CPUZ
One of the first things we do when installing a new motherboard is do a "First Boot." First Boot is done with the minimum number of computer accessories attached to the computer. In this case, a single stick of memory, the video card and the CPU was installed. Upon first POST, I entered into the BIOS Setup and set the RAID array and boot device settings to where I wanted them. For this motherboard the on-board HD Audio was enabled for sound testing. The BIOS was very easy to navigate and anyone who takes a little time can figure it out. If not, its RTFM time my friend, so read the manual and do a bit of research.
After installing the second memory module, hard disks and drives, I was ready to install Windows XP. EVGA provides a F6 setup floppy to install SATA RAID drivers for XP. If you want to use Windows Vista, the operating system has drivers already for the RAID controller, meaning that the SATA floppy isn't necessary. All the standard tests are run in Windows XP, we only install Vista make sure everything is running without issue and play a few games. Vista is still too new of an OS to offer a proper, or stable environment to be used as a solid test bed OS. Windows XP still offers the end-user the best solution in a desktop OS hands down, and we encountered no errors during our testing or subsequent using of this motherboard and Windows XP. Vista has known issues with many games and Direct3D and OpenGL, therefore those errors are a reflection on Microsoft's OS and not the 680LT board.
Test System
- M2N32-SLI Premium Vista Edition
- Intel Pentium 670 3.8GHz CPU
- 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800MHz memory
- XFX 7900GT video card running 520MHz/720MHz core/memory
- ASUS 16X DVD-ROM Drive
- Ultra X-Finity 650W PSU
- Windows XP SP2
Test Software
- FEAR 1024x768 max settings Performance demo
- Doom 3 1024x768 HQ settings Timedemo demo1
- Aquamark 3 1024x768 no AA 4x AF, Default demo
- 3DMark06 Default run 1280x1024
- 3DMark05 Default run 1024x768
- PCMark04 Memory test
- Sisoft Sandra 2005 SR2 Memory test
- PCMark05
- SuperPi
- Sysmark 2004 Patch 2
