ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI: Core 2 Duo goes mATX

Gaming Performance

While Sandra and Super Pi provided useful information on how memory performs without the influence of other components, our first round of real world tests has shown there is not a noticeable difference in performance between DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 operation on this board. However, our next set of real-world benchmarks consists of gaming benchmarks. Due to the amount of information and the relative closeness of the scores we are not utilizing zero based charts as the line graphs would stack on each other. However, you can click on the graph for a zero based graph of the presented information. Although the data chart tells the story we felt like there should be some separation in the line graphs to accurately depict the information.

We are utilizing Half-Life 2: Lost Coast and Quake 4 in our testing because they are sensitive to memory bandwidth changes. We added Serious Sam II to our benchmark mix because it is typically very GPU dependent and we will see the effects of our memory/GPU choices on these games. We tested at the 1024x768 resolution with High Quality settings in order to reduce the effects of the video card on testing. We found the 7600GS to be GPU limited at 1280x1024 but it still provided a decent gaming experience with scores dropping off around 30% on average but still remaining around the 60FPS level.

Click for Zero Point Charts

Our two memory sensitive games show a continuing pattern with ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI motherboard performing extremely well at both memory settings in Quake 4 and Half-Life 2: Lost Coast. The board finished with top scores in Quake 4 and very good results in Lost Coast, although at DDR2-667 the board did not scale at the same rate as in the other games. The ASRock 945G board finished second in Serious Sam II where the NV 570 SLI outclassed the other boards in our last tests. The onboard Intel GMA950 solution could not complete the Half Life 2 or Serious Sam II tests. It was able to beautifully create a stunning slideshow effect in Quake 4 with an average FPS rate of 10.9 at 1024x768 and 7.6 at 1280x1024. As we mentioned earlier, this graphics solution is best left running TurboTax and playing Internet Tetris.