ECS P55H-AK: P55/NF200 Versus X58 In 3-Way SLI

[Crashman]

We’ve seen how three-way SLI boosts gaming performance, but do we really need X58's PCI Express connectivity to realize those gains? Using three GTX 480s, we pit the latest P55/NF200 solution from ECS against a powerful X58-based incumbent to find out.

ECS P55H-AK: P55/NF200 Versus X58 In 3-Way SLI : Read more

 

[TheRockMonsi]

Well, if I'm shocked at anything, it's that the P55 platform actually outdid the x58 on some benchmarks. From a pure video card usage's perspective, you really won't be missing out on anything going for the P55 over the x58.

And while this makes the P55 look good, what really sucks - if you're looking into the longevity of the P55 motherboards anyway - is that the new "Sandy Bridge" CPU's coming out in 2011 will feature a 1155 socket instead of an 1156, which means upgrading to a new motherboard.

 

[rmmil978]

Very interesting reading, a bit shocked at the outcome. P55 can really be a viable alternative to X58 after all, even for the enthusiast crowd.

 

[adbat]

Yes the 1156 platform is going bye bye it's realy sad.
But i think that it shows that moving PCIa to CPU die is not a good idea as P55 with additional chip wins in the end - even the power usage test.

 

[Crashman]

[citation][nom]adbat[/nom]Yes the 1156 platform is going bye bye it's realy sad.But i think that it shows that moving PCIa to CPU die is not a good idea as P55 with additional chip wins in the end - even the power usage test.[/citation]Remember that in this case, the additional chip is acting as a signal repeater. That is to say, you really don't need more than sixteen lanes from the CPU, for optimal SLI performance you only need those same 16 lanes to feed all graphics cards simultaneously.

 

[tacoslave]

[citation][nom]TheRockMonsi[/nom]Well, if I'm shocked at anything, it's that the P55 platform actually outdid the x58 on some benchmarks. From a pure video card usage's perspective, you really won't be missing out on anything going for the P55 over the x58.And while this makes the P55 look good, what really sucks - if you're looking into the longevity of the P55 motherboards anyway - is that the new "Sandy Bridge" CPU's coming out in 2011 will feature a 1155 socket instead of an 1156, which means upgrading to a new motherboard.[/citation]
yeah i hate how they took of one pin just to f@#$ with us.

 

[compton]

What an awesome board ECS has put together. I'd like to see a full review of this board - I'm intrigued with the effort ECS has put it to make what seems like a excellent piece of gear. Perhaps this will result in the trickle down effect if ECS is successful, that is, maybe starting at the high end will result in better mid- and low- range boards.

 

[Guest]

Nvidia does not seem to be bothered by continuing production of 65nm NF200. Would like to know if there is any R&D into a die-shrink to 40nm or less.

 

[martel80]

[citation][nom]tacoslave[/nom]yeah i hate how they took of one pin just to f@#$ with us.[/citation]IIRC they didn't just take out one pin but they also redesigned how clocking of the CPU works. 1155 CPUs will have their own clock generator (as opposed to 1156's board-generated clock) and the board needs to support this. They could possibly hack-around this but why would they bother? Sheep will always buy the latest Intel stuff no matter what.

 

[BoxBabaX]

This is an excellent article, nice analysis that I enjoyed reading before bed .

 

[dogman_1234]

Now let all the trolls come out about the LGA 1155 release!
Seriously, as a respective consumer to Intel, i have began to dislike their practices. Why do I not want SB? Hmmm...good question, same reason I do not want P55..short live and full of disaster!

 

[xrodney]

[citation][nom]Crashman[/nom]Remember that in this case, the additional chip is acting as a signal repeater. That is to say, you really don't need more than sixteen lanes from the CPU, for optimal SLI performance you only need those same 16 lanes to feed all graphics cards simultaneously.[/citation]
Except that enthusiast use more then just GPU in those PCI-e slots, add things like raid controller, some audio/video processing units and in case you share lines performance is going down to drain.

 

[sprunth]

[citation][nom]BoxBabaX[/nom]This is an excellent article, nice analysis that I enjoyed reading before bed .[/citation]

I agree, nicely done!
Results were interesting, especially with P55 outdoing X58 on lower resolutions...although even 5-10 fps isn't noticeable above 70 frames...so more just technical efficiency.

Hopefully SandyBridge will pull off some nice benchmarks, these cards are probably going to push cpu bottlenecks more and more.

 

[Stardude82]

[citation][nom]dogman_1234[/nom]Now let all the trolls come out about the LGA 1155 release!Seriously, as a respective consumer to Intel, i have began to dislike their practices. Why do I not want SB? Hmmm...good question, same reason I do not want P55..short live and full of disaster![/citation]

In the years when AMD was leading in preformance, they made 3 mainstream socket changes in 4 years (not even counting some awful FX stuff) ; socket A, 754, 939, and AM2 between 03-06. I think socket 1156 lasting for 2 years is about average. If you are upset about that, imagine how I felt when AMD abruptly abandoned Slot A! Kids today are so spoiled with their backwards compatible CPU's!

But then, not all too long ago, there were 4+ chip-makers making chips for one common socket..

 

[marraco]

... but the X58 also run crossfire

 

[Blink]

Stop moving things on the charts! You have Dual SLI, Tri Sli, X58, and P55 moving up and down on the charts. That makes it more difficult to compare.

 

[garyshome]

I've have had two ECS boards and they have worked well. They were both low cost and gave me no trouble at all. One which I am using now for http was $20.00 after rebate.

 

[lkalbert]

Yes, I agree with the article that it will be hard to change minds about brands. My Asus P6x58D Premium has been so darn reliable, stable, fast, and overclockable, more so than any other motherboard I have tried (and I have had many over the years), that it will take an earthquake to make me change it.

 

[jjchmiel78]

I got a P55 socket 1156 (base model on newegg currently at $80) for $40 off ebay. I put this together with other bargain price shopping parts and have a screaming office computer. The features it does have is all I need and the bios takes less than 1/4 of the time that my main expensive computer with an Asus board does. It is a solid board that works very well and I even do casual gaming with it (Civ 5 mostly) I like this board a hell of a lot more than (at the time) expensive Gigabyte board (socket 775). That experience turned me away from Gigabyte for ever.

 

[tx-jose]

i never thought a P55 could perform so well even under the 1156 socket lol

 

[zxcvbnm44]

[citation][nom]tacoslave[/nom]yeah i hate how they took of one pin just to f@#$ with us.[/citation]
Yes. Which reminds me of Meet The Spy.

Scout: "What're you? President of his fan-club?"
Spy: "No... that would be your mother!"
[The Spy reveals a folder and slaps it down on the table, revealing several compromising photographs of the RED Spy and the Scout's Mother.]
Scout: [stammers out of shock and disbelief]
Spy: Indeed, and now he's here to us! So listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing that happens to you today."

We can logically conclude that Intel is in fact... THE RED SPY!!!

Well, ode to the LGA 1156!

 

[arkadi]

And the point is? NF200 main boards starts at 199 usd...you can get x58 for less than that...why any one will pay that much 4 p55?

 

[jestersage]

ECS? Enthusiast hardware? Man, that used to be an oxymoron. Now? Well, I am still skeptical though I've had an ECS g31 in the missus' PC for 2 years now and it's rock stable, reliable and, well... stock. Kudos to ECS but I'll wait.

 

[nforce4max]

[citation][nom]Stardude82[/nom]In the years when AMD was leading in preformance, they made 3 mainstream socket changes in 4 years (not even counting some awful FX stuff) ; socket A, 754, 939, and AM2 between 03-06. I think socket 1156 lasting for 2 years is about average. If you are upset about that, imagine how I felt when AMD abruptly abandoned Slot A! Kids today are so spoiled with their backwards compatible CPU's!But then, not all too long ago, there were 4+ chip-makers making chips for one common socket..[/citation]

Imagine that socket 5/7 had three times the useful life before the last cpu rolled off the production line.

 

[Stardude82]

[citation][nom]nforce4max[/nom]Imagine that socket 5/7 had three times the useful life before the last cpu rolled off the production line.[/citation]

I thought by now everything would be SOC and motherboards would be little more than fancy USB/PCI hubs.