Settings

We used BIOS 08/04/15 dated 2008/05/02, the latest release version. The mentioned BIOS parameters are available in this version, but the viability of non-standard settings hasn't been tested.

Overclocking options would have been inappropriate here, but an option to force memory frequencies and the main timings would come in handy.

Performance

Testbed configuration:

• CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9550
• Memory: Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4 (2 GB, DDR2-800, 5-5-5-15-2T)
• HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (SATA, 7200 rpm)
• Graphics card: ATI Radeon HD3870, 512 MB GDDR4
• Power supply unit: AcBel ATX-550CA-AB8FB
• OS: Windows XP SP2.

Performance is not of major concern for an office motherboard, especially what concerns the speed of a graphics core in games. On the other hand, Microsoft already promoted 3D technologies to the level of graphics interface (Vista), so a certain performance level is a must, especially considering the long service life of office computers. The graphics core in the 780V chipset is called Radeon 3100, while the 780G chipset uses Radeon HD 3200. Let's see how much they differ in performance (we've also taken a reference motherboard on 780G from TUL).

No comments needed, as demonstrate is the same. Different numbers in product names can be explained with the lack of Hybrid CrossFire support in the AMD 780V chipset, but that feature is not necessary for an office chipset. AMD is very generous in other respects (even the core clock is not reduced), especially considering that Intel cuts down performance of office chipsets quite significantly (which is already poor even in top models, we already proved it in our tests). And a CPU (no matter how fast or advertized it is) cannot save the day, when a graphics core is disproportionately weak. As a result, AMD platform allows to assemble a really better balanced configuration for its price. We are also pleased with its power consumption, which was only 38 W in the text editing mode (for the entire system unit).

Conclusions

This motherboard meets all office requirements. Along with its good integrated graphics core, it has two video outputs, VGA and DVI. In our opinion, it must become the standard these days or, to be more exact, the minimal requirement for any motherboard with integrated graphics. Fortunately, ECS decided against saving on the audio codec. And other feature cuts (support for CPUs with TDP up to 95 W and no overclocking options in BIOS) are well justified. Even an insignificant cost reduction facilitates the talks with large PC manufacturers -- main consumers of such motherboards.

Write a comment below. No registration needed!