Digital-Daily : Motherboard Reviews : p35-roundup

Intel P35 Motherboards Roundup Review

Author: Aleksandr Mitrofanov
Date: 27.12.2007

Motherboards' Specifications Comparison

Name abit IP35 Pro ASUS Blitz Extreme ASUS Blitz Formula ASUS P5K3 Premium ASUS P5K3 Deluxe ASUS P5K Premium ASUS P5K Deluxe ASUS P5K-E/WiFi ECS P35T-A Foxconn MARS Foxconn P35A Gigabyte P35-DQ6 MSI P35 Platinum MSI P35 Neo Combo MSI P35 Neo

Chipset Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9DH Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9 Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9R Intel P35 + ICH9 Intel P35 + ICH9

Q-ty of DIMM slots 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR3) 4 (DDR2) Two soldered-in DDR3-1333 (2 GB) modules 4 (DDR3) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 4 (DDR2) 2 (DDR2) + 2 (DDR3) 4 (DDR2)

Cooling the chipset (score points) passive (4+) fluid/passive/active (5+) fluid/passive/active (5+) active /passive (5+) active /passive (5+) active/passive (5) active/passive (5) active/passive (5-) passive (3-) active/passive (5) passive (4) passive (5+) passive (5) passive (4) passive (4)

PCIE x16/PCIE (>x1)/PCIE x1/PCI 2/0/1/3 2/0/3/2 2/0/3/2 2/0/2/3 2/0/2/3 2/0/2/3 2/0/2/3 2/0/2/3 2/0/1/3 2/0/2/3 2/0/1/3 2/0/3/2 2/0/2/2 1/0/3/2 1/0/3/2

Crossfire + (16+4) + (8+8) + (8+8) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) + (16+4) - -

Power scheme 4-phase 8-phase 8-phase 8-phase 8-phase 8-phase 8-phase 8-phase 4-phase 6-phase 4-phase 12-phase 4-phase 3-phase 3-phase

Power sockets 24 + 8 + Molex 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 8 24 + 4 + Molex 24 + 8 + Molex 24 + 8 + Molex 24 + 8 + Molex 24 + 8 + Molex 24 + 4 24 + 4

Number of capacitors 10 x 820 mkF and 5 x 330 mkF EL-Capless EL-Capless 11 x 561mkF and 1 x 271mkF 11 x 561mkF and 1 x 271mkF 11 x 561mkF and 1 x 271mkF 11 x 561mkF and 1 x 271mkF 11 x 561mkF and 1 x 271mkF 4 x 1800 mkF, 4 x 680 mkF, and 2 x 560 mkF 10 x 561 mkF and 4 x 330 mkF 4 x 331 mkF and 11 x 561 mkF 4 x 330 mkF and 12 x 561 mkF 4 x 470 mkF and 10 x 560 mkF 1 x 3300 mkF, 4 x 1000 mkF, and 8 x 680 mkF 1 x 3300 mkF, 4 x 1000 mkF, and 8 x 680 mkF

Sound ALC888 AD1988B AD1988B AD1988B AD1988B AD1988B AD1988B AD1988B ALC883 ALC888 ALC888 ALC889A ALC888T ALC888 ALC888

Network (Gigabit Ethernet; bus type) 2 x Realtek RTL 8110SC (PCI) Marvell 88E8001(PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) Marvell 88E8001(PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) RTL 8110SC (PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) RTL 8110SC (PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) RTL 8110SC (PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) RTL 8110SC (PCI) + Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) Marvell 88E8056 (PCI Express x1) Intel 82566DC (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1) Realtek RTL8111B (PCI Express x1)

SerialATA 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 6: 6 ICH9R links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 7: 6 ICH9DH links + 1 (JMB361) link 7: 6 ICH9R links + 1 (JMB361) link 5: 4 ICH9 links + 1 (JMB361) link 8: 6 ICH9R links + 2 (JMB363) links 7: 6 ICH9R links + 1 (88SE6111) link 5: 4 ICH9R links + 1 (88SE6111) link 5: 4 ICH9R links + 1 (88SE6111) link

ParallelATA 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB363 link 1 (JMB363) link 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB363 link 1 JMB361 link 1 JMB361 link 1 JMB361 link 1 JMB363 link 1 (88SE6111) link 1 (88SE6111) link 1 (88SE6111) link

USB2.0 (integrated / additional) 4 / 8 6 / 6 6 / 6 6 / 4 6 / 4 6 / 4 6 / 4 6 / 4 6 / 6 6 / 6 4 / 8 4 / 8 6 / 6 4 / 8 4 / 8

IEEE-1394 (integrated / additional) 0 / 2 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 - 1 / 1 - 1 / 2 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1

Dimensions 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 245mm x 305mm 220mm x 305mm 220mm x 305mm

BIOS Award BIOS Phoenix Award BIOS Phoenix Award BIOS Phoenix AMI BIOS AMI BIOS AMI BIOS AMI BIOS AMI BIOS AMI BIOS Award BIOS Phoenix AMI BIOS Award BIOS Phoenix AMI BIOS AMI BIOS AMI BIOS

Vcore within 1.3375V to 1.8975V (0.01V) within 1.1V to 1.9V (0.00625V) within 1.1V to 1.9V (0.00625V) within 1.1V to 1.7V (0.0125V) within 1.1V to 1.7V (0.0125V) within 1.1V to 1.7V (0.0125V) within 1.1V to 1.7V (0.0125V) within 1.1V to 1.7V (0.0125V) within 1.1V to 1.5V (0.5V) within 0.8250V to 1.6V/2.0736V (<=0.0025V) within 0 to +0.787V (0.0125V) within 0.5V to 2.35V (0.00625-0.05V) within +0 to +0.7875V (0.0125V) within +0 to +0.7875V (0.0125V) within +0 to +0.7875V (0.0125V)

Vmem within 1.8V to 3.0V (0.025V) for DDR2 within 1.5V to 3.04V (0.02V) for DDR3 within 1.8V to 34V (0.02V) for DDR2 within 1.5V to 2.25V (0.05V) for DDR3 within 1.5V to 2.25V (0.05V) for DDR3 within 1.8V to 2.55V (0.05V) for DDR2 within 1.8V to 2.55V (0.05V) for DDR2 within 1.8V to 2.55V (0.05V) for DDR2 within 1.85V to 2V (0.05V) for DDR2 within 1.665V to 3.365V (~0.065V) for DDR2 within 1.665V to 3.0V (~0.045V) for DDR2 within 0 to +1.55V (0.05V) for DDR2 within 1.8V to 2.6V (0.05-0.1V) for DDR2 within 1.8V to 3.3V (0.05-0.1V) for DDR2 within 1.8V to 3.3V (0.05-0.1V) for DDR2

Vdd within 1.25V to 1.72V (0.04-0.08V) within 1.25V to 2.03V (0.02V) within 1.25V to 2.03V (0.02V) within 1.25V to 1.7V (0.15V) within 1.25V to 1.7V (0.15V) within 1.25V to 1.95V (0.15V) within 1.25V to 1.7V (0.15V) within 1.25V to 1.7V (0.15V) within +0 to +12% (4%) within 1.156V to 2.395V (~0.025V ~0.03V) within 1.1574V to 1.6267V (0.0313V) within 0 to +0.375V (0.025V) within 1.25V to 1.625V (0.025V) within 1.2V to 1.6V (0.025V) within 1.2V to 1.6V (0.025V)

Vsb/Vsb-io within 1.05V to 1.38V (0.04-0.06V) within 1.05V to 1.225V (0.025V) within 1.05V to 1.225V (0.025V) 1.05V; 1.2V 1.05V; 1.2V 1.05V; 1.2V 1.05V; 1.2V 1.05V; 1.2V - within 1.338V to 1.95V (~0.038V) within 1.3875V to 1.95V (0.0375V) within 0 to +0.375V (0.025V) within 1.5V to 1.8V (0.05V) within 1.5V to 1.8V (0.1V) within 1.5V to 1.8V (0.1V)

Vtt within 1.2V to 1.49V (0.03-0.07V) within 1.2V to 1.8V (0.02V) within 1.2V to 1.8V (0.02V) within 1.2V to 1.5V (0.1V) within 1.2V to 1.5V (0.1V) within 1.2V to 1.5V (0.1V) within 1.2V to 1.5V (0.1V) within 1.2V to 1.5V (0.1V) - within 1.2V to 1.725V (0.075V) - within 0 to +0.375V (0.025V) within 1.175V to 1.55V (0.025V) within 1.2V to 1.6V (0.025V) within 1.2V to 1.6V (0.025V)

FSB, MHz (increment)(convenient selection) 133-600(1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-800 (1) (+) 200-500 (1) (+) 100-999 (1) (+) 200-750 (1) (+) 100-700 (1) (+) 200-500 (1) (+) 200-500 (1) (+) 200-500 (1) (+)

Real overclocking (E6550), MHz FSB 504 566* 560 560 564 558 558 558 375 554 500 558 480 350 460

Dynamic overclocking - ASUS NOS ASUS NOS ASUS NOS ASUS NOS ASUS NOS ASUS NOS ASUS NOS - + - C.I.A. 2 D.O.T D.O.T D.O.T

Memory subsystem (score points) 4 5 5- 5+ 5 5 5 5 3 4+ 3 5- 4 4 4

System monitoring (score points, fan-control) 5+ (FanEQ) 5+ (Q-Fan 2) 5+ (Q-Fan 2) 5- (Q-Fan 2) 5- (Q-Fan 2) 5- (Q-Fan 2) 5- (Q-Fan 2) 5- (Q-Fan 2) 3 (SmartFAN) 4 (SmartFAN) 3+ (SmartFAN) 3+ (SmartFAN) 4 (SmartFAN) 4 (SmartFAN) 4 (SmartFAN)

Support for WiFi - - - + + + + + - - - - - - -

Price (price.ru 05 Dec 2007, $) ~156-190 ~340 ~300 - ~220~260 ~220~230 ~220~230 ~160~170 ~95-100 - ~105-120 ~210-250 ~160-180 ~115 ~100-115

Package bundle (specifics) 2+ 4 4+ - 4 4+ 3 4+ 4 - (fan, tokens) 4 4+ - 4 4

Number of FANs 6 8 * 8 * 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 4 6 3 3

Specific mGuru (+Panel), BIOS profiles, Power / Reset / CMOS buttons, 7seg. LED Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster Support for AI Proactive (AI Overclock, AI Net 2, OC. Profile, EZ Flash 2, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo 3, Multilanguages BIOS), A.I. Booster - Additional chip FoxOne, Power / Reset / CMOS buttons Additional chip FoxOne, Power / Reset buttons DualBIOS, EasyTune Center, FaceWizard , @BIOS Dual CoreCenter, LiveUpdate, DigiCell - -

Name abit IP35 Pro ASUS Blitz Extreme ASUS Blitz Formula ASUS P5K3 Premium ASUS P5K3 Deluxe ASUS P5K Premium ASUS P5K Deluxe ASUS P5K-E/WiFi ECS P35T-A Foxconn MARS Foxconn P35A Gigabyte P35-DQ6 MSI P35 Platinum MSI P35 Neo Combo MSI P35 Neo

In this table, the asterisk * stands for some specific feature or a record value.

Next

Content:

Page 1 - Chipsets
Page 2 - Roundup table of motherboards
Page 3 - abit IP35 Pro
Page 4 - ASUS Blitz
Page 5 - ASUS P5K3 Premium/Deluxe
Page 6 - ASUS P5K Premium, P5K Deluxe, P5K-E/WiFi
Page 7 - ECS P35T-A
Page 8 - Foxconn MARS
Page 9 - Foxconn P35A
Page 10 - Gigabyte P35-DQ6
Page 11 - MSI P35 Platinum
Page 12 - MSI P35 Neo and P35 Neo Combo
Page 13 - Performance
Page 14 - Conclusions

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