11-Way P45 Motherboard Shootout : Introduction

09:30 - Monday 25 August 2008 by Thomas Soderstrom
Source: Tom's Hardware – Keywords: intel, p45, motherboard

Table of content:
1 – Introduction
  1. 1 – Introduction
  2. 2 – ASRock P45R2000-WiFi
  3. 3 – P45R2000-WiFi Onboard Devices
  4. 4 – P45R2000-WiFi BIOS And Overclocking
  5. 5 – P45R2000-WiFi Software And Accessories
  6. 6 – ASRock P45TS-R
  7. 7 – P45TS-R Onboard Devices
  8. 8 – P45TS-R BIOS And Overclocking
  9. 9 – P45TS-R Software And Accessories
  10. 10 – Asus Maximus II Formula
  11. 11 – Maximus II Formula Onboard Devices
  12. 12 – Maximus II Formula BIOS And Overclocking
  13. 13 – Maximus II Formula Software And Accessories
  14. 14 – Asus P5Q Deluxe
  15. 15 – P5Q Deluxe Onboard Devices
  16. 16 – P5Q Deluxe BIOS And Overclocking
  17. 17 – P5Q Deluxe Software And Accessories
  18. 18 – Biostar TSeries TP45 HP
  19. 19 – TP45 HP Onboard Devices
  20. 20 – TP45 HP BIOS And Overclocking
  21. 21 – TP45 HP Software And Accessories
  22. 22 – Biostar TPower i45
  23. 23 – TPower i45 Onboard Devices
  24. 24 – TPower i45 BIOS And Overclocking
  25. 25 – TPower i45 Software And Accessories
  26. 26 – ECS Black Series P45T-A
  27. 27 – P45T-A Onboard Devices
  28. 28 – P45T-A BIOS And Overclocking
  29. 29 – P45T-A Software And Accessories
  30. 30 – Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6
  31. 31 – EP45-DQ6 Onboard Devices
  32. 32 – EP45-DQ6 BIOS And Overclocking
  33. 33 – EP45-DQ6 Software And Accessories
  34. 34 – Jetway HI04
  35. 35 – HI04 Onboard Devices
  36. 36 – HI04 BIOS And Overclocking
  37. 37 – HI04 Software And Accessories
  38. 38 – MSI P45 Platinum
  39. 39 – P45 Platinum Onboard Devices
  40. 40 – P45 Platinum BIOS And Overclocking
  41. 41 – P45 Platinum Software And Accessories
  42. 42 – MSI P45D3 Platinum
  43. 43 – P45 D3 Platinum BIOS And Overclocking
  44. 44 – P45D3 Platinum Software And Accessories
  45. 45 – Test Hardware
  46. 46 – Benchmark Configuration
  47. 47 – Benchmark Results: 3D Games
  48. 48 – Benchmark Results: Applications
  49. 49 – Benchmark Results: Video Encoding And Synthetics
  50. 50 – Performance Analysis
  51. 51 – Onboard Audio Quality
  52. 52 – Power Consumption And Temperature
  53. 53 – Overclocking
  54. 54 – Conclusion

Introduction

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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.


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Talkback
alex_oneill2006 25/08/2008 01:23
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alex_oneill2006

Wait, i think i missed the conclusion... what was the conclusion.....or am i just silly !?

Great review any who, i have been waiting for one of these. I would say go for the P5Q Deluxe!!!!!!!!11

iluvgillgill 25/08/2008 02:30
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iluvgillgill

the old E6xx CPU is not good enough to explore the FSB of the new P45 chipset. i seen better review then this in term of hardware. there should be at least a dual core 45nm processor and a 45nm quad processor.

sigh....tom's been lazy with hardware update!

spuddyt 25/08/2008 05:40
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spuddyt

I assume it is a mistake that says the P45 platinum from MSI has an X48 chipset?

DangerousD 30/08/2008 09:59
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DangerousD

so waht about a decent conclusion something like, are these boarfds worth the extra cash over a P35 chipset variant, everything tells me they offer little incentive over the P35, thoughts anyone?

Henrlk 07/09/2008 01:44
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Henrlk

Hello?
Uhm .. 45nm!?

I agree, test with a better (new) CPU(s) 45nm Dual/Quad.
That would be really interesting. This probably means alot to someone that owns the E6xx series CPU which i doubt someone buy if they buy a P45 board.

Note You are going to post a comment as anonymous.



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