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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takumsawsherman - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - link
This is not really true, as Firewire800 has been out for some time, and eSATA is still not widely available. As for the comment above yours, Firewire800 is used in many media applications, and won't likely be eliminated soon (digital camera backs come to mind). And this doesn't answer my proposition that for $350, Firewire800 rather than Firewire400 should have been included. Why bother with the slower interface when you are paying for a "premium" product?I am sure that some manufacturers will be happy to see Firewire800 die. Heck, I'm sure they'd be happy if there was never a Firewire400, and we all used USB 1.1. After all, it's cheaper by 2 or 3 bucks, and that's what matters to them. Meanwhile, despite claims of durability, eSATA is still a weak connector, which is why you will still see photographers taking shots tethered to a Firewire800 bus when they're on location for years to come, rather than a eSATA connection.
For $350, they can add Firewire800. Heck, the price is just shy of 1/3 of a fully assembled iMac that includes Firewire800. Just for the motherboard.
retrospooty - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - link
"Firewire800 has been out for some time, and eSATA is still not widely available"Yes it is widely available. It has been on nearly every high end and many mid range motherboards for over a year. Also, every major external drive maker has eSATA models... Not many fw800 at all.
I am not trying to flame you or anything, but firewire 800 isnt going to happen, not like fw400 did. At the time fw400 was the best interface. Now we have eSATA for hard drives and USB 3.0 coming in a year or two. FW800 is dead Jim.... its dead.
takumsawsherman - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - link
I still don't see any media-based hardware that has eSATA. Much more firewire on that front. In fact, besides Hard Drive enclosures, I have not seen anything at all with eSATA.And again, if it is dead, why bother putting FW400 in? I mean, might as well save the user $5 from their $350 and eliminate it. Or, give them FW800 like you should have.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - link
I'd imagine it's there just so they can have a checkmark next to "Firewire" in the comparison sheets. The only Firewire device I have ever used is our microscope camera, which I believe was designed prior to USB 2.0.I wouldn't say the eSata connector is weak, but the lack of flexibility in the cables is an annoyance.
takumsawsherman - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - link
Ok, well I still haven't used a eSATA device. I have used an external SATA enclosure, as MOBO makers decided to start out with external SATA connectors and I've used a FW800 device that also has an eSATA port (Newer Technology ministack v3), but of course, the Mac it is attached to does not have eSATA. I'm happy they included it, though.The point still remains that at $350 they give you the old generation firewire instead of the new.
retrospooty - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - link
Are there any motherboards with fw800 built in (other than maybe MAC)? just curious.takumsawsherman - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - link
OK, my post ended up as a reply to the wrong post. Sorry.retrospooty - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
Yes, USB kb/mice work in dos mode via a bios setting. just enable it.Etern205 - Monday, December 10, 2007 - link
I'm taking about wireless. Are you talking about wireless or wired?If it's wired then yes you'll have enable usb support for DOS if you want to use it.
strikeback03 - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - link
My Bluetooth keyboard works now, however when I first installed Ubuntu I had the BIOS setting disabled, and the keyboard never worked in GRUB thereafter. Was not until I reinstalled with the BIOS setting enabled that I got the keyboard working in GRUB.Works in the BIOS regardless of the setting.