11-Way P45 Motherboard Shootout
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. ASRock P45R2000-WiFi
- 3. P45R2000-WiFi Onboard Devices
- 4. P45R2000-WiFi BIOS And Overclocking
- 5. P45R2000-WiFi Software And Accessories
- 6. ASRock P45TS-R
- 7. P45TS-R Onboard Devices
- 8. P45TS-R BIOS And Overclocking
- 9. P45TS-R Software And Accessories
- 10. Asus Maximus II Formula
- 11. Maximus II Formula Onboard Devices
- 12. Maximus II Formula BIOS And Overclocking
- 13. Maximus II Formula Software And Accessories
- 14. Asus P5Q Deluxe
- 15. P5Q Deluxe Onboard Devices
- 16. P5Q Deluxe BIOS And Overclocking
- 17. P5Q Deluxe Software And Accessories
- 18. Biostar TSeries TP45 HP
- 19. TP45 HP Onboard Devices
- 20. TP45 HP BIOS And Overclocking
- 21. TP45 HP Software And Accessories
- 22. Biostar TPower i45
- 23. TPower i45 Onboard Devices
- 24. TPower i45 BIOS And Overclocking
- 25. TPower i45 Software And Accessories
- 26. ECS Black Series P45T-A
- 27. P45T-A Onboard Devices
- 28. P45T-A BIOS And Overclocking
- 29. P45T-A Software And Accessories
- 30. Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6
- 31. EP45-DQ6 Onboard Devices
- 32. EP45-DQ6 BIOS And Overclocking
- 33. EP45-DQ6 Software And Accessories
- 34. Jetway HI04
- 35. HI04 Onboard Devices
- 36. HI04 BIOS And Overclocking
- 37. HI04 Software And Accessories
- 38. MSI P45 Platinum
- 39. P45 Platinum Onboard Devices
- 40. P45 Platinum BIOS And Overclocking
- 41. P45 Platinum Software And Accessories
- 42. MSI P45D3 Platinum
- 43. P45 D3 Platinum BIOS And Overclocking
- 44. P45D3 Platinum Software And Accessories
- 45. Test Hardware
- 46. Benchmark Configuration
- 47. Benchmark Results: 3D Games
- 48. Benchmark Results: Applications
- 49. Benchmark Results: Video Encoding And Synthetics
- 50. Performance Analysis
- 51. Onboard Audio Quality
- 52. Power Consumption And Temperature
- 53. Overclocking
- 54. Conclusion
When Intel released its mainstream P45 Express chipset, the biggest news was that it supported PCI Express 2.0. Formerly available from Intel only on high-end X38 and X48 motherboards, many of us still failed to understand the significance of this bandwidth-doubling technology to current-generation hardware. After all, the first-generation x16 slots found on P35 Express motherboards are still fast enough for any graphics card, so why bother updating ?
In order to truly understand how important PCI Express 2.0 is to the (upper) mainstream gaming market, one has to consider the P45 Express northbridge’s other key feature : its ability to split those sixteen lanes into two x8 pathways.
The ability to run two PCI Express graphics cards in x8 mode hasn’t been available from Intel since the days of its 975X chipset. Dual-graphics P965 and P35 motherboards usually relied on x4 pathways for the second slot, starving the second card with a lowly 2 GB/s transfer rate. By allowing its 16 PCI Express pathways to be divided into two x8-mode slots, the P45 Express can now deliver the same 8 GB/s bandwidth to two graphics cards that its P35 predecessor could deliver to only one.
Other updates to the P45 Express technology, such as the ability to support a total of 16GB RAM rather than the 8GB of the P35 Express, are far less significant to the majority of its mainstream/performance market. In fact, those who would never even consider using Crossfire technology might prefer to save some money by purchasing a less-expensive P35 motherboard, as implied in our earlier P45 Express technology overview
Given that the P45 Express’ major features target gaming enthusiasts, it comes as no surprise that many manufacturers have chosen this mainstream part as the basis for reduced-cost, high-end products. Others have chosen to use only a minimum number of high-end features to bring added value to the budget/performance market. Today’s eleven motherboards represent that range of products bound by these philosophies.
Related Stories :
- Intel P45: The New Chipset Lacks Progress
- Asustek And Gigabyte Gear Up For Intel P45 Chipset Launch
- Intel To Delay P45 Chipset To Mid-June
- CrossFireX Still A Go On Intel P45 Chipsets
- Asustek Initiates Price Cuts For P45 Motherboards
- CeBIT 2008: MSI Shows off P45 Motherboards
- Asus Responds to Intel's Exit from Motherboard Business
- ECS' Intel 8-Series Motherboards Officially Debut
- Intel's 8-series 'Lynx Point' Motherboards Spotted
- Video Teaser: Intel's DZ77GA-70K Motherboard
Where are the lower price P45 M/B ?
Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
51 pages... You won't be upset if I read just the last 3 pages right?
I suppose I can get some good from having read this. Did you get paid by the word? Maybe next time you could just put together a complete features chart so that we can have some convenient comparison? You know, so someone could go to a chart and see at a glance which boards had eSATA or firewire, or 8 USB.
I'd rather have the overabundance of information than a lack of information. Presentation could use a little refining (I.E. comparison charts and the likes), but having the relevant information available at least is a good thing.
the introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
the introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
Tom's Hardware wants the performance of current articles to reflect that of recent articles, so a "standard test platform" was chosen a while ago. It will get updated, but probably not before the new socket becomes widely available.
I would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.
In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.
What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)
I would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,1961.html
The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
Where are the lower price P45 M/B ?Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
the p5q PRo is a p43 board, i should know i have one
The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
if you RMA through your Vendor then you get a new one, which BTW most big vendors dont even check to see whether the part is broken.
also this article is good, way better than other recent articles especially mac orinated ones) what would be good though is a big summary table. also if the charts where updated.
"the p5q PRo is a p43 board, i should know i have one"
Funny, so do i and it's a p45.
You forgot the EP45-DS3L.
. Also why include cr@ppy brands (ie JetWay) any ways?
The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
Lies. The first two motherboards were from ASRock. The two companies are not the same, regardless of any ties they may have.
Where are the lower price P45 M/B ?Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
There are low-priced P45's in there. The ECS only cost $110 US, which, given the weakness of US currency, is cheap.
You forgot the EP45-DS3L. . Also why include cr@ppy brands (ie JetWay) any ways?
NO motherboards were "Forgotten". Everyone got a chance to submit up to two motherboards, Gigabyte sent one. Jetway send one. Any of the other brands you disliked that were in the review, were there because everyone got an equal shot.
The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
At least you have a completely unbiased view of this...
I haven't read through the entire article. I actually skipped to the Conclusion first to see what board was rated as best (frankly that's important to me). Unfortunately, I see the second best, third best, but I'm having a hard time identifiying what Tom's calls the 1st best. It is not clearly stated.
that msi rocks ass. my next board.
ASRock is a subsidiary of ASUS hence their RMA policies are likely to emulate that of ASUS.
Don't give me a thumbs down for sticking up for consumer rights. Thumb my comments down if you LIKE getting used and often broken replacements for your $200+ brand new though malfunctioning/broken boards.
Another problem ASUS seems to create is that it is usually the only company that builds motherboards for the GOOD AMD socket chipsets leaving us to wait for only a very select few (1~3 780A and nForce 4 true 16X SLI are examples) motherboard choices. This is *NO* different then how Dell used to use proprietary parts to lock you in. I LIKE choice and I expect ANY part regardless of it's price to have a NEW replacement for a RMA so long as it's covered under warranty.
So long as they play politics this way and try to sucker people I will speak up for the less informed enthusiasts. Let's not forget Gigabyte busting ASUS *AND* having a couple articles featured on this very site about it earlier this year.
My favorite is the Gigabyte board based on features. The article was interesting though what is with the inconsistencies? For example some motherboards have images of the IO panel while others do not. Still it was a good read.