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Asus P5N32-SLI: Dual x16 - What Dreams Are Made On . . .

 by Gary Key on October 27, 2005 12:05 AM EST
70 Comments | Add A Comment
70 Comments
Audio Performance

We limited audio testing to the Rightmark 3D Sound version 2.1 CPU utilization test and tested with sound enabled to show the performance effects on several games. The Rightmark 3D Sound benchmark measures the overhead or CPU utilization required by a codec or hardware audio chip.

Audio Performance - Empty CPU - 32 Buffers

Audio Performance - 2d Audio - 32 Buffers

Audio Performance - DirectSound 3D HW - 32 Buffers

Audio Performance - DirectSound 3D EAX2 - 32 Buffers

As you can see, none of the onboard audio solutions were quite as low in CPU utilization as the Abit AudioMAX 7.1 solution. The Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe uses the "almost standard" Realtek ALC850 found in most high end NVIDIA AMD SLI systems. The current NVIDIA driver release limits the 3D sound buffers to a maximum of 48 compared to 25 with the RealTek drivers. It also indicates support for OpenAL with full EAX2 compatibility. However, Quake 4 refused to recognize the OpenAL support and would not allow sound in the game. The current RealTek A3.76 release does not include OpenAL support. We will be updating our test results for the RealTek ALC850 based boards with the newly released A3.78 drivers shortly and providing F.E.A.R. results.

Audio Performance - DirectSound 3D EAX - BattleField 2

Audio Performance - DirectSound 3D EAX - Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Audio Performance - Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory - Radar Demo

The Battlefield 2 numbers are interesting as the Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe implementation of the Realtek ALC850 sound solution creates a 12% loss in frame rates. This compares to 27% on the Gigabyte GA-8N SLI Quad in this highly popular on-line game in which sound is as critical as frame rates. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory has an acceptable loss of 6%, but Wolfenstein Enemy Territory loss is close to 13%. Obviously, if you are a serious gamer, then a dedicated sound card is a requirement and fortunately, the board had two PCI slots available.

While the Realtek ALC850 codec offers acceptable CPU usage and sound for most office applications or internet based flash games, it is not competitive in audio quality with the MSI P4N Diamond or Gigabyte GA-8I955x on-board audio solutions.

We have finalized our expanded audio testing suite and will introduce this in the next review roundup.

Ethernet Performance Final Words
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  • Beenthere - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    Why would ANYONE spend the coin to buy an Intel based SLI system when you can buy an AMD system for the same price that will out-perform the Intel system and be upgradable for years???

    The only reason I can see for anyone buying any Intel product at this time is if they are stuck with an Intel system already and they desire to upgrade to a faster chip if they can find one to fit whatever socket Mobo they have. Otherwise I see no logical reason whatsoever for even considering an obsolete, under-performing Intel product.

  • Shintai - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    You ask the wrong question. Why would anyone buy a SLI/CrossFire system at all.

  • bob661 - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    quote:
    You ask the wrong question.
    He can ask any question he wants. There are no wrong questions.
    quote:
    Why would anyone buy a SLI/CrossFire system at all.
    Because one can. :)

  • Ricky Ling - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    I only afraid on the future upgradeability on this board because according to ASUS Support FAQ (as this news has not been revealed on the Internet), this board does not support future Pentium 4 that based on 65nm technology, namely Cedar Mill (Single core replacing Prescott) and Presler (Dual core replacing Smithfield)

    So how is testing done the Presler sample processor cause I thought Anand got holding of 1 Presler sample...Pls double check at the following :
    http://support.asus.com/faq/faq_right_second_detai...">http://support.asus.com/faq/faq_right_s...P5N32-SL...

    As Presler start hitting OEM already....we need more info on this issue???

  • Gary Key - Sunday, October 30, 2005 - link

    quote:
    As Presler start hitting OEM already....we need more info on this issue???


    The initial information I have from Asus this weekend is the board will support the 65nm CPU range with a bios update and the CPU steppings must be B1 or above.

  • Gary Key - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    Hello,

    I had already asked for public clarification about this issue from Asus after visiting the website last week. I believe the entire FAQ has not been properly updated as it still states the Pentium 820 will only work in single core mode which is no longer the case with this chipset revision. We have not had an issue testing the Presler or Cedar Mill CPUs with current board designs from different suppliers.

    I will respond once I have further information.

    Thank you.

  • Chuckles - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    How's the clearance on the right-most PCIe x1 slot? It looks like a card put in there would be perilously close to the northbridge heatsink.

  • Gary Key - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    Hi,

    The D-Link DGE-560T PCIe network adaptor card fit fine and it is the longest card I tried in the x1 slot. I would agree if a card had several logic chips placed in the right area on the back of the board then clearance could be an issue with the heatsink. However, the few peripheral PCIe cards that I have fit fine.

  • erwos - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    I wouldn't have minded seeing the difference between bridged SLI and bridgeless SLI on both SLI Dual x16 and SLI Dual x8 motherboards.

    My gut feeling is that nVidia is going to be phasing out the bridge in the near future, if they can get the same performance without it using the PCIe bus.

    -Erwos

  • DigitalFreak - Thursday, October 27, 2005 - link

    "ASUS CPU Lock Free (BIOS setting to unlock multiplier locked CPUs)"

    Does this mean that all multipliers (up and down) are available again?
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