Highpoint 368 ATA66 Non-RAID
Mode Test
Video Card Tests
The AGP 4X mode still
eludes nVidia video card owners so the concentration was the 4-way interleaving
function.
D3D
Tests
|
Interleaving
|
3DMark2K
|
UTBench
"N"
|
UTBench
"H"
|
WT98
|
|
Non
4-way
|
7199
3DMarks
|
44.7
FPS
|
42.5
FPS
|
432
MP/s
|
|
4-way
|
7199
3DMarks
|
45.5
FPS
|
42.9
FPS
|
433
MP/s
|
UT and 3DMark2K are well
known for their accuracy and repeatability. UTBench is somewhat of an aggravating
benchmark because ultra high video card overclocking does little in comparison
to plain old high CPU speed. Nevertheless, a few FPS were squeezed directly
from 4-way interleaving. At 1024x768x32bpp, UT was very playable, not to mention
the fabulous graphics from the CLA GTS.
OpenGL
Tests
|
Interleaving
|
Q3A
"N"
|
Q3A
"H"
|
WT98
|
|
Non
4-way
|
133.8
FPS
|
84.7
FPS
|
354
MP/s
|
|
4-way
|
137.8
FPS
|
89.0
FPS
|
352
MP/s
|
More proof that 4-way
interleaving of the memory increases overall performance, not just memory
benchmarks. OpenGL type games show a slightly larger FPS boost even if they're
nothing to write home about. Maybe think about 4-way as a tiny "turbo"
option in the BIOS.
Memory Tests
Possibly
these are the most controversial due to VIA chipsets having lower than 440BX
performance. I didn't have a 133MHz FSB BX board available, but some extrapolation
from a 100MHz BX CAS2 setup proved insightful. Iwill is doing great job
with implementing the 4-way interleave memory booster and to that end I
tested with 2 BIOS revisions: vdp0609 and as yet unreleased vdp0612. Sorry,
I cannot give the beta vdp0612 out at this time. The SDRAM used was the
excellent Techworks PC133 that is capable of CAS2 at 140MHz and CAS3 up
to 150MHz.
SiSoft Benchmarks
|
Interleaving
|
Memory
(CPU)
|
Memory
(FPU)
|
|
Non
4-way
|
365
MB/s
|
414
MB/s
|
|
4-way
|
407
MB/s
|
464
MB/s
|
Conclusion
Exactly like the VD133PL,
the Pro was immanently stable. In my case, the SDRAM pooped out in CAS2 mode
before the P3 or the MB. Now, I'm searching for stable 160MHz CAS2. How times
have changed. When Iwill fixes the only real problem, the ATA66 controller
performing at ATA33 level, I could easily be persuaded to "up" the
rating to a 9 out 10. This incarnation of the VIA 133 chipset is the best
yet, but Intel's new i815 is fast approaching BX performance. If you can look
past the controller issues, this is a very good overclocker's board. For those
that want the last 1% of speed from their socket 370 chips, this is the one
to buy now.
William
Yaple
07/01/00
