Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe: NVIDIA Dual x16 for the Athlon 64
by Wesley Fink on November 6, 2005 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
NVIDIA SLI-AA
NVIDIA introduced special SLI-AA Modes beginning with driver version 77.7x. By running Coolbits, selecting "Advanced Settings" under "View" in the "Performance & Quality Settings" area, and selecting "SLI-Antialiasing" under the "SLI Rendering Mode", you have new options to run games at 16xAA or 8xAA independent of application control. There are many potential advantages to SLI-AA mode. You can find more information on how this feature works and the potential benefits at NVIDIA Announces 16x AA For SLI.
Since some have reported dramatic increases of up to double the speed using SLI-AA with the Dual x16 board, we ran benchmarks in SLI-AA modes using the same Far Cry game using our Regulator benchmark. As in our other testing the CPU, memory and drivers were the same for both boards. We even moved the hard drive between the two test setups to make sure everything except the motherboard was exactly the same. Since we had some problems with stability of the release 81.85 drivers in SLI-AA mode, we used the more recent 81.87 drivers which are also available in the Beta section at nVidia's wesite.
As you clearly see from the test results we did not find ANY performance improvement in either SLI-AA mode on the Dual x16 board compared to the Dual x8. In fact, the DFI Dual x8 was slightly faster than the Asus Dual x16 in theses tests. The results, however, were well within error tolerance and are equivalent - no difference. Perhaps more memory or lower resolutions would yield different results, but in the past we have consisitently found higher resolutions to benefit most from SLI and antialiasing.
NVIDIA introduced special SLI-AA Modes beginning with driver version 77.7x. By running Coolbits, selecting "Advanced Settings" under "View" in the "Performance & Quality Settings" area, and selecting "SLI-Antialiasing" under the "SLI Rendering Mode", you have new options to run games at 16xAA or 8xAA independent of application control. There are many potential advantages to SLI-AA mode. You can find more information on how this feature works and the potential benefits at NVIDIA Announces 16x AA For SLI.
Since some have reported dramatic increases of up to double the speed using SLI-AA with the Dual x16 board, we ran benchmarks in SLI-AA modes using the same Far Cry game using our Regulator benchmark. As in our other testing the CPU, memory and drivers were the same for both boards. We even moved the hard drive between the two test setups to make sure everything except the motherboard was exactly the same. Since we had some problems with stability of the release 81.85 drivers in SLI-AA mode, we used the more recent 81.87 drivers which are also available in the Beta section at nVidia's wesite.
As you clearly see from the test results we did not find ANY performance improvement in either SLI-AA mode on the Dual x16 board compared to the Dual x8. In fact, the DFI Dual x8 was slightly faster than the Asus Dual x16 in theses tests. The results, however, were well within error tolerance and are equivalent - no difference. Perhaps more memory or lower resolutions would yield different results, but in the past we have consisitently found higher resolutions to benefit most from SLI and antialiasing.
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Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Both the Asus and DFI were definitely running 1 x16 in single video card mode. The single video card results - using the same 81.85/6.82 drivers, video cards, CPU, and memory - were the most surprising results. I really don't have an explanation for the performance differences here, since there is very little performance difference in older titles but a large difference in the just released games. We are hoping nVidia can shed some light on these benchmark results.n7 - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
This actually looks like a very good mobo.However, knowing Asus, i'm sure we will we won't find it reasonably priced anywhere.
If it came down in price, & they offered a non-SLI version for those of us who don't want SLI, i'd get interested :)
aLeoN - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
What kind of rich enthusiast wouldn't want to spend top dollar for the top of the line equipment? Don't get me wrong, I'd like exactly what you do but they've only changed to 8 phase cooling and x16 sli over the current nf4 boards right? Imo it doesn't sound like a very profitable idea if you threw phase change cooling onto an A8N-E but I'll keep my fingers crossed for the both of us.Zebo - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
hehe - the real trick is turning pyrite into gold..Tortise into hare... Anyone can empty thier wallet out or max thier credit card out, as the case may be, on top of the line eqiupment. Takes real skill to turn budget parts into them. IMO.aLeoN - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Right on man! I have a friend who demands near top of the line and doesn't hesitate to have something better than our circle of friends. I'm planning a OC rig for just about a grand that would topple his $3000+ (invested in over a couple years) rig, forcing him to upgrade it with his $1500 now (he was saving it till something good came out or me and a couple other friends get something better). It's people like these that drive our economy! =Dgnumantsc - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Wes the chart for Far Cry on Single Video shows a percent increase of 0.4% with the numbers showing 74.3 vs. 47.5. Shouldn't it be 74.5?Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
The chart is correct, and I did a dyslexic in the table. The correct numbers are 47.3 nad 47.5. The table has been corrected.Zebo - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Yes sir just gunna have to wait for another C51 review to see if it's nV's chipset or something ASUS is doing. Definity shocking to see large performance gaps like that so I'm sure you tested and retested and retested after that too.Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Sorry, I will fix the Typo. I made sure all jumpers were reset to single video mode on the DFI and double checked the readout in BIOS before runnign single video tests.Phantronius - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Damnit, I spent alot of money on my Asus A8N Premium board. Grrrrrrr...!! I want a 17% boost in single card performance!!!