Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 i925XE Motherboard
Overclocking and Final Thoughts
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Foxconn doesn't have a long history of making highly overclockable motherboards, but the 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 had its fair share of overclocking options so we were eager to see what it could do...
;) CPU Test @ 3.78GHz |
;) Multimedia Test @ 3.78GHz |
;) Memory Test @ DDR669 |
We managed to reach a peak bus speed of 251MHz with our retail 3.0GHz Pentium 4. This resulted in the CPU running at 3.78GHz, an increase of 25.5%. This also brought our memory speed up to 669MHz DDR. All of this was achieved with a slight increase in CPU and Memory voltage for good measure and nothing more. The memory voltage was set to 2v while we added 0.15v to the CPU. The CPU and Multimedia tests show the test bed reaching similar performance to a Pentium 4 560 processor, which runs at 3.60GHz, with the reference system having a slight edge in scores. When overclocked, the memory scores took a major leap, running close to 20% faster that the PC24300 reference system.
In our final test, we ran Wolfenstein: ET again and compared the results to the stock scores. The final results tacked on 21.1 additional frames per second, peaking at 137.5 FPS, an increase of 18.13%. While not quite equivalent to the overall CPU and Memory increases, this was a sizeable performance gain in the end.
Performance Summary:
In each segment of our testing, the 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 from Foxconn preformed on the same level as the reference boards used in each test. While there were some variations in the results, most of the time these were fractional differences and the tests were essentially a tie. While there were performance deltas in the synthetic testing, it was the video encoding, gaming, and Winstone tests that were more representative of real-world performance. In which case, it's tough to say any one board was "faster" than another.
When looking for the best performing PCI Express solution from Intel, the 925XE chipset is currently the best they have to offer. With support for the latest Socket T Pentium 4 processors, including the Extreme Edition, this chipset brings everything Intel has to the table. And Foxconn seems to have put the i925XE to good use. The Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 is a quality motherboard with all of the trimmings.
From a feature standpoint, the Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 has it all. With dual Gigabit Ethernet, a multitude of RAID options, IEEE 1394a/b support, DDR2 support, and an impressive retail package, the 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 truly delivers the goods. In fact, the only real complaint we had, albeit minor, was its subdued appearance. Being such a high-end product, some users may want to show it off, and its somewhat subdued appearance may not appeal to hardcore enthusiasts. However, judging any board by appearances alone would be a major mistake.
The Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 is a very good motherboard with an impressive list of features and competitive performance. If you are looking to build a high-end Intel based PC, the 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 has what you need. But there is something to consider before taking the plunge. As our performance scores show, when using a Socket T processor with an 800MHz FSB, the i925XE performs at just about the same level as the less expensive i915. With that said, if you are not planning to take advantage of all of the 925XE7AA-8EKRS2's features, it may be overkill. However, if you are looking for an exceptionally flexible motherboard that has room to grow, this Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 deserves serious consideration and will likely please even the most critical enthusiast.
We give the Foxconn 925XE7AA-8EKRS2 a Hot Hardware Heat Meter of 8.5.
