Experiencing Overclocking with MSI DKA790GX Platinum

[windwithme]

Early in 2008, AMD launched its high-end 790FX + SB600 chipset in ATX form factor which comes with CrossFire X16+X16 architecture.

However, due to the high price (around 160-200USD), the high-end 790FX chipset is not very popular in the market.

 

 

In March, AMD introduces the latest low-end entry level 780G + SB700 South Bridge which is catered for the Micro-ATX solution.

Built-in Radeon HD 3200 GPU and DVI+HDMI output support, it is suitable for users,

who need smaller chassis also need the performance, and specifications are good choices. Price is more acceptable around 75-100USD.

 

 

But AMD only introduced two high-end and low-end products;

AMD launched the 790GX + SB750 South Bridge in September.

That is providing full-range product solution; the 790GX chipset supports CrossFire technology,

built-in high performance HD3300, and combined into Micro-ATX and ATX form factor.

It is a better flexible combination. The price is also different due to the different form factors.

The ATX version is about 120-160USD while the Micro-ATX solution is 100-130USD.

 

 

This time we get high-end MSI DKA 790GX Platinum motherboard for testing.

The ATX version is priced at about 160USD.

 

Product Packaging

Positioned at high-end version, the quality of the package is good.

 

 

Accessories included

There are user’s manual, XP/VISTA driver installation CD, two CF bridges and USB extension port.

 

 

MSI DKA790GX Platinum motherboard

 

 

 

Motherboard Layout

2 x PCI-E X16 (In CrossfireX mode, two slots run at x8 mode)

2 X PCI-E X1

2 X PCI

1 X Floppy

Realtek 8111C Gigabit LAN controller, Realtek ALC888 HD Audio Codec, 8-channels

 

 

5 X SATAII (South Bridge SB750)

1 X IDE

Power/Reset/Clear CMOS button usually use in high-end product.

 

 

4-DIMM DDR2, supports 533/667/800MHz, and Phenom can up to 1066MHz

24-pin power

 

 

Processor utilizes the 4+1 phase power supply, full support 140W Phenom processor.

Support MSI’s exclusive DrMOS energy-saving technology.

 

I/O Interface

6 X USB 2.0

1 X eSATA(SB750)

1 X 1394

1 X S/PDIF optical output

Mouse port change to 2 USB ports

Built-in VGA HD3300, total have D-Sub/DVI/HDMI three output interface.

 

The cooling device is very special.

[windwithme]

BIOS Setting

 

Cell Menu

 

Voltage

CPU VDD Voltage 1.1000~1.4500V(in 0.0125 steps)

CPU-NB VDD Voltage 1.1000~1.4500V(in 0.0125 steps)

CPU Voltage 1.412V

CPU-NB Voltage 1.325~1.425V(in 0.005 steps)

DRAM Voltage 1.80~2.30V(in 0.05~0.10 steps)

NB Voltage 1.20~1.50V(in 0.05 steps)

HT Link 1.25~1.50V(in 0.05 steps)

 

DRAM Configuration

 

MSI BIOS function – Memory-Z

Memory SPD Information

 

Here is the built-in GPU HD3300 setting information

VGA share memory setting – Between 64~512MB

The SidePort is a 128MB DDR3 memory interface which is designed to increase the GPU performance.

The SidePort clock speed is DDR3 667/800/10661333/1600/1700MHz

 

H/W Monitor

 

 

Test Platform

CPU: AMD Athlon64 X2 5400+/Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition

MB: MSI DKA790GX Platinum

DRAM: CORSAIR Dominator TWIN4096-8500C5D

VGA: HD300 256MB

HD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB

POWER: Corsair 400W Power Supply

Cooler: Thermaltake V1 AX/JETART Nano Diamond/Lubic

 

Using the Thermaltake V1 extension version, V1 AX is the main cooler.

 

The bottom of 4 thermal heat-pipes is using the mirror polishing deal.

[windwithme]

CPU

AMD Athlon64 X2 5400+ Black Edition

428Mhz SP2004

 

The quality of my own dual-core / quad-core CPU is not good enough.

The FSB is around 428/245MHz. However, if 790GX use the better CPU, the FSB of dual-core can be more than 460MHz, the quad-core have chance up to 270MHz.

 

DRAM

CORSAIR Dominator TWIN4096-8500C5D(2GBX2 DDR2 1066)

OC DDR2 1138 CL5 5-5-15 2T 1.90V

3 X SP2004 Blend

 

DDR2 1189 CL5 5-5-15 2T

Memory Benchmark

 

After several test, the memory benchmark of 790GX is not good as 790FX.

But MSI DKA790GX Platinum in DRAM overclocking is surprisingly good, especially overclocking 2GBX2.

The 4GB Kit can reach 1138 score at 1.9V stability and limit the performance of 1189; it is a very good AMD platform.

 

 

Built-in HD3300 GPU, 256MB shared

Graphics Card

Built-in HD3300 GPU, 256MB shared

GPU Default 700MHz GDDR3 1333 / Main DDR2 1066

GPU OC 1000Mhz GDDR3 1333 / Main DDR2 1066

 

 

3DMARK2003

Default

 

OC

 

3DMARK2005

Default

 

OC

 

3DMARK2006

Default

 

OC

 

The NB and HT Link voltage of the motherboard’s built-in HD3300 GPU needs to be adjusted. The GPU can reach 1000MHz by overclocking.

The HD 3300 GPU of the 790GX is the most powerful 3D version in the market.

Compared with Intel’s latest G45 series, the performance is leading. AMD is more popular in the All-in-One motherboard.

Edited November 8, 2008 by windwithme

[windwithme]

Games

Need For Speed Pro Street

1280x1024

ANTI ALIASING:2X

 

Default

 

OC

 

Crysis Benchmark

 

Default

 

 

OC

 

The 3D performance of HD3300 is also good. For heavy-loading games, it can retain the 20-30 standards as long as the resolution is not more than 1280 x 1024.

Compared with NVIDIA rival products, the performance is close to GeForce 7 series products.

 

 

Power Consumption

Stand-by Mode – 107W

 

3DMARK2005,MAX-171W

When running 3DMark 2005, the maximum power consumption is 171W.

 

 

A lot of CPU utilization when it is running 3DMark.

In the stand-by mode and full-speed load, the Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition accounts for the majority of power.

790GX with dual-core voltage CPU, down to 1GHz at 0.8V voltage, the power consumption of stand-by and full-speed is only 43W and 59W.

It is very energy-saving.

 

 

MSI DKA790GX Platinum

Conclusion

 

Advantage

1.Utilizes the AMD latest 790GX+SB750 chipset, All-solid capacitors and Circu-Pipe thermal design

2.Supports ATI CrossFireX and ATI Hybrid CrossFireX technology

3.MSI’s exclusive DrMOS technology with 4+1 power supply. Support the AM2+ 140W quad-core CPU

4.I/O interface provides an eSATA device and three types of output interface - D-Sub / DVI / HDMI.

5.HD3300 is currently rated as the highest performance of the built-in GPU.

The 3D performance is better than the AMD 780G chipset or other chipset.

6.Dual-core FSB performance is outstanding. 2GBX2 DDR2 overclocking is also good.

 

Disadvantage

1.The appearance of Circu-pipe cooling modules can be even more beautiful.

2.The packing image and boot image do not increase the consumer’s attraction.

3.The BIOS setting with four CPU voltage options can easily confuse the users.

 

Performance ??????????

Components ??????????

Layout design ??????????

Cost/ performance ratio ??????????

 

790GX posits in the middle-end chipset.

If the motherboard based on the ATX form factor, provides CF function, built-in DDR2/DDR3 memory and HD3300 technology,

the price should be around 150 to 160 U.S. dollars for the better version in each motherboard manufacturers.

It is more expensive than the M-ATX entry-level 780G motherboard which priced around 80~100 U.S. dollars.

If user chose the Micro-ATX form factor, no need CF function or HD3300 higher 3D performance,

the entry-level 780G motherboard which priced under of 100 U.S. dollars is a value choice.

 

MSI has also introduced a value solution, KA790GX which is priced around 100USD.

Although the materials and specifications are not as good as DKA790GX Platinum, but the price is lower.

Users who want a new platform with high performance and new SB750 South Bridge can choose the entry-level KA790GX.

 

MSI DKA790GX Platinum has a good stability.

The BIOS overclocking performance is quite stable.

In the future, I hope that the other MSI MB products can also maintain the same stability and offer further upgradeability in the future.