µATX Part 2: Intel G33 Performance Review
by Gary Key on September 27, 2007 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
ASUS P5K-VM: Overclocking
Our best results with the integrated graphics solutions was a final benchmark stable setting of 9x333 FSB resulting in a clock speed of 2999MHz. However, this required a CPU voltage setting of 1.425V, and memory remaining at DDR2-800.
Our best results with the E2160 and with an external graphics card was a final benchmark stable setting of 9x320 FSB resulting in a clock speed of 2881MHz with a CPU voltage setting of 1.35V. We were able to run our memory at DDR2-961 with timings of 5-5-5-18 at 2.1V. This pattern was continued with the other G33 boards. Due to strap and chipset timing changes within the BIOS, we could not run our E2160 higher than a 333FSB without locking up the board. We did modify another E2160 to run natively at 1066FSB and did reach a final 9x385 FSB setting.
We were able to run the E6550 up to 7x485 FSB on 1.425V and memory at DDR2-970 with 2.10V. Memory timings were set to 5-5-5-15. Vdrop/Vdroop was very good on this board with an average of .02V ~.03V difference during load conditions.
Our Q6600 was able to make it to 9x400 with voltage settings around 1.40V to 1.425V. The board would actually reach around 435FSB with this particular CPU but we were already at the limits of our cooling solution at the 9x400 setting. Memory had to remain at a 1:1 ratio resulting in DDR2-800 settings with 4-4-4-12 timings.
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| Click to enlarge |
Our best results with the integrated graphics solutions was a final benchmark stable setting of 9x333 FSB resulting in a clock speed of 2999MHz. However, this required a CPU voltage setting of 1.425V, and memory remaining at DDR2-800.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Our best results with the E2160 and with an external graphics card was a final benchmark stable setting of 9x320 FSB resulting in a clock speed of 2881MHz with a CPU voltage setting of 1.35V. We were able to run our memory at DDR2-961 with timings of 5-5-5-18 at 2.1V. This pattern was continued with the other G33 boards. Due to strap and chipset timing changes within the BIOS, we could not run our E2160 higher than a 333FSB without locking up the board. We did modify another E2160 to run natively at 1066FSB and did reach a final 9x385 FSB setting.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
We were able to run the E6550 up to 7x485 FSB on 1.425V and memory at DDR2-970 with 2.10V. Memory timings were set to 5-5-5-15. Vdrop/Vdroop was very good on this board with an average of .02V ~.03V difference during load conditions.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Our Q6600 was able to make it to 9x400 with voltage settings around 1.40V to 1.425V. The board would actually reach around 435FSB with this particular CPU but we were already at the limits of our cooling solution at the 9x400 setting. Memory had to remain at a 1:1 ratio resulting in DDR2-800 settings with 4-4-4-12 timings.
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sprockkets - Friday, September 28, 2007 - link
Sad how an AMD 7050 board can be had for $80, $40 cheaper with the same features. It is the premium you pay for having dvi.Oddly enough too is that the Gigabyte board you quote doesn't use all solid caps yet the lower end board does. And of course, they didn't bother with solid caps on their new AMD boards period, cause "AMD is second tier."
tayhimself - Thursday, September 27, 2007 - link
Preposterous!! Why do they even bother making this junk without DVI. More and more I find that I don't want a leet board that overclocks 100 Mhz higher but a stable board with the right features. -sigh-8steve8 - Thursday, September 27, 2007 - link
and on top of it, these igp's are not suited well for gaming or videos,,, (the two applications where you may not notice the difference between a digital and analog interface), so they will be used for text/office work... an application where the discrepancies in the user-experience of analog vs digital interfaces with an LCD are undeniable.again, great article.,, but in the end, I sort of wonder why waste ur time exploring these boards when your time is better spent on solutions that deserve our money?
JarredWalton - Thursday, September 27, 2007 - link
I think both of those G33 + SDVO models launched long after Gary had started work on this uATX stuff. Good to see that some people are including the necessary chip, as uATX without DVI is simply unacceptable. Unfortunately, testing some of this stuff takes a lot more time than we would like. We're working to address that, however.jenli - Thursday, September 27, 2007 - link
I would love to see a review of motherboards with igpthat can be converted to raid servers by using the lone
pcie 16x slot.
Have fun,
CK804 - Thursday, September 27, 2007 - link
I'm doing exactly what you mention with an Intel DG965RY. I have an Areca ARC-1210 fitted in there with 3 320GB WD Caviar SE16s in RAID 5.