ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe Vs. Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR - Intel 915G Doubleshot

Performance Analysis:  When we take a look at the performance between the ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe and the Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR, we found the scales tipped in favor of the ASUS board in most tests.  Nonetheless, while we saw the widest spreads in the synthetic tests from FutureMark, when it came to the real-world encoding, gaming and application testing, the results were much closer.  In each test the results between the two boards was a matter of a few seconds with video encoding, while the gaming and application tests were quite close in their own right.  So while the ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe may have topped the majority of tests, the Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR was close behind.

ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe:
The P5GDC-V Deluxe offers a good balance between the technology of today and the next generation.  Instead of having to buy a new Processor, Video Card, DDR2 memory and PCI-E peripherals, ASUS mixes the board with a little bit of everything so you can use some of the hardware you already have, while reserving the ability to upgrade it in the future.  At the minimum, a new LGA775 Socket Pentium 4 will be in order, but after that, users will be able to use some of their existing hardware, easing the transition and costs of upgrading to PCI-E video and DDR2.

We were quite impressed with the board's retail bundle and overall features.  The ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe impressed us on the outside with its extensive features and integrated components, as well as with its solid performance, stability and overclocking potential.  The board delivered on all fronts, with little shortcomings, proving to be an excellent choice for those looking to make the move to a PCI-E/DDR2 ready system.  With so much room to grow and component flexibility, it's hard to go wrong with the ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe.  Selling in the price range of $155, we think this board is a great choice.

We give the ASUS P5GDC-V Deluxe Motherboard a Hot Hardware Heat Meter Rating of...

Soltek SL-915Pro-FGR:
When we look at the features of the Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR, we find a capable motherboard that has a lot to offer.  This model was not as flexible when compared to the ASUS model, with no support for DDR2 and SATA RAID, but the choice to leave DDR2 out of the mix isn't a major issue in the current market.  Our biggest issue with the Soltek model was the less than impressive BIOS menu system and the lack of serious overclocking potential.  Top that off with the numerous "detail" points such as misspelling in the BIOS and on the retail packaging and we walk away with a feeling that QA might need some tweaking.

In the end, misspellings don't make a bad product, nor does poor overclocking.  When it came to performance and features, the Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR is a contender and we found the system quite stable in stock testing.  Surely, there is room for improvement, but if overclocking is not a huge concern, the SL-915GPro-FGR does have a lot to offer.  For $125, the board comes in a bit cheaper than the competition, but when you weigh what an additional $25 can get (SATA RAID and DDR2 support), the additional money may be worth it in the long run.

We give the Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR a Hot Hardware Heat Meter Rating of...