Testing (continued):

Next up is FutureMark's 3DMark06, a popular benchmark for analyzing the performance of video cards. While it wasn't pretty to watch, the integrated graphics controllers were able to get through the tests at 1280x1024, no anti-aliasing, and with optimal filtering. Higher values are better.


While people expect their high end graphics cards to pump out 10,000 or more Marks in this test, here we see that the GF7100PVT-M wins with just 383. If you haven't figured it out yet, you will not be gaming with the integrated graphics on this motherboard, but you can always pop your favorite high end card into the PCI Express x16 slot if you require more horsepower.

The next benchmark is Lavalys' Everest Ultimate Edition 4.20. Four sets of results are provided which gauge performance in terms of memory read speed (in MB/s), memory write speed (in MB/s), memory copy speed (in MB/s), and memory latency (in ns). Higher values are better for the first three values, while lower values are desirable for latency.


Here we see that something other than a single channel memory controller must be impacting the performance of the two memory modules installed. Sure, the results are much lower than what you would expect on a higher end dual channel board, but they're even lower than the same kit installed on the older ECS motherboard. The RC410L/800-M also has a single channel memory controller, and other than the latency value, it beats the newer board with ease.

SimpliSoftware's HD Tach RW 3.0.4.0 is the final test to consider, and it may be the feel good story of the review. Of the four results provided, higher values are better for Burst Speed and Average Read Speed, while lower values are better for CPU Usage and Access Time.


While the 3Gbps drive attached didn't quite burst to a speed as high as you might expect, the average read speed was quite respectable. With a strong showing with a single drive, I would hope to see fast transfer rates if the onboard controller was configured to use a few drives in RAID 0, 0+1, or 5.