Enthusiast P55: Eight LGA 1156 Boards Between $150 And $200
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Page 1:Similar Bang For Fewer Bucks?
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Page 2:Features Overview
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Page 3:ASRock P55 Deluxe
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Page 4:Asus P7P55D EVO
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Page 5:Biostar TPower I55
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Page 6:EVGA P55 SLI
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Page 7:Foxconn Inferno Katana GTI
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Page 8:Gigabyte P55-UD4P
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Page 9:Jetway HI05
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Page 10:MSI P55-GD65
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Page 11:Test Configuration
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Page 12:Benchmark Results: Crysis And Far Cry 2
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Page 13:Benchmark Results: Clear Sky And World In Conflict
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Page 14:Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
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Page 15:Benchmark Results: Productivity
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Page 16:Benchmark Results: Synthetic
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Page 17:Overclocking
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Page 18:Power, Heat, And Efficiency
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Page 19:Does Biostar Win?
Overclocking
Every product in today’s comparison provides wide enough frequency and timing selections to push our big air cooler to the limit, even with an ambient temperature below 22 degrees Celsius.
BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock | Asus | Biostar | EVGA |
CPU Base Clock | 100-300 MHz (1 MHz) | 80-500 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-800 MHz (1 MHz) | 133-600 MHz (1 MHz) |
CPU Multiplier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DRAM Data Rates | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) |
PCIe Clock | 50-150 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-200 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-150 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-200 MHz (1 MHz) |
CPU Vcore | 0.84-2.00V (6.25mV) | 1.10-1.70V (6.25mV) | +7875mV (6.25mV) | +630mV (10mV) |
Uncore Voltage | 1.11-2.04V (14.5mV) | 1.10-1.70V (6.25mV) | 1.10-2.03V (15mV) | +630mV (10mV) |
PCH Core | 1.07-1.49V (6.5mV) | 1.05V, 1.15V | 1.10-2.03V (15mV) | +300mV (10mV) |
DRAM Voltage | 1.56-2.01V (14mV) | 1.20-2.50V (12.5mV) | 1.60-2.53V (15mV) | +630mV (10mV) |
CAS Latency | 6-11 Cycles | 3-11 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles |
tRCD | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles |
tRP | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles |
tRAS | 9-31 Cycles | 3-31 Cycles | 9-63 Cycles | 9-63 Cycles |
BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxconn Inferno | Jetway | Gigabyte | MSI |
CPU Base Clock | 66-255 MHz (1 MHz) | 133-500 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-1200 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-600 MHz (1 MHz) |
CPU Multiplier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DRAM Data Rates | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) | BCLK x6 - x12 (x2) |
PCIe Clock | 100-120 MHz (1 MHz) | 100-200 MHz (1 MHz) | 90-150 MHz (1 MHz) | 90-190 MHz (1 MHz) |
CPU Vcore | -0.40-+1.26V (10mV) | -0.88-+8.00V (25mV) | 0.50-1.90V (6.25mV) | 0.87-2.70 (6.25mV) |
Uncore Voltage | 0.95-1.50V (10mV) | 1.12-2.23V (17.5mV) | 1.05-1.99V (20mV) | 0.45-2.02V (5.38mV) |
PCH Core | 0.95-1.50V (10mV) | 1.08-2.14V (17mV) | 0.95-2.00V (20mV) | 1.00-2.40V (10mV) |
DRAM Voltage | 1.40-2.71V (10mV) | 1.54-3.26V (25.5mV) | 1.30-2.60V (20mV) | 0.91-2.40V (6.25mV) |
CAS Latency | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 6-15 Cycles | 4-15 Cycles |
tRCD | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 1-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles |
tRP | 3-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 1-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles |
tRAS | 9-63 Cycles | 9-63 Cycles | 1-31 Cycles | 9-31 Cycles |
However, not every setting is completely useful. Surely, most overclockers understand that base clock limits beyond 300 MHz are completely meaningless with the LGA 1156 platform, and not every board could fully support even our moderate 1.45V CPU core setting.
Biostar has put a lot of effort into its overclocking campaign, and that has paid off with a CPU overclocking win. Also notice the asterisk next to ASRock’s entry--this particular model wasn’t stable at 1.45V CPU core when maximum overclocks and eight Prime95 threads were applied. We found the highest practical setting for the P55 Deluxe was 1.40V, as anything higher would cause the motherboard’s over-current protection to reset the system under full load. We’re sure someone will try to prove us wrong by testing higher voltage levels with lower loads or clock speeds, but the only practical way we know to honestly increase the board’s amperage capacity is to increase VRM cooling.
Gigabyte takes a big lead over rival Asus and overclock-leader Biostar for maximum base clock, a setting that should be extremely important to multiplier-limited Core i5 owners.
Foxconn has the highest average memory overclock, while EVGA leads with two modules and Gigabyte leads when four are installed.
- Similar Bang For Fewer Bucks?
- Features Overview
- ASRock P55 Deluxe
- Asus P7P55D EVO
- Biostar TPower I55
- EVGA P55 SLI
- Foxconn Inferno Katana GTI
- Gigabyte P55-UD4P
- Jetway HI05
- MSI P55-GD65
- Test Configuration
- Benchmark Results: Crysis And Far Cry 2
- Benchmark Results: Clear Sky And World In Conflict
- Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Productivity
- Benchmark Results: Synthetic
- Overclocking
- Power, Heat, And Efficiency
- Does Biostar Win?
Gigabyte had some additional interesting news about the new P55A-UD4P, where the addition of the letter "A" supposedly means "Advanced" and refers to the addition of SATA 6.0 Gb/s and USB 3.0 controllers. Unfortunately, it wasn't ready when the comparison was written. The "A" also cost slightly more.
2 x USB 3.0
2 x SATA 6Gb/s.
$184.99 on newegg.
$15 for all that sounds great, unless those features are useless to you. SATA 6.0 Gb/s will remain completely useless until long after the board is outdated, and USB 3.0 is nothing more than an eSATA substitute at the moment.
You mean complain? Like you're complaining right now? It's all a matter of logic: There are probably more Windows XP users carrying over their old OS into a new build than there are Ultra ATA users carrying over their ancient hard drives. Therefor, the floppy interface, as outdated as it is, is more useful than the Ultra ATA interface.
The problem as described is that you PAY for an Ultra ATA controller. Why bother? Even if you're an XP devotee you probably don't WANT to pay for an Ultra ATA connector.
But for most motherboards, the floppy interface is free. It doesn't slow down boot times or performance either, if you don't need it you can ignore it.
Well, maybe you can't ignore it, but a logic dictates over emotion in reviews.
THG has no reason to love or hate the floppy connector, no stake in the legacy OS game, but anyone reader who wants to play the hater deserves to be called out for it. As for the manufacturers, honest reporting is Tom's Hardware's goal. Personally, I like the fact that some manufacturers provide legacy features and others don't, both types of products work well.
This is from the page on the EVGA P55 but you can clearly see it is a purple PS/2 port which is for keyboards... lol
If I'm considering an enthusiast-level board, I'd like to see what I'm losing (if anything) by saving an extra $100 and going with the cheaper platform.
I agree. All those multi-colored mobos lined up next to each other are mesmerizing. I'd give you a +1, but I'm anonymous
The solution to the lack of a floppy interface for Win XP raid configuration users is to slipstream the drivers into the Win installation. (Yes, you have to "copy" the Win XP disk, at the cost of a blank CD, and you have to have a functional computer with a burner and the ability to run copy software. But, most builders have this.)
I, personally, am one of the people that will continue to buy MBs with an IDE connector. Why? I have a very quiet, high quality IDE DVD-Burner that will be carried over into any new system I build from my old system. I rarely used the burner on the currently installed pc, thus it is "like new."
The same model burner, installed in my mate's computer, will also be moved to that new system. (Thus, IDE required.)
It is a "cost added" part, and many people don't use it anymore. But, to each their own. (I don't use Firewire, Esata, or more than 4 rear and 1 front USB 2.0 port on any computer. I still have to pay for those.)
As Crashman said, manufacturers provide different features on their products based upon different consumer wishes.
"* When dual graphics cards are used in 1st and 2nd PCIex16 slots, SATA3 / USB 3.0 (Marvell 9128 /NEC USB 3.0 Controllers) will work at normal mode."
http://www.gigabyte.us/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=3250&ProductName=GA-P55A-UD4P
That sounds like "normal mode" is refering to PCIe x1, which is 250MB/s (2.5 Gb/s).
haha o wow what a joke. I would spend my money at the CPU or GPU, where it matters.
USB floppys with legacy mode support in the bios work as a full FDD so its pointless, and if you need if for F6 drivers your RAID/AHCI then your OS is too old as Windows Vista and 7 dont require (usually) any drivers for AHCI/RAID and even then it can be loaded via a CD drive etc
Begone PS2, FDD, IDE, PCI - too old
Except in the business world, where applications are written to run on specific hardware.
Example from my employer: Our helpdesk recently had to purchase a new Laptop with an integrated Parallel Port for use at one location. Why? A certain piece of software running at the site requires a parallel port dongle for any system to access it, and the data from the software is written locally then transferred to the network. (Interference in the area removes the ability for any type of wireless internet to work, and the site is in a "no cell" coverage by any vendor area.) The software, for legal reasons, cannot be changed to a newer version.
Also, we recently had to rollback several users from Outlook 2007 to Outlook 2003 due to software incompatibilities, and the hardware (and user training) cost to upgrade all users to "Vista capable" systems was too high until next year's budget. The result? We all still run Windows XP.
At home, many older games refuse to run on Vista/7, even when in compatibility mode. (The same reason I keep a Win 98 SE machine running for games that refuse to run properly in Win XP.)
In short, just because something... even technology... is old, doesn't mean it should be gotten rid of permanently.