Viewing page 5 of 9 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
TEST RESULTS
Our test system is fairly basic, featuring a X2 4850e (a budget dual core processor
with a low 45W TDP) cooled by an Alpine 64 cooler, a single 1GB stick
of Corsair memory, an Asus Blu-ray drive and a 5400RPM notebook hard drive,
all powered by an 80 Plus OEM Seasonic 400W power supply.
|
Test Results: X2 4850e @ 2.5GHz (C&Q)
|
|
Test State
|
Mean
CPU
|
Peak
CPU
|
System Power
|
|
Idle
|
N/A
|
34W
|
|
Rush Hour
(H.264)
|
10%
|
17%
|
56W
|
|
Coral Reef
(WMV-HD)
|
45%
|
54%
|
58W
|
|
Drag Race
(VC-1)
|
75%
|
84%
|
72W
|
|
Disturbia
(Blu-ray H.264)
|
32%
|
43%
|
68W
|
|
CPU Load
|
N/A
|
88W
|
|
CPU + GPU
Load
|
N/A
|
96W
|
The M4A78-HTPC/RC is one of the more energy-efficient AMD motherboards we've
tested. Our test system idled at only 34W, and stayed under 60W when playing
H.264 and WMV-HD. VC-1 and Blu-ray playback pushed it closer to 70W. Power draw
with the CPU fully stressed was 88W with another 8W on top when the IGP was
pushed. As the HD 3200 IGP is still formidable by today's standards, it passed
our playback tests with relative ease, only being challenged by our high bitrate,
high resolution 1080p VC-1 clip.
|
Comparables
|
|
Test State
|
Asus
M3A78 Pro
|
Asus
M4A78-HTPC
|
Gigabyte
GA-MA74GM-S2
|
|
Mean CPU
|
System Power
|
Mean
CPU
|
System Power
|
Mean
CPU
|
System Power
|
|
Idle
|
N/A
|
39W
|
N/A
|
34W
|
N/A
|
31W
|
|
Rush Hour
(H.264)
|
6%
|
64W
|
10%
|
56W
|
42%
|
58W
|
|
Coral Reef
(WMV-HD)
|
42%
|
65W
|
45%
|
58W
|
37%
|
58W
|
|
Drag Race
(VC-1)
|
73%
|
69W
|
75%
|
72W
|
69%
|
66W
|
|
CPU Load
|
N/A
|
82W
|
N/A
|
88W
|
N/A
|
92W
|
|
CPU + GPU Load
|
N/A
|
94W
|
N/A
|
96W
|
N/A
|
97W
|
As it turns out, the M4A78-HTPC/RC is among the lowest power AMD boards we've
encountered, coming close to matching the Gigabyte's 740G-based board in idle
power consumption. Power draw on load was also excellent, as most of the AM2+
mainboards we've tested use more than 90W when the CPU is stressed, and sometimes
100W+ or more when the GPU is put on load as well.
CPU usage during video playback, as expected, was similar to the M3A78 Pro,
another of Asus' 780G motherboards, though the M4A78-HTPC/RC used less energy during
playback with the 1080p VC-1 clip being the exception.
| Help support this site, buy from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
