for up to four memory modules and seven internal drives is consistent with that market, as is RAID 0 and 1 support through the GSATA2 Serial ATA/Ultra ATA controller. However, users who require the additional performance or configurability of Intel’s software-based RAID modes will have to step up to the nearly identical H57 model with a similar name.

BIOS Features

Gigabyte’s H55M-USB3 supports a broad range of overclocking and underclocking options to meet the needs of both silent PC and compact performance enthusiasts. Controls are divided across several submenus of the M.I.T.'s many menus, where current settings are also displayed.

Underclockers can minimize voltage needs by reducing the multiplier or base clock, while overclockers can shoot for the moon on base clock with the aid of drive strength and clock skew controls.

Setting DRAM Timing Selectable to Quick allows Channel B timings to be set simultaneously with Channel A, simplifying memory-performance configuration.

 

Sky-high upper voltage limits of 1.90 and 2.60V for the CPU core and RAM should satisfy the needs of nearly any overclocker, but Gigabyte also plays to the silent PC crowd with lower CPU and DRAM limits of 0.50 and 1.30V.

The H55M-USB3 stores up to eight BIOS configurations as user profiles, and can also export these to a drive. Gigabyte also automatically stores up to four additional configurations to assist forgetful tuners.

Accessories

The wide variety of internal interfaces is not reflected in the H55M-USB3 installation kit, as only one legacy Ultra ATA and two SATA cables are included. A Dolby Home Theater sticker points to the extended feature pack Gigabyte purchased for Realtek’s ALC889 codec, enabling advanced options such as Dolby Digital Live.

10. Intel DH57JG Mini-ITX

Intel is the second company in today’s roundup to answer our “features for the money” request with a mini-ITX part. While motherboards this size have little space for add-ins, the company considers a small footprint to be a big feature. Especially for builders who really want the most compact desktop-based system, it’s probably right.

The I/O panel has some room left over, but not enough to add a VGA connector. Intel instead uses a DVI-I connector with a VGA breakout capability for standard DVI-to-VGA adapters. A second HDMI monitor can also be attached via an adapter, although only the primary HDMI output supports audio. Any of these options support a Clarkdale-based processor’s dual-display capability.

Most mini-ITX cases hold few drives, so the lack of any add-in ATA controllers is expected. However, we would have liked to see a second eSATA connection, since only five of the chipset’s six ports are available. There’s enough room on the I/O panel for two more USB ports as well, and Intel could have even chosen combination USB/eSATA connectors to maximize the use of space.

The DH57JG also lends itself to use in a compact gaming system by providing a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. Users who pick a DTX-style case such as Silverstone’s Sugo SG05 can even use a medium-length double-slot card, and those who prefer to have their tiny motherboard dwarfed by enormous graphics can choose an even larger enclosure, since mini-ITX motherboards fit exactly over the CPU section of larger microATX and full ATX cases.

Two advantages Intel’s DH57JG has over its H55-based ECS competition are its third USB 2.0 internal connector and the H57’s chipset RAID capability. However, overclockers might prefer the ECS product’s four-phase CPU voltage regulator rather than Intel’s efficiency-focused three-phase design.

BIOS Features

Intel’s DH57JG control interface contains several overclocking features, but the lack of any core voltage setting prevents overloading its smaller three-phase CPU voltage regulator.

CPU base clock control is found in the main performance menu, with nothing more than a power state controller in the Processor Overrides submenu.

Selecting the Memory Overrides button brings up a submenu with latency, DIMM voltage, and memory controller voltage adjustments. The Bus Overrides submenu is less useful, featuring PCIe frequency.

Accessories

Intel’s retail box wasn’t ready when the company shipped our DH57JG sample, but the contents of its unadorned box represent what retail buyers can expect. Included are a quick reference guide, installation CD, I/O panel cover, and two SATA cables.

11. MSI H55M-ED55

With another gamer-oriented microATX design, MSI is ready to also please the non-gaming crowd with DVI, HDMI, and VGA ports that can support two monitors through a Clarkdale processor’s integrated graphics engine.

MSI keeps overclockers in the loop with a five-phase voltage regulator similar to those on some of its full-sized motherboards, although we wouldn’t shoot for 4.0 GHz on anything more power hungry than a dual-core. MSI even adds its OC Genie hardware overclocking buttons to the H55M-ED55’s front edge to capture the hearts of Clarkdale overclockers.

A pair of PCIe x16-length slots completes the motherboard’s gamer appearance, although the second slot is fed by four half-speed lanes through the platform controller hub. The take-away for graphics card users is that the H55M-ED55 could be a great option for single-card compact-gaming machines, media centers that have gaming capabilities, and with its x16 slot in the top position, even slim-line cases that use a riser card for graphics upgrades. Enhanced overclocking features and a favorable slot layout match this board against several P55 predecessors, including MSI’s own P55M-GD45, while the reasonable selection of on-board video connections attempts to spread its appeal to integrated graphics users.

However, our own build experience tells us that the H55M-ED55’s layout won’t be perfect for some compact system builders. For example, four of the SATA connectors that face forward do a great job of allowing long graphics cards to fit, yet many microATX cases don’t have room to insert cables from this direction. And recent efforts, such as our PC-V351 case review, have proven that putting the front-panel audio connector in the bottom-rear corner is a bad idea.

There’s also the small problem that most mid-market and better microATX cases have a front-panel FireWire port, which is a controller not found on the H55M-GD55. While we can balance the fact that most people no longer use FireWire against the fact that most people hate nonfunctional front-panel connections, we have to wonder how artfully professional builders will be able to disclose this to their customers.

BIOS Features

As a compact-performance design, the H55M-ED55 includes the full range of overclocking features expected of larger, similarly priced “budget enthusiast” models.

For example, the H55M-ED55 supports setting the CPU up to 0.3V above stock and memory up to 2.43V, perfect for those “suicide run” budget-overclocking competitions. MSI also adds vREF for memory overclockers and GPU voltage for those seeking integrated graphics performance records in 3DMark.

As with its larger siblings, the H55M-ED55 makes tweaking a bit more difficult than it needs to be with its inability to set both memory channels simultaneously in manual mode. Tuners must remember to scroll through the menu and repeat their settings to the second memory channel, although the range of settings is at least adequate.

One of the most useful items MSI provides in the BIOS of every performance motherboard is a user profile page, while this one allows up to six BIOS configurations to be saved in a protected area of the BIOS IC.

Accessories

Layout and overclocking features aside, MSI reminds us that the H55M-ED55 is a value-oriented solution by providing four SATA data cables and a single SATA power adapter in its installation kit.

12. Test Settings
Test System Configuration
CPUIntel Core i3-530 (2.93 GHz, 4MB Shared L3 Cache)
CPU CoolerThermalright MUX-120
RAMKingston KHX2133C9D3T1K2/4GX (4GB)
DDR3-2133 at DDR3-1333 CAS 7-7-7-20
GraphicsZotac GeForce GTX 260² 896MB
576/999 MHz GPU/Shader, GDDR3-2484
Hard DriveWestern Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS, 300GB
10,000 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB cache
SoundIntegrated HD Audio
NetworkIntegrated Gigabit Networking
PowerCorsair CMPSU-850HX 850W Modular
ATX12V v2.2, EPS12V, 80-Plus Gold
Software
OSMicrosoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
GraphicsNvidia Forceware 190.62 WHQL
ChipsetIntel INF 9.1.1.1014


We needed a Clarkdale-based CPU to test the video output capabilities of each motherboard, and felt that Intel’s Core i3-530 would be most appropriate for the low-cost market served by the majority of today’s competitors.

Overclockers considering an upgrade from dual-core to quad-core processors should consider our previous experience before attempting to push those higher-wattage processors to their limits on any low-cost motherboard.

Benchmark Configuration
3D Games
CrysisPatch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool
Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA
Test Set 2: Very High Quality, 8x AA
Dirt 2In-game benchmark
Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA
Test Set 2: Ultra High Quality, 8x AA
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.XPatch 1.02, DirectX 10, in-game benchmark
Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA
Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call Of PripyatCall Of Pripyat Benchmark version
Test Set 1: High Preset, DX10 EFDL, No AA
Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, DX10 EFDL, 4x MSAA
Audio/Video Encoding
iTunesVersion:9.0.2.25 x64
Audio CD ("Terminator II" SE), 53 min
Default format AAC
Handbrake 0.9.4Version 0.9.4, convert first .vob file from The Last Samurai to .mp4, High Profile
TMPEGEnc 4.0 XPressVersion: 4.7.3.292
Import File: "Terminator 2" SE DVD (5 Minutes)
Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9
DivX 6.8.5Encoding mode: Insane Quality
Enhanced multithreading enabled using SSE4
Quarter-pixel search
XviD 1.2.1Display encoding status = off
MainConcept Reference 1.6.1MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264), MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2), Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kbp/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS)
Productivity
Adobe Photoshop CS4Version: 11.0 x64, Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image
Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates
Autodesk 3ds Max 2010Version: 11.0 x64, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV)
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 9.0Version: 9.0.663, Virus base: 270.14.1/2407, Benchmark: Scan 334MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files
WinRAR 3.90Version x64 3.90, Dictionary = 4,096KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334MB)
7-ZipVersion 4.65, Built-in Benchmark
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings
3DMark VantageVersion: 1.0.1, GPU and CPU scores
PCMark VantageVersion: 1.0.1.0 x64, System, Productivity, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks
SiSoftware Sandra 2010Version 2010.1.16.11, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
13. Benchmark Results: Crysis

While several boards allow the processor’s integrated GPU to be overclocked, we’ve already seen that it’s not suitable for Crysis. Relying on a graphics card allows these games to be playable, but diminishes any expected performance differences.

14. Benchmark Results: DiRT 2

DiRT 2 doesn’t require big graphics for playable frame rates at most settings, yet Intel’s integrated graphics engine still wasn’t useful. That’s why we relied on a true gaming 3D card for today’s benchmarks.

15. Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.

H.A.W.X. shows slightly more variability, but players still wouldn’t notice the difference between motherboards using a discrete graphics card.

16. Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call Of Pripyat

The latest version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. again shows that motherboard selection has little effect on game performance.

17. Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding

Apple iTunes demonstrates a slightly larger difference between systems, with the tiny ECS H55H-I leading the way.

EVGA drops to the bottom of the Handbrake test using its default codec and high-profile preset. This could be caused by its lack of AHCI support, a drive mode used for all motherboard roundups when available.

Performance differences in TMPGEnc and MainConcept are marginal.

18. Benchmark Results: Productivity

ECS’ tiny mini-ITX motherboard edges out the field for the second time in Photoshop.

No performance difference was found between motherboards in 3ds Max.

Our virus scan appears to reveal the performance lost to EVGA’s IDE disk mode, a problem further defined in WinRAR.

Relying mostly on CPU and DRAM performance, 7-Zip shows little difference between H55 motherboard models.

19. Synthetic Benchmarks: Futuremark

Asus’ P7H55D-M EVO leads 3DMark, but by less than the difference between consecutive runs.

A lack of AHCI mode support for EVGA’s H55 puts the brakes on PCMark HDD performance.

20. Synthetic Benchmarks: SiSoftware Sandra

Sandra’s CPU benchmarks usually reveal only base clock differences, yet EVGA’s 133.2 MHz inexplicably edges out faster boards. Meanwhile, Gigabyte’s even slower 132.9 MHz puts its H55M-USB3 at the bottom.

All nine motherboards were set to DDR3-1333 and 7-7-7-20 timings, yet all did not perform equally in Sandra Memory Bandwidth. A quick check with CPU-Z revealed that many of the boards ignored our CAS setting in favor of a slower, potentially more stable latency.

21. Overclocking Results
BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking)
 ASRock
H55M-Pro
Asus
P7H55D-M EVO
Biostar
TH55XE
CPU Base Clock100-300 MHz (1 MHz)80-500 MHz (1 MHz)133-800 MHz (1 MHz)
CPU MultiplierYesYesYes
iGPU Clock133-1333 MHz (33)133-1500 MHz (33)133-2000 MHz (33)
DRAM Data RatesBCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)
PCIe Clock50-150 MHzNot Adjustable100-150 MHz (1 MHz)
CPU Vcore0.84-1.60V (6.25mV)0.85-1.70V (6.25mV)-0.08 to +0.20V (20mV)
GPU Core0.85-1.46V (12.5mV)0.5-1.75V (12.5mV)+0.60V (20mV)
Uncore Voltage1.11-1.55V (62.5mV)1.10-1.90V (20mV)1.15-2.08V (15mV)
PCH Core1.05, 1.15, 1.25V1.05V, 2.00V (10mV)1.01-1.25V (50mV)
DRAM Voltage1.30-2.05V (50mV)1.20-2.20V (20mV)1.30-2.55V (15mV)
CAS Latency6-11 Cycles3-11 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRCD3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRP3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRAS9-31 Cycles3-31 Cycles9-63 Cycles
BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking)
 ECS H55H-IEVGA
P55 FTW
Foxconn
H55MX-S
CPU Base Clock133-600 MHz (1MHz)133-300 MHz (1 MHz)Not Adjustable
CPU MultiplierYes**YesYes
iGPU ClockNot AdjustableNot AdjustableNot Adjustable
DRAM Data RatesBCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)
PCIe Clock100-200 MHz (1 MHz)80-200 MHz (1 MHz)Not Adjustable
CPU Vcore+0.63V (10mV)-0.4 to +0.63V (10mV)Not Adjustable
GPU CoreNot Adjustable+1.00V (25mV)Not Adjustable
Uncore Voltage+0.63V (10mV)1.05-2.00V (25mV)Not Adjustable
PCH CoreNot Adjustable1.05-1.50V (25mV)Not Adjustable
DRAM Voltage+0.63V (10mV)1.20-2.13V (10mV)+50 to 350mV (50mV)
CAS Latency3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRCD3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRP3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRAS9-63 Cycles9-63 Cycles9-63 Cycles
BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking)
 Gigabyte
H55M-USB3
Intel
DH57JG
MSI
H55M-ED55
CPU Base Clock100-600 MHz (1 MHz)133-240 MHz (1 MHz)100-600 MHz (1 MHz)
CPU MultiplierYesNoYes
iGPU Clock400-2000 MHz (1)Not Adjustable133-1333 MHz (33)
DRAM Data RatesBCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)BCLK x6 - x10* (x2)
PCIe Clock90-150 MHz (1 MHz)100-110 MHz (1 MHz)90-190 MHz (1 MHz)
CPU Vcore0.50-1.90V (6.25mV)Not Adjustable+0.303V (6.1mV)
GPU Core0.20-1.68V (12.5mV)Not Adjustable 
Uncore Voltage1.05-1.49V (20mV)1.10-1.25V (50mV)0.47-2.038V (5.3mV)
PCH Core0.95-1.50V (20mV)Not Adjustable0.451-1.953V (5mV)
DRAM Voltage1.30-2.60V (20mV)1.20-1.70V (50mV)0.93-2.43V (15mV)
CAS Latency5-15 Cycles5-16 Cycles4-15 Cycles
tRCD1-15 Cycles5-16 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRP1-15 Cycles5-16 Cycles3-15 Cycles
tRAS1-31 Cycles15-75 Cycles9-63 Cycles


Of today’s motherboards, only the Foxconn H55MX-S completely lacked BIOS overclocking controls, while only Intel’s DH57JG completely lacked CPU multiplier control. That drops Foxconn from several charts, while limiting Intel’s base clock and memory frequency tests.

Our first Core i3-530 processor failed during a routine reboot at a mere 1.35V setting. Unable to determine whether the failure was the result of a voltage spike or an overly aggressive setting, we took the more cautious approach of retesting all boards at a 1.30V CPU core limit.

Biostar has put great effort into establishing a reputation as the best-value overclocking brand, and its results here are quite impressive. At a mere 1.30V limit, our low-cost dual-core reached nearly 4.4 GHz.

With no CPU core voltage adjustment, Intel’s mini-ITX motherboard topped out just short of 3.6 GHz.

Gigabyte’s base clock lead nearly shocked us, while EVGA’s deficit would be most easily explained by poor BIOS support for our Core i3-530 processor. With an unchangeable multiplier, Intel’s DH57JG uses the same base clock in this test as it had during our previous max CPU clock attempt.

Gigabyte’s support for higher base clocks extends to its higher DRAM bus clock, while EVGA’s base clock problem also translates to a DRAM overclocking issue, again most easily explained by a BIOS that’s not properly configured for our processor model.

Tiny motherboards with fewer components use less power.

Low power and average performance give the smallest motherboards an efficiency lead and the largest model an efficiency deficit.

22. Conclusion

EVGA let the BIOS of its H55 model languish, and the early-revision snag of having no AHCI option put it behind in a few productivity benchmarks. However, after averaging those results with several games and encoding apps, we don’t expect to see a large overall difference.

Asus surprised us today by supplying its P7H55D-M EVO with a nearly perfect 133.4 MHz base clock, yet still matches MSI for a two-way performance lead. EVGA’s lack of AHCI dropped it nearly 2% behind those leaders, but the remaining field fell within 1% of each other.

The prices of each motherboard are spread across a wide spectrum, but buyers must also consider the motherboard’s intended use. We have a few recommendations.

Best for Media Centers: Gigabyte H55M-USB3

Asus’ P7H55D-M EVO and Gigabyte’s H55M-USB3 support the premium feature of USB 3.0 and also have HDMI outputs. Gigabyte offers the better value with its lower price.

The H55M-USB3 also beats Asus for use with graphics riser cards, since its PCIe x16 slot aligns perfectly with the riser card location of many low-profile cases. But perhaps the biggest advantage Gigabyte has over the other USB 3.0-capable product is its lower price, a factor that adds big value to its well-thought-out features.

Best for Compact Gaming: Biostar TH55XE

Several of today’s motherboards had two x16-length PCIe slots, yet none of those x4-bandwidth slots were suitable for CrossFire or SLI. Eliminating that feature from our gaming choices, Biostar’s low-cost and high-overclocking capability make its TH55XE a winner.

Best for Under $100: ASRock H55M-Pro

ASRock’s H55M-Pro supports four memory modules at high data rates, has a pleasing overall layout that should make installation easy within the confines of any microATX case, and boasted good overclocking stability with our dual-core processor in spite of its cooler-less CPU voltage regulator. Maximizing the implementation of “free” features also allows the board to take the lead in two specific low-cost markets:

  • Best for Multi-Monitor Office PC: The H55M-Pro can support two monitors from a processor’s integrated controller in additional to an x16 card in its four-lane slot. Adding monitors while retaining those connected to an integrated graphics engine doesn’t require a special x1 graphics card and users who need something better than integrated graphics for their primary displays can also add a card to its 16-lane slot.
  • Best for Service Replacement/Upgrade: The H55M-Pro supports the parallel port breakout plate required in many service upgrades to interface the security dongles of legacy software.


Best for Mini-ITX Gaming: ECS H55H-I

ECS beats Intel in overclocking, allowing gamers to get an edge in system performance. Coolers as large as Arctic Cooling’s Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 fit both it and the Intel board, but Intel’s smaller voltage regulator and lack of CPU voltage adjustment allow ECS to take a clear lead in this larger-than-book-sized market.

Best for Book-Size PC: Intel DH57JG

With six internal USB ports, RAID support, the lowest heat production, and highest energy efficiency, Intel’s DH57JG easily packs the greatest number of features into book-sized cases.