ASUS Maximus Extreme - the Extreme Benchmarker's Choice?
by Rajinder Gill on December 10, 2007 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Setup
| ASUS Maximus
Extreme Standard Testbed |
|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Quad
Q6600 Quad-core, 2.4GHz, 2x4MB Unified Cache, 9x Multiplier, 1066FSB |
| CPU Voltage | 1.200V |
| Cooling | Thermalright 120 Extreme |
| Power Supply | OCZ 1000W |
| Memory | Corsair CM3x1024-1800C7D (4GB) |
| Memory Settings | 4-4-4-12 1N (DDR3-1066 Base) |
| Video Cards | MSI HD X2900 XT 512MB |
| Video Drivers | ATI Catalyst 7.10 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 7200RPM 750GB SATA 3/Gbps 16MB Buffer |
| Optical Drives | Plextor PX-B900A, Toshiba SD-H802A |
| Case | CoolerMaster Stacker 830 Evo |
| BIOS | 0803 |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit |
| . | |
| ASUS Maximus
Extreme Quad-Core Overclocking / Benchmark Testbed |
|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 Quad-core, 2.93GHz, 2x4MB Shared Cache, 11x Multiplier, 1066FSB |
| CPU Voltage | 1.275V |
| Cooling | Swiftech Apogee GTX, Thermochill PA120.3 radiator, dual Laing DDC Ultra pumps in series, 1/2" ID (3/4" OD) Tygon tubing, 3x Panaflo 120x38mm fans @ 7-12v in push configuration |
| Power Supply | OCZ Pro Xstream 1000w, PCP&C 1200w |
| Memory | OCZ DDR3 PC3-14400 (DDR-1800) Platinum Edition (2G/4GB) |
| Memory Settings | 4-4-4-12 1N (DDR3-1066 Base) |
| Video Cards | MSI 8800 Ultra (660/1050 for Overclocking) |
| Video Drivers | NVIDIA 169.09 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 7200RPM 250GB - WD2500KS |
| Optical Drives | Plextor PX-755A |
| Case | CoolerMaster Stacker 830 Evo |
| BIOS | 0803 |
| Operating System | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
| . | |
We decided to use our base QX6800 CPU with our standard tests run on the 9x multiplier to simulate the attractively priced Q6600 CPU and to match previous benchmark results. In this section of testing, we aim to remain within realistic cooling capacity temperatures and current CPU stepping capabilities. This better shows an overall picture of motherboard performance potential using widely available parts. With such a vast array of overclocking BIOS functions at our disposal, we decided to stick with a single operating system environment.
We selected Microsoft Windows XP SP2 due to its maturity, taking away some of the time burden looking for possible software level conflicts that may exist on a newer OS (though we ventured to run our standard Vista test suite for the non-overclocking benchmarks). This does not mean the board cannot work with Vista when overclocking; we are just trying to eliminate possible downtime on non-motherboard/BIOS related issues. There's also the fact that a vast majority of overclocking enthusiasts have not switched to Vista (yet).
We ran 1280x1024 resolution game benchmark tests in order to cross-compare CPU MHz related gains in our board specific tests. We utilize new drive images on each board in order to minimize any potential driver conflicts. Our 3DMark results utilize the standard benchmark resolution for each program. We run each benchmark five times, throw out the two low and high scores, and report the remaining score to reflect a repeatable average. We limited our standard Vista test suite to a few benchmark results to indicate the general performance of this board when compared to current P35 motherboards.
Since the ASUS Maximus Extreme is for the overclocker and gamer as opposed to your typical internet browsing activities, we decided to take a different look at this board and focus on overclocking for this particular article with results compared to the P35/X38 motherboards we have reviewed recently. Memory timings used for the tests are as follows: 9x266 = 4-4-4-12 1N, 9x333 = 5-5-5-15 1N and 9x400 = 6-6-6-15 1N.
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27 Comments
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markglh - Sunday, January 13, 2008 - link
Does the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extremem fit ok on this motherboard in a position so that it blows air out of the case? I was worried that the fusion waterblock and the heatsink at the top of the board might be too tall.thanks.
astronaute - Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - link
Can someone explain please why in BIOS screenshots we can see FSB 400 and QX6600 FSB is more then 1000 ?Sorry if my question is stupid :)
Rajinder Gill - Sunday, December 30, 2007 - link
The BIOS screenshots shown are provided only to illustrate which BIOS functions are available for the user. They have no direct correlation whatsoever with a Q6600 or it's FSB.regards
Raja
qquizz - Thursday, December 13, 2007 - link
With a name like Maximus Extreme the board better be one bad mofo, err... i mean mobo.Zak - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
Something's not right, C2D Extreme and 8800Ultra??? I get over 12000 in 3D Mark 2006 with a $99 Gigabyte mobo, 3GHz C2D @3.8Ghz with Tuniq Tower, 800MHz DDR2 and 8800GTX slightly overclocked.Z.
Azured - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
No that seems allright. The test is run with a Q6600 (actually a QX6850 with a lower multiplier to simulate the Q6600) at stock 2.4GHz. considerably slower than your C2D at 3.8GHz.Zak - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
Oh, I must have misread something then, thanks:)Z.
takumsawsherman - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
Now this blows me away. $350 and still no Firewire800! How much money should you have to pay before you get a feature that was commercially introduced 4 years ago. Instead, you get the slower variant that first saw real action 8 years ago. What's next, USB 1.1?Maybe I didn't read the Newegg price tag correctly, but if I did, this is a travesty. And of course, no room for a PS/2 mouse port. I mean, a single PS/2 port, in a non-standard position. At first, it may seem to be no big deal, but why make it different that almost every other config? So when muscle-memory leads you blindy around the back of the case when you install a keyboard, you have to hunt around more. Not to mention that most PS/2 devices are pretty static in that people aren't switching them all the time. USB, on the other hand, is more frequently connected and disconnected. Having the PS/2 keyboard plugged in gives you limited room to change USB stuff, especially if you have another USB device plugged in. If the PS/2 port was on the bottom, you can stack a USB connector on top and still have finger room to add or remove another, without risking disconnection of another cable (PS/2 for example).
A ridiculous board, at a ridiculous price.
retrospooty - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
not to burst your bubble but, Firewire 800 is never going to take off. Before it got started it was surpassed and totally obsoleted by eSATA. You wont ever see it as a standard feature on even high end motherboards. If you have use for it, you need to by an adaptor card for it.Etern205 - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
Yes, eSATA is faster than Firewire 800 which is why eSATA is gaining popularity than Fire800. As for only 1 PS/2 port, if those articles or rumors are correct, then by the time ICH10 comes out we'll not see anymore PS/2 ports or PCI slots.In a question unrelated to this article, for those of you that have a usb wireless mouse or keyboard are you able to switch between the OSes if you guy have a dual or mult-boot system?
Thanks!