A more "useful" GB review, MSI GNB Max (Granite Bay) Motherboard Review

[NFS4]

http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/article.php?id=166

 

[JavaMomma]

Nice find, reading it now...

 

[CrazySaint]

Hmmmm...still a bit disappointing. Sure, its faster than SC DDR, but not by as much as I'd hoped. Its almost exactly on par with RDRAM, but I'd expected it to be about 5-10% faster.

 

[Lint21]

I think the author of that review is Batman.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: CrazySaint
Hmmmm...still a bit disappointing. Sure, its faster than SC DDR, but not by as much as I'd hoped. Its almost exactly on par with RDRAM, but I'd expected it to be about 5-10% faster.

5-10%?? Why?? They both have the same amount of bandwidth. It's not like Intel can pull a rabbit out of its ass 😀

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: CrazySaint
Hmmmm...still a bit disappointing. Sure, its faster than SC DDR, but not by as much as I'd hoped. Its almost exactly on par with RDRAM, but I'd expected it to be about 5-10% faster.

Well, PC1066 and DC PC2100 both (in theory) saturate the P4's 533 MHz bus. We should expect that there will be very little difference in performance between DC-DDR and PC1066. The main differences being in efficiency and latency (not so much of an issue with PC1066 I hear). More importantly, however, getting large amounts of quality PC2100 is sure to be cheaper than the equivalent amount of PC1066. Furthermore, overclocking DDR RAM should be easier since there are memory modules out that can handle a 50% OC (PC3200) while still matching the P4's FSB. All things considered, it looks like GB is a great chipset for enthusiasts 🙂

 

[JavaMomma]

hmmm I thought GB would perform a bit better as well.
Oh well I think i might buy one anyways. Whats the difference between GB and Springdale anyways?
Its SATA and official DDR333 right?? I'm not sure if thats worth waiting for.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JavaMomma
hmmm I thought GB would perform a bit better as well.
Oh well I think i might buy one anyways. Whats the difference between GB and Springdale anyways?
Its SATA and official DDR333 right?? I'm not sure if thats worth waiting for.

If you already have a DDR333 P4 chipset, it's worth waiting for.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: CrazySaint
Hmmmm...still a bit disappointing. Sure, its faster than SC DDR, but not by as much as I'd hoped. Its almost exactly on par with RDRAM, but I'd expected it to be about 5-10% faster.

5-10%?? Why?? They both have the same amount of bandwidth. It's not like Intel can pull a rabbit out of its ass 😀

Hey, I can hope can't I?! 😀

Btw, when is Springdale due out?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: CrazySaint

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: CrazySaint
Hmmmm...still a bit disappointing. Sure, its faster than SC DDR, but not by as much as I'd hoped. Its almost exactly on par with RDRAM, but I'd expected it to be about 5-10% faster.

5-10%?? Why?? They both have the same amount of bandwidth. It's not like Intel can pull a rabbit out of its ass 😀

Hey, I can hope can't I?! 😀

Btw, when is Springdale due out?

Spring 😛

 

[Dug]

Starting off, there?s no option for selecting AGP 8X- even if an AGP 8X card is in the AGP slot. Memory tweaking options are also nothing above or beyond the standard ones and there?s no option to set the PCI/AGP bus at specific frequencies which certainly takes a lot away from overclocking.

There?s not much for the overclocker either- although MSI provides 1MHz FSB increments up till 200MHz, there is no voltage option for CPU, memory or AGP.

Its pretty much worthless to base your opinions on something that isn't final production hardware.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: Dug

Starting off, there?s no option for selecting AGP 8X- even if an AGP 8X card is in the AGP slot. Memory tweaking options are also nothing above or beyond the standard ones and there?s no option to set the PCI/AGP bus at specific frequencies which certainly takes a lot away from overclocking.

There?s not much for the overclocker either- although MSI provides 1MHz FSB increments up till 200MHz, there is no voltage option for CPU, memory or AGP.

Its pretty much worthless to base your opinions on something that isn't final production hardware.

Where does it say its not a final board?

I think the sadder fact is that it clocks itself 2Mhz over default at default (from what I read at tbreak). Thats about a 40Mhz edge.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: dexvx

Originally posted by: Dug

Starting off, there?s no option for selecting AGP 8X- even if an AGP 8X card is in the AGP slot. Memory tweaking options are also nothing above or beyond the standard ones and there?s no option to set the PCI/AGP bus at specific frequencies which certainly takes a lot away from overclocking.

There?s not much for the overclocker either- although MSI provides 1MHz FSB increments up till 200MHz, there is no voltage option for CPU, memory or AGP.

Its pretty much worthless to base your opinions on something that isn't final production hardware.

Where does it say its not a final board?

I think the sadder fact is that it clocks itself 2Mhz over default at default (from what I read at tbreak). Thats about a 40Mhz edge.

Yep, Asus does that with some of their boards, as well. Its pretty obvious that they only do it to gain an advantage in motherboard reviews. Just wondering, would that be enough to break a users' CPU warranty?

 

[Duvie]

I am expecting a lot more then 5-10 percent when I plop my 1.6a in there and run the fsb up to 166fsb and run DC pc2700ddr...I can't run 440mhz ddr now at 166fsb so at 171fsb I get like 2600's when I will expect probably like 4000 with DC pc2700.....

I think this is great for a lot of reasons...1) Now for a cheaper price then rdram and an i850e platform one can get that performance and use older and cheaper pc2100ddr...2) I think the ocers are the ones who can really take off with this right now. NFS4 can run his 333ddr and get about 2500's in sandra or we who have p4 chips capable of 166+ fsb can run duals and have a 60% increase in bandwdith as per sandra...3) Gives the DDR platform with the p4 more credibility. Before only ppl with pc3200 modules oced to like 430mhz could get standard stock pc1066 levels and that would take a one hell of a oc on an INtel chipset or a mild oc on a flaky sis chipset (no flame war wanted!!!). NOw stock DCDDR will do it and leave room for us ocers to take it to higher levels.