FSB Overclocking Results
Our 4000+ CPU posted average results in the stock multiplier overclocking test. We noticed an anomaly with this particular CPU after upgrading the board to the latest BIOS revision 1.1d. During testing with the original BIOS revision 1.0e, we were able to reach a stable overclock of 251HTT x12. We could still reach this level with the 1.1d BIOS but the board would not complete our benchmark test suite. We ended up dropping all the way down to a 238HTT setting before the board could complete our test suite. However, our maximum HTT level attained with the 1.0e BIOS was 265HTT x9. The board clearly shines with the 1.1d BIOS resulting in a benchmark suite stable setting of 320HTT x9.
This is clearly an impressive showing by the ECS engineering group at this time. We did not have to change our memory timings as they remained at an impressive 2.5-3.-3-7 1T level throughout testing at the 320HTT x9 setting. Also, voltage only needed to be increased to 1.475V and remained consistent throughout testing. We did not notice any abnormal or out of range voltage fluctuations with this board.
Our Opteron 170 posted excellent results at the stock and lowered CPU multiplier settings. We did not notice the same anomaly with our Athlon64 4000+ CPU at the stock settings. At these overclocked settings the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 for a minimum of four hours without issue. Overall the board would make a very good platform for overclocking, though it could still use additional voltage options for the memory and chipset.
Memory Tests
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ECS KA1 MVP to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400 at the best performing memory timings the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7v. We were able to operate the memory at this configuration up to a 226HTT x12 setting. We will now install all four available memory slots that results in more strenuous requirement on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7 but required the command rate be increased to 2T along with a voltage increase to 2.75. We tested memory modules from several different suppliers with the same results.
| Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego) AMD Opteron 170 (Toledo) |
| CPU Voltage: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ : AMD Opteron 170 : |
1.475V (1.4000V default) 1.400V (1.3000V default) |
| Memory Settings: | 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (12x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (10x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (9x) |
| Memory Voltage: | 2.8V |
| LDT Multiplier: | 5x - 240HTT, 4x - 285HTT, 3x - 315HTT |
| Memory: | OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition |
| Cooling: | Zalman CNPS9500 |
| Power Supply: | PC Power and Cooling 850 SSI |
| Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+ |
238HTT x 12 (2855MHz) +19% |
| Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+ |
320HTT x 9 (2879MHz) +60% |
| Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Opteron 170 |
285HTT x 10 (2850MHz) +42% |
| Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Opteron 170 |
315HTT x 9 (2835MHz) +57% |
Our 4000+ CPU posted average results in the stock multiplier overclocking test. We noticed an anomaly with this particular CPU after upgrading the board to the latest BIOS revision 1.1d. During testing with the original BIOS revision 1.0e, we were able to reach a stable overclock of 251HTT x12. We could still reach this level with the 1.1d BIOS but the board would not complete our benchmark test suite. We ended up dropping all the way down to a 238HTT setting before the board could complete our test suite. However, our maximum HTT level attained with the 1.0e BIOS was 265HTT x9. The board clearly shines with the 1.1d BIOS resulting in a benchmark suite stable setting of 320HTT x9.
This is clearly an impressive showing by the ECS engineering group at this time. We did not have to change our memory timings as they remained at an impressive 2.5-3.-3-7 1T level throughout testing at the 320HTT x9 setting. Also, voltage only needed to be increased to 1.475V and remained consistent throughout testing. We did not notice any abnormal or out of range voltage fluctuations with this board.
Our Opteron 170 posted excellent results at the stock and lowered CPU multiplier settings. We did not notice the same anomaly with our Athlon64 4000+ CPU at the stock settings. At these overclocked settings the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 for a minimum of four hours without issue. Overall the board would make a very good platform for overclocking, though it could still use additional voltage options for the memory and chipset.
Memory Tests
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ECS KA1 MVP to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400 at the best performing memory timings the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.
| ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 2 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 2 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 5 |
| Command Rate: | 1T |
| Voltage: | 2.7V |
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7v. We were able to operate the memory at this configuration up to a 226HTT x12 setting. We will now install all four available memory slots that results in more strenuous requirement on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.
| ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Banks) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 2 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 2 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 7 |
| Command Rate: | 2T |
| Voltage: | 2.75V |
The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7 but required the command rate be increased to 2T along with a voltage increase to 2.75. We tested memory modules from several different suppliers with the same results.
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Gary Key - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
This item was changed along with the sound reference to Abit that two of us missed a few times at 3:40 this morning. Sorry about the issues! :)
We do have another bios to test today, so far it has fixed the Firewire and Marvel Ethernet throughput issues. Time to test stability and overclocking.
ashishkochaar - Sunday, September 24, 2017 - link
I had tried doing so with the same software but I was unable to get access for<a href="https://www.anandtech.com/show/1983">Anand... Services.
Ryan Norton - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
Seriously, I love AT and their reviews are consistently great, but I bought into the A8R-MVP hype and was completely let down. I don't OC my ass off so my disappointment isn't quite the same as someone who wants to run a 3000+ at 325 HTT at 2.8GHz blah blah but still. Not saying AT is at fault, ASUS mostly is: just that no amount of praise can overcome the perception of RD480 boards in the PC enthusiast world now. ESPECIALLY praise for OCability =^)bob661 - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
I heard that there are some pretty pissed off owners of this board out there. ATI is new to the chipset game and they'll need some time to mature like every other manufacturer out there.Ryan Norton - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
Yeah, and like I said, I'm not one of them, since I really don't OC much. I was more excited about the layout and passive chipset cooling, which HAS lent itself to a very quiet PC in my Antec P180. Still (and I've got little evidence to back this statement up) the indelible sense of disappointment has crept into my overall appraisal of the board. I replaced an MSI Neo4 Platinum with it and would probably go back to that board were I able to replace its chipset fan (a real leafblower sound-alike) with a passive solution, but my 7800GTX hangs right over that area. The BIOS is very counterintuitively laid out, and not being able to choose which PCIe x16 slot the video card sits in is also annoying.You should go read the A8R-MVP section of the Asus website forums (finding them is a PITA since there are few static links available over thre) and read the bitching. I think most of the AT forumgoers' collective experiences with the board ended up here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...">http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...amp;thre...
bob661 - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
Thanks for the link.seanp789 - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
The final words page has a link at the bottom to ethernet performance. a page 14 that does not appear to exist.JarredWalton - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
The article was modified from being 16 pages originally to being 13 pages -- no content was changed, but the layout was modified. You probably just saw the article in a transitory state. Sorry.Patrese - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
Great review, it seems that the manufacturers are using Anandtech as beta testers for BIOS... :) Is it really too hard to release a mobo with a properly working BIOS? It seems to be happening everytime...BTW, this board is too purple to be an Abit, as stated on the last page: "In the on-board audio area, the Abit board offers"
Visual - Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - link
WTF is a video shunt card?