ASUS Maximus Formula SE: X38 and DDR2 Unite!
by Rajinder Gill on November 9, 2007 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Media Performance
We will take a brief look at general media performance with our test suite that includes Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0.
We utilize the PC WorldBench 6.0 Test for measuring platform performance in Adobe's Photoshop CS2. The benchmark applies an extensive number of filters to the test image and heavily stresses the CPU and storage systems. The scores reported include the full conversion process and are represented in seconds, with lower numbers indicating better performance.
Our next test is one recommended by Intel, but the test itself appears to be fair and results are very repeatable. This test simply measures the amount of time required to fix and optimize 103 different photos weighing in at 63MB. Time is measured in seconds, with lower times resulting in better performance.
Media Encoding Performance
We are utilizing Nero Recode 2 for our video encoding test. The scores reported include the full encoding process and are represented in seconds, with lower numbers indicating better performance.
Audio Encoding Performance
We will utilize iTunes 7.4 for our audio encoding tests as it is one of the most utilized audio applications available due to the immense popularity of the iPod. As in previous articles, we are using an INXS Greatest Hits CD for testing, which contains 16 tracks totaling 606MB of songs. We use iTunes to convert our WAV files into an ACC compatible format. We utilize the 256kbps and variable bit rate option.
File Compression Performance
Another CPU crunching utility is WinRAR 3.70, which provides for computationally intensive file compression. Our test folder contains 444 files, 10 subfolders, and 602MB worth of data. All default settings are utilized in WinRAR and our hard drive is defragmented before each test
Performance Summary
Yet again, the ASUS Maximus Formula performs very well in tests that depend on fast CPU/memory throughput. It doesn't place first in every test, but it does place near the top and there aren't any apparent issues with its performance in any of the tests.
We will take a brief look at general media performance with our test suite that includes Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0.
We utilize the PC WorldBench 6.0 Test for measuring platform performance in Adobe's Photoshop CS2. The benchmark applies an extensive number of filters to the test image and heavily stresses the CPU and storage systems. The scores reported include the full conversion process and are represented in seconds, with lower numbers indicating better performance.
Our next test is one recommended by Intel, but the test itself appears to be fair and results are very repeatable. This test simply measures the amount of time required to fix and optimize 103 different photos weighing in at 63MB. Time is measured in seconds, with lower times resulting in better performance.
Media Encoding Performance
We are utilizing Nero Recode 2 for our video encoding test. The scores reported include the full encoding process and are represented in seconds, with lower numbers indicating better performance.
Audio Encoding Performance
We will utilize iTunes 7.4 for our audio encoding tests as it is one of the most utilized audio applications available due to the immense popularity of the iPod. As in previous articles, we are using an INXS Greatest Hits CD for testing, which contains 16 tracks totaling 606MB of songs. We use iTunes to convert our WAV files into an ACC compatible format. We utilize the 256kbps and variable bit rate option.
File Compression Performance
Another CPU crunching utility is WinRAR 3.70, which provides for computationally intensive file compression. Our test folder contains 444 files, 10 subfolders, and 602MB worth of data. All default settings are utilized in WinRAR and our hard drive is defragmented before each test
Performance Summary
Yet again, the ASUS Maximus Formula performs very well in tests that depend on fast CPU/memory throughput. It doesn't place first in every test, but it does place near the top and there aren't any apparent issues with its performance in any of the tests.
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jozeaphe - Sunday, February 17, 2008 - link
Hi Guys i Just Build a new PC :Asus Maximus Formula SE .
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 .
2 GB Ram - 800 MHz ( for the moment ) .
can any one help to overclock my PC to Max settings within the following :
1. Stock Intel CPU heatsink\fan ( come with processor ) . No water cooling on the northbridge .
2. Stock Intel CPU heatsink\fan ( come with processor ) . With water cooling on the northbridge .
3. The above 2 options but using 2 GB Ram - 1066 ( if thats make a difference ) .
And Thank u All , Jozeaphe@gmail.com .
guitronics - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - link
I don't know if I have an 'SE',but I have the game Stalker.These Mobo's are NHRA Top Fueler's, not 18 wheeler's. They're Gaming 'Boards,not workstations,or servers.Their cause is overclocking/tweaking. So:Some legacy stuff hadda go...serial and parallel:Buy a PCI card,if you really need it.There are plenty of pci slots.No Esata? There are 6 Sata,and 1 IDE port.2 -GB Lan options.Yes,it does ECC:But why does a gamer want that?There are 1394a ports,not 800 Mhz.Or,at least that speed isn't documented.The USB mouse...it's time to get on the "dump legacy stuff" wagon.How big a deal is that?Up to 8 GB of memory,and onboard 0,1,5;and 10 Raid support.Put a Blu-Ray on the IDE,run raptors' in raid 0, still have room for > 4 < More drives....Terabyte's, anyone?A good case and you can swap 'em out...no big deal."It's a Gaming Machine"!
jay401 - Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - link
I think we've officially reached the point of option saturation, where there are literally TOO many options in the BIOS for most overclockers to ever care about. Sure, it's great for the handful that will actually make use of all of those options, but we're getting dangerously close to the point where it is TMI.RFV - Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - link
you'd love the DFI BIOS!RFV - Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - link
I have read that the Asus Maximus Formula SE is now "End Of Line" so you better hurry if you want to purchase one. Asus did the same thing with the Blitz Formula SE, so this is not suprising news, the Maximus Formula SE was always going to be a limited edition board from the get go. Also, fom the reviews I have read on this board from people who upgraded from P35 boards is that the Maximus Formula SE X38 board required more volts than the Asus P5K Deluxe board to reach the same overclock. They also reported that the X38 boards generally ran hotter than the P35 boards at the same overclock.457R4LDR34DKN07 - Monday, November 12, 2007 - link
Thanks for the in depth bios descriptions, it has helped me dramatically increase stability while using patriot pc8500 memory.Etern205 - Saturday, November 10, 2007 - link
What happened to the Maximus Extreme?Raja Gill - Sunday, November 11, 2007 - link
that's nextzoom314 - Saturday, November 10, 2007 - link
I wonder does Asus still have Locked Multipliers on Extreme cpus still like they do on the P5W DH Deluxe? Meaning any multiplier above the Default Multiplier is locked off to prevent users from overclocking, rendering an Extreme Dual/Quad cpu an Expensive Normal Dual Core or Quad Core cpu(A QX6700 becomes a Q6700 cpu). Of course one can adjust the Multiplier downwards to 6 as Asus say No one needs those upper Multipliers and Hence Asus does Not Support Extreme any cpu!!!!Raja Gill - Saturday, November 10, 2007 - link
the upwards multipliers work fine on this board...