Abit IX38 QuadGT

December 6, 2007 | 08:07

Tags: #benchmark #crossfire #ddr2 #enthusiast #gt #lga775 #performance #quad #review #x38

Companies: #abit #intel

Audio Performance

The audio performance tests were done using Audio Rightmark 6.0.5 and a 3.5mm gold plated, oxygen free stereo loop back cable between stereo out and microphone input. Results were taken at the DVD sample rate of 16-bit/48KHz and High Definition 24-bit/96KHz.

What we're looking for:

  • Noise Level: A higher negative is better. This is usually viewed in relation to a signal level which provides a signal to noise ratio. As you get closer to zero there's more noise and lesser audio fidelity.
  • Frequency Response: Two values listing how close to the lower higher frequencies the codec can reach. If it hits them perfectly it'll display a 0, 0.
  • Dynamic Range: The difference between the loudest and quietest sounds the codec can make before it distorts them. The larger the gap, the better.
  • THD and IMD percentage: Closer to zero is better. THD and IMD are best looked at together, where as if you have a lot of THD and not much IMD, then it'll offer a warmer accurate sound. High THD and IMD provides a warm, inaccurate sound, low THD and high IMD gives a cold inaccurate sound and finally low THD and IMD gives a cold accurate sound.
  • IMD = intermodulation distortion and is a fancy way of saying conversion interpolation, which is a basic detection of the quality loss after an analogue to digital then digital to analogue conversion. By comparing it to a highly compressed source it shows up problems with the codec and converters.
  • THD = total harmonic distortion, which shows up unwanted harmonics; integer multiples of the original component sound that can be second, third, fourth degrees or overtones for example.
  • Stereo Crosstalk: where the stereo channels "talk" to each other and interact. Ideally you want them entirely separate, unmixed or echoed in either channel, so a higher negative a result as possible is preferred.

16-bit / 48KHz


Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Crosstalk, Dynamic Range and Frequency Response
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Intermodulation Distortion, Intermodulation Distortion Swept and Noise Level
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Total Harmonic Distortion

24-bit / 96KHz


Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Crosstalk, Dynamic Range and Frequency Response
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Intermodulation Distortion, Intermodulation Distortion Swept and Noise Level
Abit IX38 QuadGT Subsystem Testing: Audio Performance
Click to enlarge

Total Harmonic Distortion

The IX38 QuadGT uses the Realtek ALC888 chipset which offers up to 7.1 channel High Definition audio at 192KHz / 32-bit fidelity. The ALC888 doesn't offer any special Dolby or DTS features, or even content encryption support like the ALC885 or 889a, but it does provide a pretty good basic on-board audio experience.
Discuss this in the forums

Posted by RotoSequence - Thu Dec 06 2007 08:48

I expected more out of Abit than a pretty board. What went wrong? :blah:

With the BIOS holding back memory performance that much, wouldn't it be a rather mediocre, rather than awesome, one?

Posted by BUFF - Thu Dec 06 2007 08:50

The usual thorough Bit-tech review. :)

Can you say which BIOS version that you tested with?
Obviously it's early days in BIOS development for this board & improvements are expected over time.

Your experience with Vcore is interesting as it goes against what most others have been reporting in places like XS etc. - there people are reporting only ~0.04V Vdroop even with a quad which is obviously significantly different from your results.
I wonder if that's due to a different BIOS?

& there are certainly some people who are looking at buying the QuadGT specifically because it has a x4 slot for a RAID card etc.
At the end of the day it's a design choice & whether it's right or wrong for you is upto you to decide.

Oh & the bundle appears to have been a cock-up - there are supposed to be wire fan brackets for attaching a small fan to the nb included & yes, apparently somebody forgot to spec. the usual abit combined USB & firewire PCI slot plate in the BOM :rolleyes:

I totally agree about P35 still being a very strong competitor if you don't need the 2nd X16 slot to run Crossfire which is why I'm sticking with my IP35 Pro.

Posted by Tim S - Thu Dec 06 2007 08:59

Richard listed BIOS 11 on the test setup page, which is the latest available on Abit's site. I'm guessing there will be more updates in the long run that will improve performance over time... I don't personally think it's a bad board, but it's one that you're only likely to be interested in if you want CrossFire.

Posted by BUFF - Thu Dec 06 2007 09:01

Must have missed that, they're already on 12beta3 so that's probably the difference then.
I totally agree about Crossfire being the only reason for going X38 & probably X48 too.
null
YouTube logo
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review

October 14 2021 | 15:04

In line with recent changes to data protection legislation in the UK and Europe we would like to direct you to our updated Privacy Policy here.