Shootout at the Core 2 Corral: Seven P965 Motherboards Compared

[pschmid]

Launched as a companion to Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, the P965 chipset can be found in a range of products, from fancy to inexpensive. In this review, seven motherboards from six manufacturers compete for your buying dollar.

 

[zjohnr]

I was not able to follow the link in your post. Got "Page Not Found - Error 404".
Edit: Think the problem was on my end. At any rate it's gone. Ignore me.

 

[mr_fnord]

Pricing from Newegg as of right now:

BIOSTAR TForce965PT Socket T - $104.99 No deluxe on newegg, ICH8 instead of ICH8R...
MSI P965 Platinum - $134.99
Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H - $99.99
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DQ6 - $197.99
Abit AB9-Pro - $145.99
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 - $146.99
ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP - $224.99

There is an openbox special on the P5B which makes it a good deal if you need WiFi:
Open Box: ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP - $139.99

 

[GRIP]

After I read the whole thing, I have one question? Why couldn't you guys raise the FSB above 334/358 on the gigabyte ds3? My E6400 is benchstable at 430MHz FSB on stock cooling.

 

[pinguim]

What a bad article! I've been reading all over the internet and magazines about how good a overclocker GIGABYTE GA-965P-DQ6 is and to you it sucks? Have you considered doing a bios flash? There have been 4 bios releases since the one you used!!!
Either the author knows nothing about the subject or is doing on purpose to beneficiate other brands!
SHAME ON YOU!

 

[rquinn19]

they also said the p5b was a moderate (dont quote me on the exact word used) overclocker. the bios they used only goes up to 500 fsb and my 6300 boots into windows at 500 fsb and can complete every benchmark but orthos due to my ram i believe. it is completely stable at 457 fsb 3.2ghz

 

[mr_fnord]

I concurificate, the author must be trying to beneficiate some competitorizing brands of computerizification hardware. Such faltificatacity in journalizatifying cannot be permitted to standificate.

 

[PSYCHoHoLiC]

I agree with GRIP, my DS3 is benchable and stable at 465FSB on stock voltages, at that point it's held back by my memory which wont do over 930.


They probably used some kind of crappy ram, I didnt see where it had the type of ram used, maybe i missed it though.

 

[IcY18]

they used

RAM 2x 1024 MB DDR2-800 (CL 4.0-4-4-8)
Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4 XMS6404v1.1

I didn't read the article as i didnt have time but if they didn't use the most up-to-date drivers thats really disappointing, most times i see tom's using beta drivers even to ensure that they are not limiting a motherboard just because of a bios issue

 

[tool_462]

I don't think eSata and firewire are all that important. Maybe for some people, but for me I am satisfied without either of them.

I would rather not have to pay for the extra crap I don't use then have to go buy a $10-15 firewire card if the situation that I needed it were ever to arise.

 

[Crashman]

After I read the whole thing, I have one question? Why couldn't you guys raise the FSB above 334/358 on the gigabyte ds3? My E6400 is benchstable at 430MHz FSB on stock cooling.

Overclocking may have improved on both Gigabyte boards following newer BIOS releases, but notice BIOS for all boards is dated from late August to mid September. There was obviously a cuttoff date, after which boards were no longer being re-benchmarked.

As for the Biostar board, it was fast and cheap. I saw it a couple weeks ago for around $110, Biostar obviously needs to work on availability.

 

[kwalker]

Finding that perfect over clocker is unfortunately left to the enthusiast and requires a little more skill to achieve the reported high fsb speeds.
The article seems to be geared toward first glance which is acceptable.
My take is that the 965 chipset is a powerful over clocker and with a little skill and a lot of luck very stable.
I am a little disappointed in your findings but that’s the nature of beast.
Everyone experiences a different performance level and the article should not be used to make a decision on your next purchase.
It’s a starting point and only one of many comparisons to take into consideration.
Remember the E6700 is toward its limits with the 10X multiplier and harder to push for the average over clocker.
The E6300 or E 6400 would have been the better candidate for higher fsb stability benchmarks and the E6600 for maximum core speed.
But hey that’s only my opinion.

 

[1Tanker]

After I read the whole thing, I have one question? Why couldn't you guys raise the FSB above 334/358 on the gigabyte ds3? My E6400 is benchstable at 430MHz FSB on stock cooling.

Overclocking may have improved on both Gigabyte boards following newer BIOS releases, but notice BIOS for all boards is dated from late August to mid September. There was obviously a cuttoff date, after which boards were no longer being re-benchmarked.

As for the Biostar board, it was fast and cheap. I saw it a couple weeks ago for around $110, Biostar obviously needs to work on availability.It appears that even board makers that we would never have dreamed of recommending last year, are actually releasing some nice boards for C2D. I mean, who would've applauded ECS, Biostar, ASRock(was decent already, but still not a top-end mfgr.)? Next thing you know, PChips/PCPartner will have decent boards(i realize that ECS/Biostar are part of PCChips)...who would have ever thought that. 😱 It's good though having budget-brand boards perfoming well, as it will put a little more pressure on the big guns...ASUS, ABIT, DFI, MSI, GigaByte, etc. and hopefully force some price drops. I read that a mobo price-war may be coming anyway... thanks to VISTA missing the X-Mas buying season. Cross your fingers.

 

[ValueDriven]

I agree I'm very disappointed in this review. For an enthusiast type performance evaluation you must push the MB's to enthusiast levels. Use an E6300 or E6400 with a high level cooler (and indicate which one). If you've got a limiting CPU, change it out to show WHAT THE MB's CAN DO. Then you see what the difference in your board investment would be (and the ability to change the CPU multiplier).

BTW. If floppy drives are on the way out, few will care where the connector is placed. The audio connector is a bigger PITA if it is in the lower back and the CD/DVD drives are in the top of the typical mid/full tower case. For those who have a bottom PSU position (Antec P180 or some LianLi's), the top power connector is not optimal...a mid board position is better.

Finally, does anyone use the MB fan connectors, except for small NB fans, etc.? If I remember my build, all of my 80mm, 92mm and 120mm fans used the PS's molex connectors.

 

[chrone]

perhaps the author didn't raise any voltages so that s/he got the low fsb you're all complaining about especially with that stock cooling.

me think is that if you get good results with all stocks then you should get much better result with aftermarket cpu cooler and raising voltages.

 

[dean7]

is it me or did a MOBO with neither eSATA nor FireWire just got elected to be "Editors Choice" ?!

All things the Biostar TForce P965 Deluxe can offer are demeaned by the lack of these connections. Its like buying a MOBO with USB 1.1 or no USB at all...

While you might getaway with "eSATA is still not the standard," but firewire! COMMON!

yes yes - I bet that a space between the graphics card slot and the next lower slot

is worth it... :roll:

Once this site was the best source for unbiased objective articles... but it seems that "objective" became something money can buy...
Good point. But, I think that it depends on who is doing the review at THG. Some of the articles are still great, while some of them do seem a bit "odd".

 

[1Tanker]

perhaps the author didn't raise any voltages so that s/he got the low fsb you're all complaining about especially with that stock cooling.

me think is that if you get good results with all stocks then you should get much better result with aftermarket cpu cooler and raising voltages.

That's the best way to do an overclock in a review. Show what an average guy should be able to get. Some sites throw on a prommy, and top-of-line everything....which is cool to see, but is sort of irrelevant to 95% of us.

 

[BUFF]

Use an E6300 or E6400 with a high level cooler (and indicate which one). If you've got a limiting CPU, change it out to show WHAT THE MB's CAN DO.

I agree, they need at very least to use a retail CPU not an old engineering sample & a 6300 should allow for highest fsb (seeing as some boards apparently can't change multi).

Having read the article I went off to do some research on the MSI for a cheap system - guess what? Apparently it runs out of steam around 360-370fsb - too high to show up with TomsHardware's CPU.
Big abit fan though I am I know that the AB9 isn't a great overclocker (low 400s usually) compared to the Asus, Gigabyte, Biostar yet the review says it's the best ... :roll:

 

[chrone]

perhaps the author didn't raise any voltages so that s/he got the low fsb you're all complaining about especially with that stock cooling.

me think is that if you get good results with all stocks then you should get much better result with aftermarket cpu cooler and raising voltages.

That's the best way to do an overclock in a review. Show what an average guy should be able to get. Some sites throw on a prommy, and top-of-line everything....which is cool to see, but is sort of irrelevant to 95% of us.

i knew it!! :twisted:

that's why this reviews only show low fsb reached than reported by others, because it's overclocked at stock cooling and voltage (i hardly find such reviews oc. on stock). so see guys.. no worries! this is not a bad reviews, it's even better!!

i always love the way Thomas Soderstrom reviews things. simple, effective, and realistic. glad to have you here!

 

[chrone]

I agree I'm very disappointed in this review. For an enthusiast type performance evaluation you must push the MB's to enthusiast levels. Use an E6300 or E6400 with a high level cooler (and indicate which one). If you've got a limiting CPU, change it out to show WHAT THE MB's CAN DO. Then you see what the difference in your board investment would be (and the ability to change the CPU multiplier).

BTW. If floppy drives are on the way out, few will care where the connector is placed. The audio connector is a bigger PITA if it is in the lower back and the CD/DVD drives are in the top of the typical mid/full tower case. For those who have a bottom PSU position (Antec P180 or some LianLi's), the top power connector is not optimal...a mid board position is better.

Finally, does anyone use the MB fan connectors, except for small NB fans, etc.? If I remember my build, all of my 80mm, 92mm and 120mm fans used the PS's molex connectors.

well here's another reviews from the same reviewer but using e6300 as reference. check it out. you'll be surprised! but i believe the author didn't raise the voltages to the maximum with that reviews since safety is a must to most newbie/value budget enthusiast like me.

http://www.sysopt.com/features/mboard/article.php/3626076
http://www.sysopt.com/features/mboard/article.php/3636631

me think the vcore was raised only up to 1.45v as a safebet and that explained the not so high oc. reached out compared to the other's reports.

 

[Crashman]

Use an E6300 or E6400 with a high level cooler (and indicate which one). If you've got a limiting CPU, change it out to show WHAT THE MB's CAN DO.

I agree, they need at very least to use a retail CPU not an old engineering sample & a 6300 should allow for highest fsb (seeing as some boards apparently can't change multi).

Having read the article I went off to do some research on the MSI for a cheap system - guess what? Apparently it runs out of steam around 360-370fsb - too high to show up with TomsHardware's CPU.
Big abit fan though I am I know that the AB9 isn't a great overclocker (low 400s usually) compared to the Asus, Gigabyte, Biostar yet the review says it's the best ... :roll:

Review says it's easiest, the system probably just booted up at higher speeds using stock settings. This author seems to prefer a successful boot followed by a BSOD rather than a black screen at boot, the overclocking path of least resistance.

 

[Synergy6]

is it me or did a MOBO with neither eSATA nor FireWire just got elected to be "Editors Choice" ?!

All things the Biostar TForce P965 Deluxe can offer are demeaned by the lack of these connections. Its like buying a MOBO with USB 1.1 or no USB at all...

While you might getaway with "eSATA is still not the standard," but firewire! COMMON!

This article has its flaws to be sure, but the above is rubbish. Most people (I have no figures to hand, but I'm pretty sure of a decent majority) do not need eSATA or Firewire. If they need firewire, their sound card most likely already has it. If not, an addon card costs... $5? To say a product cannot be recommended because it doesn't have all the features YOU want is ridiculous. Just read the article and find the best recommended one that has everything you need. Sheesh :roll:
Synergy6

 

[cd14]

After I read the whole thing, I have one question? Why couldn't you guys raise the FSB above 334/358 on the gigabyte ds3? My E6400 is benchstable at 430MHz FSB on stock cooling.

Overclocking may have improved on both Gigabyte boards following newer BIOS releases, but notice BIOS for all boards is dated from late August to mid September. There was obviously a cuttoff date, after which boards were no longer being re-benchmarked.

As for the Biostar board, it was fast and cheap. I saw it a couple weeks ago for around $110, Biostar obviously needs to work on availability.

Just to add...this board with the F7 BIOS can run a 500mhz FSB. If I had a E6600 or higher with 1066 ram it would certainly surpass it.

A good buy, if you're into overclocking.

 

[Crashman]

1. Let's assume 50% of the readers don't know how to overclock. There's just enough info to get them started here, but not enough to help them destroy their system. That's what the forumz are for.
2. Let's assume 90% of the people don't need 6 SATA or 2 LAN. That means the cheaper boards will suite them just fine. And the more expensive boards will suite the other 10%

 

[Onus]

.
.
.
Finally, does anyone use the MB fan connectors, except for small NB fans, etc.? If I remember my build, all of my 80mm, 92mm and 120mm fans used the PS's molex connectors.

I have my rear 120mm and side 80mm fans plugged into my mobo.