During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. Between our benchmarking sessions the only variable was the motherboard being tested.

Hardware Configuration

• BIOS: September 23rd, 2005
• Processor: Athlon 64 3200+ (2 GHz)
• Memory: Two 256 MB PC3200 modules from TwinMOS
• Hard Drive: Maxtor DiamondMax 9 Plus (40 GB, ATA-133)
• Screen resolution: 800x600x32

Software Configuration

• Windows XP Professional installed using NTFS
• Service Pack 1A
• Direct X 9.0B
• SiS AGP driver version: 1.21
• SiS video driver version: 3.67
• ATI video driver version: 7.95 (6.14.10.6396)
• NVIDIA nForce driver version: 8.22
• NVIDIA video driver version: 81.98
• VIA Hyperion driver version: 5.04A
• VIA video driver version: 16944421

Used Software

• SYSmark2002
• PCMark04 Business
• 3DMark2001 SE
• 3DMark03 Pro 3.40
• Quake III Arena 1.32

We adopted a 3% error margin; thus, differences below 3% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 3% should be considered as having similar performance.