>>> Granite Bay vs Canterwood (P4G8X-D vs IC7)

[THUGSROOK]

Asus P4G8X-D (gbay) vs Abit IC7 (cwood)


TEST SYSTEM
P4 2.53B @ 3.4ghz 179fsb
Corsair Twin XMS3200LL 2x 256mb
Swiftech MCX4000 - 92mm fan - AS3
GF4 ti4600 - det 30.82 - Win98SE

TEST SPECS
ASUS P4G8X Granite Bay ie7205 = 1.525vcore / 1.5vagp / 2.5vdimm / cas2226
ABIT IC7 Canterwood i875 = 1.575vcore / 1.5vagp / 2.5vdimm / cas2225 (NBS533)


BENCHMARKS

> 3DMark2000 v1.1 < 1024x768x32
P4G8X = 17646
IC7 = 17645


> 3DMark2001 < default
P4G8X = 14343
IC7 = 14307


> X-Isle Tech Demo < 1280x1024x32
P4G8X = 108.7
IC7 = 107.2


> UT2003 Demo < 1280x960x32, flyby - botmatch
P4G8X = 119.1 - 77.3
IC7 = 119.0 - 77.3


> Quake III v1.32 < 1280x1024x32
P4G8X = 222.9
IC7 = 222.1


> Re-Volt < 1280x1024x32
P4G8X = 321.4
IC7 = 321.3


> Aida32 MemBench < read - write
P4G8X = 4765 - 1190
IC7 = 4589 - 1255

 

[Jojo1971]

interesting results..

looks like the IC7 needs an 800 fsb cpu..

 

[oldfart]

Wow, pretty much identical. Nice results.

So, which one will you keep? The IC7 is certainly more "future proof" than the P4G8X.

 

[THUGSROOK]

actually all ive done so far was match 179fsb.
i havent tried any higher yet.

the P4G8X is alot easier to deal with....
the IC7 has Cas setting and NB strap issues
....havent decided yet

 

[oldfart]

Two very nice boards. Here is my $.02

1) 800 MHz FSB support
2) SATA
3) Abit is good about getting a new BIOS out. Hopefully, they will get the issues fixed up
4) Some 7205 users had problems with AGP 8x. Not hearing that with 875 so far.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Looks like it's a BIOS revision or two away from greatness.

 

[LastRide]

I see it took extra voltage to run 3.4GHz on the IC7 but I remembered your Asus mobo overvolts.Thugs,is that the new bios you used on the IC7 or the one it shipped with?.I remember you saying the new bios sucks.

 

[THUGSROOK]

i tried the new IC7_11 bios ~ it sux big time.

im running the #10 shipping bios

 

[Chumpman]

What exactly causes the new BIOS to "sux big time"? I didn't see your other post.

 

[THUGSROOK]

unstable
much slower
creates more problems then it fixes
completely sux

i do not suggest even trying it ~ thats how bad!

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: LastRide
I see it took extra voltage to run 3.4GHz on the IC7 but I remembered your Asus mobo overvolts.

yes ~ i had to raise vcore (idle windows) of the IC7 to match the P4G8X or it wasnt stable.

in other words ~ yes more proof asus overvolts
the IC7 runs 1.575 bios = 1.57v idle in windows / 1.54v full load
p4g8x runs 1.525 bios = 1.58v idle in windows / 1.488 full load

 

[LastRide]

Too bad that new dios don't do squat and makes it worse.

 

[THUGSROOK]

well,
it didnt do squat for me ~ but you guys know how thoroughly i test.
the bios was so unstable it was difficult just to get it to boot.
once i tweaked it out for it to run ~ it was slow.

obviously im being very harsh towards the Cwood ~ it needs to prove itself over my granite bay, and its having a hard time just keeping up.

im still working on it tho ~ maybe itll give me a bit (pun) more OC and ill change my attitude

i still have 2gb of HyperX ram sitting to test out on the IC7, so ive got a long way to go yet

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK

im still working on it tho ~ maybe itll give me a bit (pun) more OC and ill change my attitude

Hmm, you really don't want to overvolt that chip too much do ya? Nice results in the comparison of the two boards. Now please overvolt and see how much the 2.53 goes on that Abit.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

what are the price on the two mobo?

 

[THUGSROOK]

at googlegear.com:

Asus P4G8X Deluxe $170 shipped

Abit IC7 $152 shipped

 

[z0ner]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOfWater
what are the price on the two mobo?

Aren't you one lazy-ass mf'er...

Newegg:
P4G8X - $189
IC7-G - $229
IC7 - $158

Pricewise, a more apples to apples comparison would be P4G8X vs. IC7-G.

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: Thor86
Hmm, you really don't want to overvolt that chip too much do ya? Nice results in the comparison of the two boards.

no im not gonna overvolt any higher then i am right now. (1.575v - same as p4g8x default)
but im not done trying for higher on the IC7 yet.

im testing right now @ 180fsb 1.575v.

 

[dbwillis]

HyperX..you think that'll do better than the Corsair LL stuff?

 

[jorken]

Originally posted by: dbwillis
HyperX..you think that'll do better than the Corsair LL stuff?

Only one way to find out

 

[Mikki]

Nice test as always Thugsrook, looking forward to the end results...

 

[dbwillis]

And he will...thats for sure!

 

[THUGSROOK]

here's an example of how the screwed up NB strap can effect performance on the IC7.....

3.4ghz 179fsb XMS3200LL 1:1: 3dmark2001

NBS533 (set 2-2-2-5 / cpuz 2.0-2-2-5) = 14320
NBS667 (set 2-2-2-5 / cpuz 2.0-2-2-5) = 14167
NBS800 (set 2-2-2-5 / cpuz 2.5-2-2-6) = 13985

keep the NBS on 533 for best performance

 

[maxSe]

hehe.. I told ya you wouldn't see much performance jump going from GB to CW (well, in this case, GB outperforms it... ). I still do think IC7 is couple of new bios away from really performing. And grab one of those new 200fsb chips....

 

[SupermanCK]

would u think using the 533 chip would hinder the performance instead of a 800 chip?
keep at it thugs...