ASUS Striker II Formula under the Microscope
by Rajinder Gill on March 19, 2008 4:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Testbed Setup
| ASUS
Striker II Formula Setup Standard/Overclocking/Benchmark Testbed |
|
| Processor | Intel E8500, 1333FSB 9X Multiplier, Intel QX9650
Quad CPU, 12MB Cache 1333FSB Unlocked multiplier - 9X Default |
| CPU Voltage | 1.200V ~ 1.450V |
| Cooling | Water cooling: Swiftech Apogee GTX, PA120.3 Rad, 3 X Laing DDC Ultra Petra Top pumps in series, 3x Panaflo 120mm Fans 7-10V |
| Power Supply | OCZ 1000W |
| Motherboards | ASUS Striker II Formula |
| Memory | OCZ Reaper-X 1000MHz 2X2GB kit, OCZ Platinum XTC PC2 8000 2x2GB, Cell Shock PC2 8000 4-4-4-12 2X1GB |
| Memory Settings | Various - as shown |
| Video Cards | ASUS 8800 GTS 512 G92 - Underclocked to match NVIDIA base clock levels for test comparison to 790/X48 chipset board scores |
| Video Drivers | 169.28Drivers (Vista 64-bit) |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 7200RPM 250GB SATA 3/Gbps 16MB Buffer |
| Optical Drives | Plextor PX-B900A, Toshiba SD-H802A |
| Case | Lian Li -75 |
| BIOS | 1001, 1101 |
| Operating System | Vista 64-bit SP1 (4GB/8GB Memory), XP 32-bit SP3 (2GB Memory) |
| . | |
We performed 4GB and 8GB memory testing under the Vista 64-bit operating system using SP1. Our GPUs had to be underclocked to 650/1625/970 in order to match the GPU clock speeds used in the 790i launch article. This provides us with a broad range of scoring comparisons across a variety of boards for this review.
We tested in both single-GPU and SLI configurations with stock and overclocked processor speeds. Our primary concern in this review is to focus on absolute system stability, rather than outright benchmarking potential (though we may venture into testing this at a later date). We installed a new operating system image and software load between processor changes in order to eradicate any chances of driver or software conflicts.
We run each test five times and throw out the high and low scores and average the remaining three scores for our comparisons. We focused primarily on PCMark Vantage to represent a real-world type of system load that most of us subject our PCs to on a daily basis. Gaming tests use on Crysis, Unreal Tournament 3, and Company of Heroes. All three of these titles utilize different gaming engines, each representing a varying load to the entire system. We also crosschecked stability with OCCT's brutal CPU and memory tests.
PCMark vantage proved to be the most stressful test for our systems to pass; we had instances where the full two hour test of OCCT 2.01 passed, but PCMark Vantage would fail the gaming test repeatedly within a few seconds of launch. This is mainly because stress tests like Prime95 and OCCT do not stress the PCI-E bus, so we can only claim a form of 2D stability with this test at best. A broad suite of tests must be run to ensure any form of system stability for an everyday personal computer system. Component choices and variance in MCPs (chipsets) and other items will determine how close user boards will come to our overclocked results today; some boards may achieve more and others less.
We selected a few memory kits from our labs that represent the more popular current purchasing choices, coupled with one of the best 2x1GB performance kits from Cell Shock for a short test of Windows XP SP3 and stability/performance when running these modules. OCZ supplied the 2x2GB kits for our 8GB stress testing. Although this is not regarded as an everyday configuration, such a heavy load ensures that the stability of the board is tested to the fullest extent. 2x2GB modules are certainly all the rage at present with very aggressive pricing, to the point that we think 4GB should be a standard configuration for most systems, especially those running Vista.
We have grown quite fond of these kits in the labs; they operate up to DDR2-1000 speeds with very low levels of voltage, making for a cool running system with ample data manipulation potential. OCZ has also licensed a software tool called SPD-Z for flashing the SPD of these modules with performance related timing changes should the need arise on newer motherboards. Also, newer performance oriented 2GB modules from the likes of OCZ, G.Skill, and others are starting to hit the market that will approach DDR2-1200+ speeds that we will be testing shortly.
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18 Comments
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joex444 - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
"1500QFSB (350MHz)" 2nd to last page, last paragraph.Do you mean 1400QFSB or (375MHz)?
Rajinder Gill - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
Sorry, 1400 is what it should read - corrected now..Thanks
Raja
Beenthere - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
Asus continues to produce half-baked CRAP for motherboards. They have been doing this for the past five years and people still buy their defective crap. When are consumers going to learn that a company will sell crap until people stop buying it and demand properly functioning products? People who are foolish enough to buy these defective products deserve exactly what they get.Margalus - Thursday, March 20, 2008 - link
sounds like someoone is bitter because they didn't buy an Asus board and thinks nobody else should have a decent motherboard because of that. Asus makes very good, stable motherboards.. Better than most. I don't know a single person that has had a problem with Asus. I am currently using this Striker Formula because I wanted sli and an e8400. The thing is typical Asus. Quality from the ground up, and not a single problem with it, as usual.takumsawsherman - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
There's no point to this board anyway. $340 and you still don't get Firewire800? Even if it does work properly and doesn't fail prematurely, it's overpriced for any benefit you could possibly derive from using such a board.skinflickBOB - Thursday, March 20, 2008 - link
If there were REAL demand for Firewire 800 on a board like this, it would probably be here. If it's such a big concern, have you thought about writing the big guns direct? I doubt anyone other than an old fart like me is really listening. Looking back at the review section (god it's been a long time since I last did), all I see is this comment about Firewire 800. Such a burning desire for an 'extra' should surely be chased down to where it matters.. But then, you would never buy a board for $300, so what's the issue?. I don't go down to the nearest Lamborghini garage and complain about the Murciélago using a 6.5 litre engine or being a low ride or whatever, cos I ain't buying the SOB. If it's such a big deal, buy yourself one of those budget 650i boards and spend the rest on a top notch Firewire card. there you go - job done.. Is that hard or something to think of?booyakasha..
Bazoo - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
As a previous owner (and unhappy one) of striker extreme, I would say that's a total waste of money. I heard lot's of reports of 650 and 750 based motherboards being much better overclockers and still capable of sli for much less money. It seems the little brothers are not that buggy like the 680/780 and would be interesting if anandtech dwelve in to that. In any event, only time would restore (or not...) my confidence in nvidia chipsets, even the 790 one (could be a joy in the sky) but... I would take a wait and see attitude. Then again, with intel changing socket in 9 months, I rather will sticky with my trust and fas p35 mb.Lord 666 - Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - link
While I agree with you on the defective piece as the only MB that has ever died on me is an ASUS, you are a little off base with your pointless rant.Only with the 790's is the price getting a little out of hand, but MB's aren't that expensive so you can just buy another one.