ASUS M2A-VM Motherboard Review

How We Tested

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 version: 0201 (January 26th, 2007)

 

• Motherboard revision: 1.01G.

 

• Processor: Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (2.6 GHz) with 512 KB L2 cache.

 

• Cooler: AMD.

 

• Memory: Two Corsair PC8500 CM2X512-8500 modules with 512 MB each, installed under DDR2 dual channel configuration (5-5-5-15 timings).

 

• Hard Drive: Maxtor DiamondMax 9 Plus (40 GB, ATA-133).

 

• Video Cards: XFX GeForce 6200 TC 64 MB 64-bit, Leadtek GeForce 6200 128 MB 128-bit and XFX GeForce 7800 GTX.

 

• Video resolution: 1024x768x32@85Hz.

 

• Power Supply: Antec Neo HE 550.

Software Configuration
 

• Windows XP Professional installed using NTFS

 

• Service Pack 2

 

• DirectX 9.0c

Driver Versions
 

• NVIDIA video driver version: 93.71

 

• NVIDIA LAN driver version: 65.21

 

• NVIDIA IDE driver version: 6.77

 

• NVIDIA SM bus driver version: 4.57

 

• ATI IGP driver version: Catalyst 6.6 (on ECS RS485M-M).

 

• ATI IGP driver version: Catalyst 7.2 (on ASUS M2A-VM).

 

• Audio driver version: Realtek A3.86 (on ECS RS485M-M).

 

• Audio driver version: Realtek R1.47.

Used Software
 

• SYSmark2004 – Patch 2

 

• PCMark05 Professional 1.1.0

 

• 3DMark 2001 SE 3.3.0

 

• 3DMark03 3.6.0

 

• 3DMark05 1.2.0

 

• Quake III Arena 1.32

 

• Quake 4 1.2

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.