Asus Crosshair II AM2+ Motherboard
3D Benchmarks
Published: 15th June 2008 | Source: ASUS | Price: £180.00 |
Note: For the 3D gaming and benchmarks we will be using both single and dual 9800GX2's to both test the Crosshair's function and the scalability of Quad SLI on this motherboard. We shall also endeavour to see how much of a bottleneck the AMD Phenom processor is for the 9800GX2.
3DMark® Vantage is the new industry standard PC gaming performance benchmark from Futuremark, newly designed for Windows Vista and DirectX10. It includes two new graphics tests, two new CPU tests, several new feature tests, and support for the latest hardware. 3DMark® Vantage is based on a completely new rendering engine, developed specifically to take full advantage of DirectX10, the new graphics API from Microsoft.
3DMark® 06 is a popular synthetic gaming benchmark used by many gamers and overclockers to gauge the performance of their PC's taking advantage of todays multi CPU and GPU performance. All 3DMark runs were performed a total of 5 times with the highest and lowest results being removed and an average calculated from the remaining 3 results.
Crysis is without doubt one of the most visually stunning and hardware challenging games to date. By using CrysisBench - a tool developed independently of Crysis - we performed a total of 5 timedemo benchmarks using a GPU-Intensive pre-recorded demo. To ensure the most accurate results, the highest and lowest benchmarks scores were then removed and an average calculated from the remaining three.
Bioshock is a recent FPS shooter by 2K games. Based on the UT3 engine it has a large amount of advanced DirectX techniques including excellent water rendering and superb lighting and smoke techniques. All results were recorded using F.R.A.P.S with a total of 5 identical runs through the same area of the game. The highest and lowest results were then removed, with an average being calculated from the remaining 3 results.
Call of Duty 4 is a stunning DirectX 9.0c based game that really looks awesome and has a very full feature set. With lots of advanced lighting, smoke and water effects, the game has excellent explosions along with fast gameplay. Using the in-built Call Of Duty features, a 10 minute long gameplay demo was recorded and replayed on each of the GPU's using the /timedemo command a total of 5 times. The highest and lowest FPS results were then removed, with an average being calculated from the remaining 3 results.
Observations
It's quite clear that we are CPU limited in the Futuremark tests, scoring very low in comparison to Intel based CPU's. Still, the SLI proved worthwhile in 3DMark Vantage giving nearly a 25% increase. COD 4 showed some of the biggest gains to be had with SLI allowing an increase of almost a third in FPS, with Bioshock also showing good gains. Crysis on the other hand showed little to no gains in SLI which I found surprising. I checked, double checked and triple checked along with trying 3 different sets of drivers and 3 more Vista installs(!) but to no avail. Whether this is a CPU limitation or a platform limitation I couldn't tell you but similar problems have been discussed around the web on various platforms which leads me to suspect its most likely a driver issue that is STILL to be resolved.
I also gave the onboard VGA a quick test to see how it could cope with a quick blast of COD 4 and although I had to dramatically lower the res (1024x768) and turn off the goodies, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could attain a respectable 40 FPS! I shouldn't really be too surprised considering its based on the 8400 chip but on-board VGA has never been so good!
So, a mixed bag of results. I still get the nagging feeling that the AMD CPU is holding back many of the scores, especially SLI so it begs the questions should you even bother with SLI on an AMD based platform, head over to the conclusion to read my thoughts on that....
Most Recent Comments
Very good review! Not really that good a board? 
Only 11k on 3DMark06 with a 9800GX2?
Only 11k on 3DMark06 with a 9800GX2?
It's an AM2 board mate
That is some pricey board right there whoa
That is some pricey board right there whoa
Hybrid SLI working yet chaps?
Good review as always, nice work Rich.
Good review as always, nice work Rich.
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Originally Posted by name='Toxcity'
Very good review! Not really that good a board?
Only 11k on 3DMark06 with a 9800GX2? |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
It's an AM2 board mate
That is some pricey board right there whoa |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Azza'
Hybrid SLI working yet chaps?
Good review as always, nice work Rich. |
I tested the on board VGA's capabilities more indepth in the 780a preview hence it's sparse inclusion in the actual motherboard review.
nice looking board, and good review
nice to see AMD fans arnt left out of the current market, all this new tech spring up left, right, and center, its good to see Asus havent just left AMD behind..
nice to see AMD fans arnt left out of the current market, all this new tech spring up left, right, and center, its good to see Asus havent just left AMD behind..
Great review.
Futuremark`s benchies are flawed in this way. Just as u take a Q6600 cpu out of ur mobo and drop in a QX9650, ur score will change, but if u look at the performance of games.... I could steal ur QX9650, replacing it with a Q6600 and u`d be none-the-wizer 
However, breaking their scores down, minus the CPU score would have been a good recording. Particularly in comparison with Intel mobos maybe.
Looking at the mobo as a whole, including the onboard stuff, input/outputs, I think it`s great. Price wize tho, it`s definately not a winner.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Toxcity'
Very good review! Not really that good a board?
Only 11k on 3DMark06 with a 9800GX2? |
However, breaking their scores down, minus the CPU score would have been a good recording. Particularly in comparison with Intel mobos maybe.
Looking at the mobo as a whole, including the onboard stuff, input/outputs, I think it`s great. Price wize tho, it`s definately not a winner.
Hi
Nice Crosshair II Formula presentation.
I just want to point a small mistake made by Rich Weatherstone, on his review.
I'm sure he eared about TBL bug on Phenom B2's, and how it could be fixed.
Well, some board's have the ability to disable the patch from bios, however even when this patch are disabled in bios, Vista (x86/x64) SP1 overrides it, and apply it by it's self, meaning a poor CPU performance, only using a small software program can make this patch disabled, allowing full CPU performance.
Since it have no reference to TBL bug, and from the 9800GX2 SLI 3DMark06, it's obvious that he didn't disabled the TBL patch, making all benchmarks suffer from CPU performance.
As you can see in my Sig I achieved with the same board, a Phenom 9500 (B2)@3000 and 8600GT SLI GPU's, 12589 in 3DMark06 in Vista.
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7...008600gad5.jpg
I hope Mr Rich Weatherstone correct his review, to be fair about real Phenom/nForce780a/9800GX2 SLI performance.
All the best...
Paulo
Nice Crosshair II Formula presentation.
I just want to point a small mistake made by Rich Weatherstone, on his review.
I'm sure he eared about TBL bug on Phenom B2's, and how it could be fixed.
Well, some board's have the ability to disable the patch from bios, however even when this patch are disabled in bios, Vista (x86/x64) SP1 overrides it, and apply it by it's self, meaning a poor CPU performance, only using a small software program can make this patch disabled, allowing full CPU performance.
Test Setup
...
A fresh copy of Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit with SP1 installed along with the most recent drivers then applied. No applications/programs apart from the ones used in benchmarking were installed to ensure a totally clean fair environment to which you can base your comparisons.
Since it have no reference to TBL bug, and from the 9800GX2 SLI 3DMark06, it's obvious that he didn't disabled the TBL patch, making all benchmarks suffer from CPU performance.
As you can see in my Sig I achieved with the same board, a Phenom 9500 (B2)@3000 and 8600GT SLI GPU's, 12589 in 3DMark06 in Vista.
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7...008600gad5.jpg
I hope Mr Rich Weatherstone correct his review, to be fair about real Phenom/nForce780a/9800GX2 SLI performance.
All the best...
Paulo
That screenie shows 12k+ with an 8600gt! What the heck is all that about ?
Off the top of my head, replacing the gpu card will gain so many 1000 more points..
What I`m thinking is, with a x9650 and 8800gt, clocked air-wize, I get a biscuit under 15k.
12k+ a 8800gt instead of a 8600gt has to pass 14k surely.
If that`s correct, that`s outstanding.
Off the top of my head, replacing the gpu card will gain so many 1000 more points..
What I`m thinking is, with a x9650 and 8800gt, clocked air-wize, I get a biscuit under 15k.
12k+ a 8800gt instead of a 8600gt has to pass 14k surely.
If that`s correct, that`s outstanding.
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Originally Posted by name='Rastalovich'
That screenie shows 12k+ with an 8600gt! What the heck is all that about ?
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Off the top of my head, replacing the gpu card will gain so many 1000 more points..
What I`m thinking is, with a x9650 and 8800gt, clocked air-wize, I get a biscuit under 15k.
12k+ a 8800gt instead of a 8600gt has to pass 14k surely.
If that`s correct, that`s outstanding.
I have tested one 8800GT on a different board (790FX) and the max achieved was 13k+.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8...0613486dd9.jpg
But if you are planning to go SLI 15k+ are doable
Ah yes SLI, ofc.
12k+, almost 13, with 2x8600 is still darn good in my book.
12k+, almost 13, with 2x8600 is still darn good in my book.
The only AM2 we have in our possession at OC3D towers is the 9600phenom and unforunately it's a very poor overclocker. So as the review shows, having quad sli makes very little difference when the clockspeed, and therefore the processing power is so poor.
I will however give the TBL patch a try even though it was disabled in the Bios and amend the review if needed.
I will however give the TBL patch a try even though it was disabled in the Bios and amend the review if needed.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='webbo'
The only AM2 we have in our possession at OC3D towers is the 9600phenom and unforunately it's a very poor overclocker. So as the review shows, having quad sli makes very little difference when the clockspeed, and therefore the processing power is so poor.
I will however give the TBL patch a try even though it was disabled in the Bios and amend the review if needed. |
Even if you disable TBL patch in BIOS, Vista SP1 will enable it after loaded.
You can read here, how to disable it with Sam2008 tool.
The best way to check if TBL is or isn't enable, is using Winrar benching tool, if your score is ~300 it's enable, normal score when disable is >1000.
You will notice a better 3D performance, even with low CPU clock.
Paulo
Or better yet grab a Phenom 9850. This board was made for that CPU.
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Originally Posted by name='PP Mguire'
Or better yet grab a Phenom 9850. This board was made for that CPU.
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Anyway a B3 CPU don't have the TBL bug, so it can be used with Vista's SP1 OS, avoiding the problem.
Be well
The 9850s still perform alot better and an enthusiast board is made for the enthusiast cpu for that socket which happens to be the 9850 BE. The AMD Phenoms arent that bad, they just arent that good either. And Quad SLI is heavily CPU bottlenecked even with a QX9650 @ 4.0ghz (As well as SLI and Tri SLI 280s) then it will be moreso with a 9850 or 9600. (B3 and B2)
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='PP Mguire'
The 9850s still perform alot better and an enthusiast board is made for the enthusiast cpu for that socket which happens to be the 9850 BE. The AMD Phenoms arent that bad, they just arent that good either. And Quad SLI is heavily CPU bottlenecked even with a QX9650 @ 4.0ghz (As well as SLI and Tri SLI 280s) then it will be moreso with a 9850 or 9600. (B3 and B2)
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My B2 9500 goes at +3000 and my 3rd B3 9850BE only goes at 2800, on this board. 1st did 3100(not stable) and the 2nd 2600 on DFI 790FX board.
Thats odd cause most all 9850s are getting around 3.0ghz standard.
We will try and get a better 'bug free' AM2 chip for future reviews and the crosshair II will hopefully be benched again before comparisons are drawn.
Im sure there will be some performance increase but i dont expect alot. Its sorta like these other sites doing reviews of monster video cards with crap CPUs and then say the GPU sucks when its clearly being bottlenecked by the CPU.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='webbo'
We will try and get a better 'bug free' AM2 chip for future reviews and the crosshair II will hopefully be benched again before comparisons are drawn.
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You dont need, but if you will, you can take the new 9950BE and kill 2 rabbits with 1 stroke, hehehe
Be well
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Asus Crosshair II Review - By Rich Weatherstone