Asus Maximus Formula SE vs. Asus P5B Deluxe: Is it really worth the money?

[DesertShooter]

I got a nice package from asus, (just like 9 other dutch people) with the most expensive motherboard for overclockers. It's called the Asus Maximus Formula Special Edition and has the X38 chipset.

So I made a nice compartion of the two boards:

Rig 1:

C2D E6400 L633Axxx
Asus Maximus Formula SE
Xtreem Team PC5300 C3 (2x512MB)
Asus 7300GT
OCZ PowerStream 600Watt
Scythe Ninja Plus

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/foto/IMG_1333k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/foto/IMG_1333.jpg)


Rig 2:

C2D E6400 L633Axxx
Asus P5B Deluxe (VCore en VDroop modded)
Xtreem Team PC5300 C3 (2x512MB)
Asus 7300GT
OCZ PowerStream 600Watt
Scythe Ninja Plus


http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/foto/IMG_1369k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/foto/IMG_1369.jpg)

And two speeds:

Stock: (266*8 )

CPU: 2,13GHz
RAM: 333MHz 4-5-5
GPU: stock

3,6Ghz: (450*8 )

CPU: 3,6GHz
RAM: 450 4-4-4
GPU: stock

Results:

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/1.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result1.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-05k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-05.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-05k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-05.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-05k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-05.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-05k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-05.jpg)





http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/6.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result2.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-c9k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-c9.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-c9k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-c9.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-c9k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-c9.jpg)





http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/5.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result3.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-c10k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-c10.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-c10k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-c10.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-c10k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-c10.jpg)




http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/8.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result4.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-sis.jpg)





http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/7.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result5.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-sis.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-sisk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-sis.jpg)



http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/4.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result6.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-spik.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-spi.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-spik.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-spi.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-spik.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-spi.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-spik.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-spi.jpg)



http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/2.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result7.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-01k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-01.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-01k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-01.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-01k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-01.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-01k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-01.jpg)



http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/3.jpg
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/result8.png

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-03k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-1-03.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-03k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-2-03.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-03k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-1-03.jpg)http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-03k.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-2-03.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/11.jpg

So, the difference isn't that big, but the x38 seems to be just a little bit better in this comparison.

If you want crossfire, go with the X38 chipset.

Don't need crossfire? Get a P35/965 chipset

[DesertShooter]

http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/12.jpg
Box:
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1318%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1318.jpg)

Setup:
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1317%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1317.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1322%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1322.jpg)

Closeup's:
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1311%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1311.jpg)
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1316%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1316.jpg)
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1325%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1325.jpg)
http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1329%20(small).jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/HWI/img_1329.jpg)

[DesertShooter]

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/13.jpg

Maximus:

3875MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-cpuk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-cpu.jpg)

P5b(!):

4020MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-cpuk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-cpu.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/14.jpg

Maximus:

3958MHz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=251681)

P5b:

4032MHz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=251680)


http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/15.jpg

Maximus:

520MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-fsbk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-fsb.jpg)

P5b:

510MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-fsbk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-fsb.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/16.jpg

Maximus:

611MHz 5-5-5
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-memk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-mem.jpg)

P5b:

566MHz 5-5-5
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-memk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-mem.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/11.jpg

So, there is a significant improvent in FSB Freq. and RAM Freq. But the max cpu freq. is very bad. It could be because of other reasons...

[Nuker_]

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/13.jpg

Maximus:

3875MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-cpuk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-cpu.jpg)

P5b(!):

4020MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-cpuk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-cpu.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/14.jpg

Maximus:

3958MHz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=251681)

P5b:

4032MHz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=251680)


http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/15.jpg

Maximus:

520MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-fsbk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-fsb.jpg)

P5b:

510MHz
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-fsbk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-fsb.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/16.jpg

Maximus:

611MHz 5-5-5
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-memk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/max-mem.jpg)

P5b:

566MHz 5-5-5
http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-memk.jpg (http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/p5b-mem.jpg)

http://desertshooter.nl/hwi/11.jpg

So, there is a significant improvent in FSB Freq. and RAM Freq. But the max cpu freq. is very bad. It could be because of other reasons...

Maybe a few bios updates will fix that?

[DesertShooter]

Maybe a few bios updates will fix that?

Yes that's what i'm thinking, i hope i can get hands on a new bios soon...

[Alexandrus]

Nice desk, and nice test.
Probably people chose X38 over the older 965/975 just for the sake of upgrading, not for the improvements. The improvements will show when Penryn is launched and available.

[nut311]

nice test and compare...
maybe you can test w/ Quadcore...:)

[waynetu]

awesome...lol
this is what i wanna see,,,
now i have some idea for what i goona do with my boards...

Thanks nuker,, will keep an eye on your further review

[voltaire2030]

Nice desk, and nice test.
Probably people chose X38 over the older 965/975 just for the sake of upgrading, not for the improvements. The improvements will show when Penryn is launched and available.


and PCI 2... but I cant remember where or how, P35 will be able to run PCI 2

[GAR]

P35 was supposed to have pci-e 2.0 but i think intel did not allow this for the sake of the x38 surviving.........if p35 had pci-e 2.0 it would be a much better buy....as the x38 offers no to very little performance increase.

[oohms]

Yeah for a 24/7 rig the x38 really doesnt offer a lot over the p35/965...

[zsamz_]

Yeah for a 24/7 rig the x38 really doesnt offer a lot over the p35/965...

exactly all you gonna get is more bandwidth on memory write+copy
n read speed is not faster not even latency

[Talonman]

Thanks for the post DesertShooter.

I have the Max on order.

I hope it likes the Raptors in RAID 0, and the WaterKegIII EX. ;)

[Fixxxer]

Nice comparation, DesertShooter.