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Asus P5Q-EM Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review
Asus P5Q-EM Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review - PCSTATS
To complement the High Definition decoding of the G45 Express, the P5Q-EM offers up HDMI, DVI and VGA video outputs, allowing you to output HD video right to a home theatre display without any additional expense.
 89% Rating:   
Filed under: Motherboards Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: ASUS Jan 27 2009   J. Apong  
Home > Reviews > Motherboards > ASUS P5Q-EM

High Definition Video Playback

High Definition Content Playback - HD

Source: AMD.com

Playing high definition content on current generation PCs can bog down even the fastest processors because there is more data to handle. To test the integrated graphics processor's capabilities at HD content accelerating capabilities, we played the High Definition video clip, "The Discoverers" at 720P and 1080i from the hard drive while monitoring the percentage of CPU utilization through Task Manager. Lower results are better.

PCSTATS Benchmark ReportHD 720p/1080i Video Playback
720P % CPU Usage Ranking
Intel DG45ID (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 17
Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 9
ECS G33T-M2 (Intel G33 200/800 C2D E6600 Onboard G33 Video) 18
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard HD 3300 video) 30
ECS A780GM-A (AMD 780G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard HD 3200 Video 30
Foxconn A690GM2MA-RS2H (AMD 690G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard Video) 35
Biostar Tpower N750 (NF 750a 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard nF 750a video) 24
Biostar TF8200 A2+ (GF 8200 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard GF 8200 video) 60
1080i % CPU Usage Ranking
Intel DG45ID (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 20
Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 12
ECS G33T-M2 (Intel G33 200/800 C2D E6600 Onboard G33 Video) 22
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard HD 3300 video) 49
ECS A780GM-A (AMD 780G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard HD 3200 Video 53
Foxconn A690GM2MA-RS2H (AMD 690G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard Video) 49
Biostar Tpower N750 (NF 750a 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard nF 750a video) 18
Biostar TF8200 A2+ (GF 8200 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard GF 8200 video) 64

The Asus P5Q-EM does a fantastic job of off loading video processing overhead from the CPU on to its integrated GMA X4500HD GPU, with the lowest scores yet seen on the PCSTATS high definition 720p/1080i playback tests!

PCSTATS Benchmark Report Blu-Ray High Definition Content Playback Test

Blu-Ray High Definition content demands a lot of PC processing resources during playback, if CPU load becomes too high that can lead to jittery video quality or other artifacts. Many integrated graphics processors now feature Blu-Ray and High Definition H.264, VC1 and M-PEG2 content acceleration decoders to offload this processing from the CPU, freeing up system resources for other tasks.

The PCSTATS Blu-Ray HD content playback test scenario monitors average CPU utilization. It's simple and to the point. The motherboard's integrated graphics processor is taxed in the same way it would be in your home theatre environment, and average percent CPU utilization monitored with Windows task manager. Lower CPU utilization values are best, provided video playback remains smooth and stutter free.

How PCSTATS Tests:

Each integrated graphics motherboard is connected to an ASUS MK241 wide screen 1920x1200 (1080P) resolution LCD display with an HDMI cable. The Blu-Ray movie "10,000 BC" (VC1 encrypted) is then played back from Chapter 22 on an ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray combo drive, using WinDVD Platinum software and the average fluctuation of CPU load recorded.

(The ASUS MK241 supports HDMI-audio, so sound quality is monitored on the speakers, if motherboard is able to output HDMI-audio.)

Motherboard Core Logic IGP Blu-Ray Playback
CPU Utilization

Video Playback
Quality

Intel DG45ID (Intel G45) Intel GMA X4500HD 32% - 38% No issues
Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45) Intel GMA X4500HD 38% No issues
Biostar Tpower N750 (nVidia nForce 750a) Nforce 750a 18% - 20% No issues
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX) AMD HD3300 14% - 24% No issues

The Asus P5Q-EM motherboard seems to rely on more CPU power during Blu-ray HD content playback than NVIDIA or AMD's IGPs. These numbers aren't significant enough to be a knock against the motherboard, playback was smooth and uninterrupted.

Okay, now for some really interesting power consumption numbers!

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Contents of Article: ASUS P5Q-EM
 Pg 1.  Asus P5Q-EM Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review
 Pg 2.  Intel G45 Express Chipset
 Pg 3.  — High Definition Video Playback
 Pg 4.  Total System Power Draw Comparisons
 Pg 5.  Asus P5Q-EM Motherboard Highlights
 Pg 6.  Overclocking Test Report, Test System Specs
 Pg 7.  Motherboard Benchmarks: SYSmark 2007 Preview
 Pg 8.  Motherboard Benchmarks: SiSoft Sandra 2008 - Processor
 Pg 9.  Motherboard Benchmarks: Sandra - Memory
 Pg 10.  Motherboard Benchmarks: PCMark Vantage
 Pg 11.  Motherboard IGP Benchmarks: 3DMark06
 Pg 12.  Motherboard IGP Benchmarks: 3DMark Vantage, FEAR
 Pg 13.  DX10 Motherboard IGP Benchmarks: Call of Juarez, Crysis
 Pg 14.  Intel X4500HD Graphics - Smooth HD Playback?

 
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