abit AB9 QuadGT: Test Lab Update

Synthetic and Application Performance

We are utilizing an abbreviated test suite for our follow up look at the abit AB9 QuadGT motherboard. Our test results with the GEIL memory utilized the shipping BIOS and results with the Corsair and G.Skill memory were completed with the B06 beta release. We did retest the GEIL memory with the B06 BIOS but the changes in scores were within our normal test variances for each category except for Quake 4.

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At stock speeds the AB9 QuadGT motherboard posts the best WinRAR and Quake 4 scores while its SuperPI and Nero Recode scores are near the top with either the stock or beta BIOS releases. We still had performance issues with Battlefield 2 at stock settings as the frame rates were consistently about 4fps below the other boards. The game also stuttered at various points in the benchmark but did not drop any online connections in this round of tests. We ended up using the JMicron RAID or IDE driver instead the standard XP IDE driver and our scores improved to a 104.6 average. Our Quake 4 scores jumped from 113.9 to 116.3 with the B06 BIOS. This was the only score that showed any true performance differences when changing to the new BIOS.

In our overclocking tests the AB9 QuadGT was once again superb by offering the best overall performance, even though the ASUS P5B-Deluxe has a 35MHz CPU speed advantage. This performance is a direct result of the 1066 strap settings and aggressive memory sub-timings. We were able to increase our overclock results with the Corsair and G.Skill memory modules to a final 7x520FSB.

While our scores improved over the original 7x515FSB settings, the majority of these increases can be linked directly to the increase in CPU speeds. We did see variations in our Sandra Unbuffered scores as we increased the FSB or decreased memory timings. This is attributable to relaxed MCH and memory sub-timings depending upon the situation. When we changed the base Corsair memory timings to match the G.Skill, we noticed the test results were basically even with the Sandra Unbuffered scores actually being slightly higher. It obviously pays to fine tune this board as tighter memory timings do not always result in better results.

We also ran the board at 7x500 with the G.Skill memory and the application results were close enough that we would choose this setting as it allowed for slightly lower CPU voltages (1.4750V compared to 1.4875V) and memory voltages along with reduced stress on the system. We discovered that all of our E6300 samples would run at the 7x500FSB setting while only one would run at 7x515 or higher in a stable manner.

Follow up Impressions

While the numbers of problems reported seem vast, it has been our experience that most P965 motherboards had similar amounts of issues upon release. Most of these have been solved through BIOS updates, driver releases, or revised board designs. abit has already solved a number of problems with the last two beta BIOS releases and are well on their way to solving the final issues that also include getting EIST, TM2, and C1E operating correctly again in the next production release BIOS.

We expect these final issues to be solved shortly and then abit will start work on fine tuning the performance on this board. Our first request is to have 1T Command Rate working at DDR2-800 and some further FSB tweaks when overclocking the quad core processors. Other improvements would include improving the top memory speeds from an 1150MHz level up to 1200MHz or higher that other boards in this class are capable of reaching.

We still have concerns about abit releasing this board before the BIOS was fully mature - or even thoroughly tested for that matter. However, we are very pleased that abit has addressed the majority of launch issues fairly quickly and support for the board is shaping up to be very good at this time. We are still enthusiastic about using this board on a daily basis as its performance and overall stability are excellent. If we had to make a buying decision today about this board it would be difficult, but we would still purchase it based upon our overall experiences the past three weeks. Call it blind faith, or maybe we are just gluttons for beta BIOS testing, but we believe this board will be worth all the trouble shortly.