FIRST LOOK: ULi M1697 for Athlon 64/x2
by Wesley Fink on December 13, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Audio Performance
For audio testing, we used Rightmark 3D Sound CPU utilization test, which is the same benchmark run in our earlier nForce4 SLI and Ultra roundups. This benchmark measures the overhead or CPU utilization required by a codec or hardware audio chip. We tested performance using the latest version 2.1. Since we found that Version 2.1 yields different results from the earlier 1.24, we have only included test results with version 2.1.
It is important to point out that the latest ULi and ATI chipset motherboards have the necessary hooks to deliver Azalia High Definition audio. Those who have been complaining about the poor AC'97 audio present on most AMD boards should be very pleased to find Azalia HD on the ULi and ATI chipset boards. The nForce4 family does not offer the necessary chipset hooks to support HD Azalia audio.
Ethernet Performance
The one area where the ULi M1697 is disappointing is in their choice of an ethernet controller. Instead of using a Gigabit LAN, ULi only provided chipset support for a 10/100 Ethernet PHY. In practical terms, 10/100 is plenty of speed for most broadband connections, but with Ethernet quickly becoming the new standard, it is mildly disappointing that ULi still does not support Gigabit Ethernet on their chipsets. This is undoubtedly a cost-saving measure, but it mars an otherwise excellent AMD chipset.
Manufacturers can still implement Gigabit Ethernet with discrete chips, but it is more difficult to provide that solution on the preferred PCIe bus when there are no hooks for Gigabit PCIe in the chipset. Since most broadband ethernet connections barely tax 10Mb/s, this will really only matter to those who do sustained high-speed transfer of very large files over a true Gigabit network. Still, you should be aware that PCIe Gigabit Ethernet is always a better solution, and competitors are providing that capability in their current chipsets.
For audio testing, we used Rightmark 3D Sound CPU utilization test, which is the same benchmark run in our earlier nForce4 SLI and Ultra roundups. This benchmark measures the overhead or CPU utilization required by a codec or hardware audio chip. We tested performance using the latest version 2.1. Since we found that Version 2.1 yields different results from the earlier 1.24, we have only included test results with version 2.1.
It is important to point out that the latest ULi and ATI chipset motherboards have the necessary hooks to deliver Azalia High Definition audio. Those who have been complaining about the poor AC'97 audio present on most AMD boards should be very pleased to find Azalia HD on the ULi and ATI chipset boards. The nForce4 family does not offer the necessary chipset hooks to support HD Azalia audio.
Ethernet Performance
The one area where the ULi M1697 is disappointing is in their choice of an ethernet controller. Instead of using a Gigabit LAN, ULi only provided chipset support for a 10/100 Ethernet PHY. In practical terms, 10/100 is plenty of speed for most broadband connections, but with Ethernet quickly becoming the new standard, it is mildly disappointing that ULi still does not support Gigabit Ethernet on their chipsets. This is undoubtedly a cost-saving measure, but it mars an otherwise excellent AMD chipset.
Manufacturers can still implement Gigabit Ethernet with discrete chips, but it is more difficult to provide that solution on the preferred PCIe bus when there are no hooks for Gigabit PCIe in the chipset. Since most broadband ethernet connections barely tax 10Mb/s, this will really only matter to those who do sustained high-speed transfer of very large files over a true Gigabit network. Still, you should be aware that PCIe Gigabit Ethernet is always a better solution, and competitors are providing that capability in their current chipsets.
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semiconductorslave - Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - link
I was replying to the first comment on the post, "Why do all the new motherboards have all these PCIe slots when there is nothing available to stick in them."I made the assumption that since this person said there was nothing availible, that he or she did not make any effort to search. My example of Newegg and Google was narrow on purpose, showing how easy it is to find out what is availible when one starts looking. I was only trying to make a point that people instead of asking right away, could spend a little effort and maybe say something like, "I found these cards, are there any more?"
But saying, "YOU don't have the ability to see how the information's presentation is relevant." is quite an assumption on your part about my abilities.
mindless1 - Thursday, December 15, 2005 - link
Not an assumption at all, it comes straight from what you wrote, and yes it was in the context of what you'd replied to.semiconductorslave - Thursday, December 15, 2005 - link
You say, "you need to learn to think for someone other than yourself" but I didn't see you list any cards, where I at least did search and made a comment about how one should at least attempt to look for themselves before making comments like there aren't any PCI ex cards. Are you daft? You must just be trying to get my goat. I was trying to make a point but if you want to go on the attack, that isn't a productive debate anymore. I would suggest you don't take your own advice and try to think for anyone else since I don't think you can spare the mental energy.You can now have the final word as this is going nowhere.
Ozz1113 - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
SCSI, raid drive controllers...Wesley Fink - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
Gigabit Ethernet PCIe x1 controllers.Missing Ghost - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
tv tunersceefka - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
PCI-e Firewire 400 and 800 cards by SIIG and BelkinCalin - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
The new Creative xFi cards are PCIe 1xLoneWolf15 - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
Sad to say, they are not, they're plain-jane PCI. People had hoped they would be, but Creative is unlikely to do PCIe until its next-gen card after the X-Fi. Even with the X-Fi and todays most advanced games that can use its features, there isn't enough data being transferred to saturate the PCI bus.
mindless1 - Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - link
... isn't enough data to saturate from this one lone card, but seldom does a board only have one PCI slot. It's not the audio card that's the issue, it's when the audio card interferes with OTHER cards.