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11-Way P45 Motherboard Shootout

Features
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Benchmark Configuration

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3D-Games
CrysisVersion : 1.1
Video Modes : 800x600 (low), 1920x1200 (high)
Video Quality : Low Details (low), Very High Details (high)
Anti-aliasing : Off (low), 8x (high)
Benchmark : Benchmark_CPU.bat
Supreme CommanderVersion : 3.220
Video Modes : 1024x768 (low), 1920x1200 (high)
Video Quality : Lowest Details (low), Highest Details (high)
Anti-aliasing : Off (low), 8x (high)
Graphics : Medium
Test Path : Options/Performance/Test Settings
Unreal Tournament 3Version : 1.2 (Dual-Core Patch)
Video Modes : 640x480 (low), 1920x1200 (high)
Video Quality : Lowest Details (low), Highest Details (high)
Post Processing : Default (low), Intense (high)
Benchmark : 16-bot botmatch (war-marketdistrict)
Applications
Grisoft AVG Anti-VirusVersion : 7.5.467
Virus Base : 269.6.1/776
Benchmark : Scanning 3.82GB Application Folder
Maxon Cinema 4DVersion : 10.008
Resolution : 1280 x 1024
Benchmark : Rose Drop, 8-bits (50 Frames)
Adobe Photoshop CS3Version : 10.0x20070321
Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-Photo
Benchmark : Tom’s Guide-Benchmark V1.0.0.4
Rarlab WinrarVersion 3.70 BETA 8
Compression = Best
Dictionary = 4096 kB
Uncompressed Folder Size : 642MB
Video
TMPEGEnc 4.0 XpressVersion : 4.2.10.211
Import File : Terminator 2 SE DVD (2 Minutes)
Resolution : 720x576 (PAL) 16:9
Audio : Dolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, English
Advanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160kb/s)
DivX 6.6Version : 6.6.1
Profile : Home Theater Profile (720 x 576)
1-pass, 780 kb/s
Encoding mode : Insane Quality
Enhanced multithreading
XviD 1.1.2Version : 1.1.2
Target quantizer : 1.00 (maximum quality)
Clone DVD 2Version : 2.908
DVD "Terminator II SE" (English version)
Transcoding from DVD-9 to DVD-4.7
Audio : English Dolby AC-3/6 (surround) - DTS
Subtitles : None
Synthetics
SiSoftware Sandra XIIVersion 2008.4.14.20
Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
Hard Drive Performance
Low Level Performanceh2benchw 3.6 (by c’t Magazine)
I/O PerformanceIOMeter 2003.05.10
Fileserver Benchmark
Webserver Benchmark
Database Benchmark
Workstation Benchmark
Audio
Rightmark Audio AnalyzerVersion : 6.0.6
Stream Quality : 16 bits, 44.1 khz
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
55 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nickchalk
    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.
    Reply
  • nihility
    51 pages... You won't be upset if I read just the last 3 pages right?
    Reply
  • Proximon
    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.

    Reply
  • JPForums
    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.
    Reply
  • 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).
    Reply
  • Crashman
    procithe 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.
    Reply
  • zenmaster
    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)
    Reply
  • Crashman
    zenmasterI 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/reviews/intel-p45-chipset,1961.html
    Reply
  • johnbilicki
    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.
    Reply
  • dobby
    nickchalkWhere 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
    Reply