ASUS Maximus Formula SE: X38 and DDR2 Unite!
by Rajinder Gill on November 9, 2007 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Overclocking Performance Comparison
Synthetic Graphics Performance
CPU Performance
Gaming Performance
Rendering Performance
File Compression Performance
The results are very close, with the Maximus just passing the DFI board in 3D benchmarks, but only by minimum values that are nothing to crow about. With figures this close, it is fair to say the margin of error between benchmarks and even variance in XP installations (when we take user systems into account) could easily reverse the overall standings. For single graphics card use, a top-end P35 based motherboard is perfectly capable of providing almost identical benchmarking figures and in some cases surpassing the X38 boards at this time.
However, we have seen significant improvements in memory performance with each succeeding BIOS release so there may be hope for the X38 chipset to distance itself from the P35 in DDR2 performance. Our take is that we might end up seeing a 1%~3% overall difference at most. Probably just enough for the suppliers to start replacing their high-end P35 motherboards with the X38 variants in order to eliminate product overlap. While this is not bad, it is a disappointment to us after the early hype surrounding the chipset. In fact, our A0 X38 silicon based reference board still performs better that the retail boards but not by much now.
We must emphasize that the DFI board is actually more "stable" at 465FSB; also DDR2-1120 is a little easier to reach with more attractively priced memory modules. Had we used the lower 1:1 divider on the Maximus, the scores would have been reversed. In truth, using the 1:1 divider on either board should only reduce scores by around 1-2% maximum, making some of the cheaper DDR2-1000 capable modules a wise purchase for a workstation or gaming PC. ASUS is currently working on a BIOS release that improves overclocking and we will report any performance changes shortly.
Synthetic Graphics Performance
CPU Performance
Gaming Performance
Rendering Performance
File Compression Performance
The results are very close, with the Maximus just passing the DFI board in 3D benchmarks, but only by minimum values that are nothing to crow about. With figures this close, it is fair to say the margin of error between benchmarks and even variance in XP installations (when we take user systems into account) could easily reverse the overall standings. For single graphics card use, a top-end P35 based motherboard is perfectly capable of providing almost identical benchmarking figures and in some cases surpassing the X38 boards at this time.
However, we have seen significant improvements in memory performance with each succeeding BIOS release so there may be hope for the X38 chipset to distance itself from the P35 in DDR2 performance. Our take is that we might end up seeing a 1%~3% overall difference at most. Probably just enough for the suppliers to start replacing their high-end P35 motherboards with the X38 variants in order to eliminate product overlap. While this is not bad, it is a disappointment to us after the early hype surrounding the chipset. In fact, our A0 X38 silicon based reference board still performs better that the retail boards but not by much now.
We must emphasize that the DFI board is actually more "stable" at 465FSB; also DDR2-1120 is a little easier to reach with more attractively priced memory modules. Had we used the lower 1:1 divider on the Maximus, the scores would have been reversed. In truth, using the 1:1 divider on either board should only reduce scores by around 1-2% maximum, making some of the cheaper DDR2-1000 capable modules a wise purchase for a workstation or gaming PC. ASUS is currently working on a BIOS release that improves overclocking and we will report any performance changes shortly.
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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...