X3: Reunion	Source: EGOSOFT

Extensive development has gone into the X³ engine, making full use of DirectX 9 technology, to create dramatic visual effects and stunningly realistic starships. Coupled with the massively enhanced A.L. (Artificial Life) system, X³: REUNION will present players with an ever changing, evolving universe; where a players actions really can shape the future of the universe.

X3: Reunion
1024x768:	FPS	Ranking
Foxconn 975X7AA-8EKRS2H (975X 200/667)	58.146
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	74.145
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	72.907
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	73.743
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	71.855

The socket AM2 Athlon64 processor has a very strong FPU and this is why it's able to out muscle the Intel Pentium processor. In this benchmark, SLI does not make much of a difference to system performance.

Doom 3	Source: id Software

Doom 3 is the most advanced game to date. it takes advantage of the latest videocard technology and pushes the processing power of the CPU to its absolute limit. At its highest setting, Ultra quality, texture sizes pass the 500MB mark which means even tomorrow's videocards will have a hard time running everything. The frame rates in the game itself are locked at 60 fps so anything above that point is wasted. Each test is run three times with the third run being recorded.

Doom 3 - Benchmark
LQ 640x480:	FPS	Ranking
Foxconn 975X7AA-8EKRS2H (975X 200/667)	138.4
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	172.5
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	168.7
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	168.9
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	161.8

Numbers are very close in Doom3. While dual graphics cards (SLI) does positively affect Doom 3 at higher resolutions, it seems to be detrimental at lower screen sizes.

Quake 4	Source: id Software

Quake 4 is the latest shooter from ID and is based on the Doom 3 engine. Tweaked to for more eye candy, Quake 4 promises to be tougher on videocards and systems than its predecessor was. Quake 4 also does not have a 60 fps limiter like Doom 3, with the Ultra setting, graphic textures can surpass the 500MB mark! Each test is run three times and with the third run being recorded.

Quake 4 - Benchmark
LQ 640x480:	FPS	Ranking
Foxconn 975X7AA-8EKRS2H (975X 200/667)	142.8
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	176.5
Foxconn C51XEM2AA (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	174.8
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX Single)	161.4
Asus M2N32SLI-DLX (NF 590 SLI 200/800 GeForce 7800GTX SLI)	166.1

In the final benchmark of the day, Quake 4 illustrates the sheer performance potential of the Asus M2N32SLI-DLX motherboard. The Asus M2N32SLI-DLX is bit slower than the Foxconn C51XEM2AA motherboard, but not by much. So now that we've looked at the full suite of benchmarks, where does this leave us?