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Overclocking
Motherboards using VIA K8T800 chipset are not considered as best overclocking platforms for Athlon 64 because of their AGP/PCI frequency problems. High AGP and PCI frequencies could be problem for some hardware like SATA hard drives and Radeon graphics cards. That's why I used IBM 120GXP IDE hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce2 Pro display adapter on these tests.
301 MHz
I used ClockGen software to find highest possible FSB, which was 301MHz. AGP frequency was 100MHz and PCI frequency 50MHz, so there is most likely going to be problems to use this high FSB for longer periods. Most hardware sites have reached FSB's like 220Mhz on their tests. That is not any kind of limit for motherboards like this, there are however not many new graphics card and hard drives that can take AGP and PCI frequencies much over specs.
I have also overclocked nForce3 motherboards and although it is easier to get them on high FSBs, you have to lower HTT bus speed to 400MHz from original and so on. There are no adjustments for HTT bus speed on Albatron K8X800 Pro II and it doesn't need them. It's safe to say that if you can manage with AGP/PCI problem, you get superior performance and motherboard overclockability with Albatron K8X800 Pro II.
What this board really needs are more DDR voltage and fixed AGP/PCI clocks. You can always void your warranty and do voltage mod, but AGP/PCI clocks are another thing. So although K8X800 Pro II overclocks like champ, there is hardly any hardware that can do the same with it.
SuperPi 8M 2549 MHz
Vr-Zone has complete voltage mod guide for K8X800 Pro II. I made Vdimm voltage mod and it really makes difference if you are using memory modules that require high voltages. BTW memory voltage is regulated from 5V so there really is LOTS of headroom for hardcore overclockers.
SuperPi 8M 2553 MHz
Despite that I was able to run Kingston HyperX PC3000 memory at quite extreme 269MHz 2.5-2-2-5 3,4V performance wasn't extraordinary. I also believe that 269MHz was more like memory controller's limitation than our HyperX module, so there is still room for some improvements.
Conclusion
Albatron K8X800 Pro II
PROS CONS |
Albatron K8X800 Pro II feels very complete product. I have had fewer problems with this motherboard than any other Athlon 64 motherboard that I have tried. Especially memory compatibility seemed to be very good and I also liked K8X800 Pro II's high quality integrated features, such as marvellous 8-channel audio. There are some minor problems with layout, but nothing too serious. Things that I missed were few more SATA ports and dual LAN. When it comes to performance and overclocking K8X800 Pro II performed very well. Overclocking options are comprehensive although there is some room for improvements. It is almost shame that VIA K8T800 chipset doesn't support fixed AGP/PCI frequencies; with it K8X800 Pro II really would have kicked ass. If you are looking for very stable Athlon 64 motherboard, with good performance and high quality integrated features I could not think of better motherboard. K8X800 Pro II has also three year warranty. |
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Past related articles in MetkuModsReviews:- DFI Infinity 875 - Albatron PX865PE ProII - Epox EP-4PDA2+ - Asus P4P800 - Intel P4 2.4C |
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