The overall benchmark results fell pretty well where we expected, with the high-end i875P performance boards being virtually untouchable, and for the most part, the i875P motherboards took the top spots in system and game benchmarking. This was true in some cases, while in others, the i865PE-powered ASUS P4P800 Deluxe and its PAT-like "Memory Acceleration Mode" placed it right up there with the mid-range i875P offerings. When comparing the i875P versus a standard i865PE motherboard, the division was clear, as the Soyo i865PE Dragon 2 results attested. One mild surprise was how well the i848P-equipped ASUS P4P800S-E Deluxe fared at the entry-level, especially since the architecture only supports single-channel DDR memory.
No matter how well a motherboard performs or how deep its feature set, the retail price is still an important consideration. We have compiled a list of average retail prices from the larger online vendors, which is reflected in the following chart:
* Please note that these prices were taken at the time of review and are not meant to reflect long-term trends.
The price list chart also plays out the various market segments, from the sub-$100 entry level all the way up to the fully-equipped high-end. The entry level brings up a few interesting comparisons, as the Soyo i865PE Dragon 2 is the faster board, while the ASUS P4P800S-E Deluxe has a relatively high-end selection of onboard features. Both come in at under $100, and the i865PE vs. i848P question really comes down to usage and feature requirements, while offering a lot of choice for the end user.
The mid-range and high-end present a different scenario, and the high-end performance and mid-range price of the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe make it an obvious winner. For the true high-end enthusiast, we recommend moving a bit higher in the scale, and both the MSI 875P NEO-FIS2R and ASUS P4C800 Deluxe are excellent choices. The more specialized products like the Soyo i875P Dragon 2 Platinum and DFI LANPARTY PRO875 obviously entail a bit of a price premium, but for those in that target market, the extra money might well be worth it.
In terms of overall top selections, our two editor's choice award winners, the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe and MSI 875P NEO-FIS2R, are exceptional choices for the performance gamer. These are both super performers at their respective market segments, and their combination of feature set, price and overclocking make them the best in class. The ASUS P4C800 Deluxe isn't far behind these two, and the AOpen AX4C Max offers an excellent package at its price point.
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