ASUS A8R32-MVP: Taking the Overclocking Route via the 0404
by Gary Key on April 20, 2006 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Setup
Our standard system configuration was flashed to BIOS version 0311 with the AFUDOS program. We configured the system to our baseline BIOS settings, loaded our test suite image, and ran Sandra 2005 Pro burn-in for two hours. Our next step was optimizing the BIOS memory timings, benchmarking our test suite, completing SuperPi 8M, and then running Prime95 for 20 minutes to ensure the stability of the system. If at any point during our test runs a benchmark failed, we reduced our HTT or Memory settings until all tests completed successfully. In addition to our benchmark test suite each setting reported was required to complete a two hour on-line gaming session utilizing Battlefield 2 and City of Heroes.
While we normally utilize Prime95 for a minimum of 4 hours, generate a SuperPI 32M reading, and play on-line for six hours, these tests were shortened based upon our prior testing experience with this product. We feel extremely comfortable with the reported results since our test suite completed successfully and the system had no issues running Prime95 and SuperPI at the reduced settings for three cycles.
After completing this test process with the 0311 BIOS, we flashed the system to BIOS version 0404 utilizing the AFUDOS program. We then reset the BIOS to standard default settings, rebooted, and entered back into the BIOS to configure our baseline BIOS settings. We proceeded to complete our test suite routine in the same manner as before. It should be noted that if you are updating your BIOS via the ASUS Windows Update application, we advise that you flash the BIOS twice to ensure it is programmed correctly. We have had several users experience performance and stability issues after utilizing WinFlash methodology, and the problems were solved by reflashing the BIOS again.
Base Performance Results:
BIOS Revision Comparison at Stock HTT, 1:1 Memory, Command Rate 1T
The base performance differences between the 0311 and 0404 BIOS versions are indistinguishable in the reported test results. Although we have limited the reported scores when compared to our entire test suite, the differences in other applications were also minimal between the two BIOS releases. There is no clear winner at stock settings except in F.E.A.R. where the same 2 FPS difference existed in each test run. Our overclocking results between the two BIOS releases only showed a 1%~1.5% delta in favor of the 0404 BIOS, but these results are well within the mean deviation of our benchmarks. Let's see if there are any improvements in the base overclocking tests.
Overclocking Results:
BIOS Revision Comparison at Maximum HTT, 1:1 Memory, Command Rate 1T
Our testing result with this particular board does indeed show a small but measurable increase in the overclocking capability with the 0404 BIOS at CPU multiplier settings of 8, 9, 10, and 12. In our testing we were able to reach a 315HTT setting with the 9X CPU multiplier but could not complete our game benchmarks even though the board passed the Prime95 and SuperPI tests. We then reduced the HTT setting to 310 and were able to complete our game benchmarks, Prime95, and SuperPI but 3DMark05 would fail. Finally, at a HTT setting of 312 with a 9X CPU multiplier the system would pass our test suite three consecutive times. We witnessed oddities like this throughout our testing regimen and are still investigating this issue.
While this BIOS update certainly did not generate the type of overclocking improvements some enthusiasts were expecting or demand, it has improved. In fact, we're able to boot into settings that were not possible before for both a system POST and Windows XP startup. These incremental changes could mean the difference between reaching or exceeding a 300HTT level with the memory at a 1:1 ratio and a command rate of 1T. Now that the DFI CFX3200 and Abit AT8-32X are available, it will be interesting to see how well the ASUS board measures against two companies known for their BIOS and overclocking skills.
Our standard system configuration was flashed to BIOS version 0311 with the AFUDOS program. We configured the system to our baseline BIOS settings, loaded our test suite image, and ran Sandra 2005 Pro burn-in for two hours. Our next step was optimizing the BIOS memory timings, benchmarking our test suite, completing SuperPi 8M, and then running Prime95 for 20 minutes to ensure the stability of the system. If at any point during our test runs a benchmark failed, we reduced our HTT or Memory settings until all tests completed successfully. In addition to our benchmark test suite each setting reported was required to complete a two hour on-line gaming session utilizing Battlefield 2 and City of Heroes.
While we normally utilize Prime95 for a minimum of 4 hours, generate a SuperPI 32M reading, and play on-line for six hours, these tests were shortened based upon our prior testing experience with this product. We feel extremely comfortable with the reported results since our test suite completed successfully and the system had no issues running Prime95 and SuperPI at the reduced settings for three cycles.
After completing this test process with the 0311 BIOS, we flashed the system to BIOS version 0404 utilizing the AFUDOS program. We then reset the BIOS to standard default settings, rebooted, and entered back into the BIOS to configure our baseline BIOS settings. We proceeded to complete our test suite routine in the same manner as before. It should be noted that if you are updating your BIOS via the ASUS Windows Update application, we advise that you flash the BIOS twice to ensure it is programmed correctly. We have had several users experience performance and stability issues after utilizing WinFlash methodology, and the problems were solved by reflashing the BIOS again.
Base Performance Results:
BIOS Revision Comparison at Stock HTT, 1:1 Memory, Command Rate 1T
The base performance differences between the 0311 and 0404 BIOS versions are indistinguishable in the reported test results. Although we have limited the reported scores when compared to our entire test suite, the differences in other applications were also minimal between the two BIOS releases. There is no clear winner at stock settings except in F.E.A.R. where the same 2 FPS difference existed in each test run. Our overclocking results between the two BIOS releases only showed a 1%~1.5% delta in favor of the 0404 BIOS, but these results are well within the mean deviation of our benchmarks. Let's see if there are any improvements in the base overclocking tests.
Overclocking Results:
BIOS Revision Comparison at Maximum HTT, 1:1 Memory, Command Rate 1T
Our testing result with this particular board does indeed show a small but measurable increase in the overclocking capability with the 0404 BIOS at CPU multiplier settings of 8, 9, 10, and 12. In our testing we were able to reach a 315HTT setting with the 9X CPU multiplier but could not complete our game benchmarks even though the board passed the Prime95 and SuperPI tests. We then reduced the HTT setting to 310 and were able to complete our game benchmarks, Prime95, and SuperPI but 3DMark05 would fail. Finally, at a HTT setting of 312 with a 9X CPU multiplier the system would pass our test suite three consecutive times. We witnessed oddities like this throughout our testing regimen and are still investigating this issue.
While this BIOS update certainly did not generate the type of overclocking improvements some enthusiasts were expecting or demand, it has improved. In fact, we're able to boot into settings that were not possible before for both a system POST and Windows XP startup. These incremental changes could mean the difference between reaching or exceeding a 300HTT level with the memory at a 1:1 ratio and a command rate of 1T. Now that the DFI CFX3200 and Abit AT8-32X are available, it will be interesting to see how well the ASUS board measures against two companies known for their BIOS and overclocking skills.
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cornfedone - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
It's been known by experienced PC builders for several years that Asus has been shipping mobos with a laundry lists of defects. This has been documented by any number of hardware review sites and hundreds of thousands of consumers. In addition Asus has been completely arrogant about these defective products, failing to properly fix or replace them and completely ignoring their customers after they were duped in to purchasing these defective products via misleading advertising and bogus reviews of hand-picked mobos.Asus needs a good class action lawsuit costing them a few hundred million dollars to get their act together and stop defrauding consumers. As long as people buy the defective products Asus has been shipping there is no incentive for Asus to sell properly functioning products. Asus has been on a downhill spiral since they launched the defective SLI series and every model mobo since seems to have major issues including vcore, memory, BIOS, etc. this is simply unacceptable for ANY mobo, let alone mobos being sold at a premium price and being marketed as "designed for serious overclockers" - which is blatant fraud IMNHO.
Until foolish sheep stop buying these defective mobos Asus won't provide a properly functioning Mobo.
phusg - Monday, April 24, 2006 - link
What SLI mobo manufacturer do you recommend then? I agree motherboards shouldn't be brought onto the market when they are nowhere near mature, but I doubt ASUS is alone in this...classy - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
When I see the results from overclocking it really makes one wonder why AMD is moving to ddr2 at this time. It is clear that there is still much life and very healthy life at that in ddr if amd went with a higher fsb.Gambit2K - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
They never answeared the question if the new bios fixed the problems people are having with soundblaster cards, the boot, the hickup issues most people are having. I recently flashed the 0404 bios and the hickup and the cold boot issues remains.Oh and I can't overclock my Samsung TCCD 10 mhz over stock, tried just about every bios setting there is. On my DFI Ultra-D my ram did 275-280 mhz without me even tweaking any of the settings.
When I buy a board I expect my computer to be able to restart and post 100% of the times, not 50-75% of the times too. I'll give ASUS until Conroe arrives to fix all of the issues or im selling the board and going on the intel train.
Gary Key - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
The SB X-FI needs to uninstalled when utilizing the Asus update program for bios changes, there is still a driver issue between the two items. I have a new set of X-FI beta drivers I will try shortly.
The only boot issue that remains in our testing is a limitation of the chipset when changing the HT multipliers. The board still requires a power down but this occurs on other ATI chipset boards. The warm reboot issue and power up issue with an overclocked setting was solved (at least for us and many others) with the 0311 bios.
We have no longer have the pauses in games with either the dual-core or single-core CPUs since the 0311 bios.
Actually, Samsung TCCD memory was our memory of choice on this board for overclocking. Email us and we will see if we can assist you.
ElFenix - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
pauses in games?i get pauses in movies and games with my A8R-MVP, i wonder if the fix that they applied here works and has been applied to the first A8R?
InuYasha - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
pow! right in the kisserFireTech - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
Can't wait for the DFI & ABIT test results....goinginstyle - Friday, April 21, 2006 - link
Hopefully the DFI/Abit reviews will show this kind of detail in overclocking and system settings. Really enjoyed the article and it is about time someone showed the effects overclocking the system has on gaming. Where are the min/max numbers? Your articles usually have those in the gaming scores.Marlowe - Thursday, April 20, 2006 - link
I've got the Sapphire A9RD580 PURE Crossfire here.. looks great, but very complicated to overclock.. I might just be very noobish though.. since it's my first AMD64 system.Board suffers from not having any supported voltage/temp monitoring programs tho.