A7N8X-X and SIDE BAND ADRESSING

[nicolas]

Hi,

I have a A7N8X-X and a GF 5700 Ultra running in 8x agp mode and fast write
but in the hidden features of the GF control panel "AGP SEttings" in cannot
check the "Side Band Adressing" box. Moreover, in 3DMark03 it is mentionned
that the Side Band Adressing is supported but disabled.

How can I enable it as ther isnot option in BIOS for that ? Therefore, am I
losing performance ?

dapez

 

[Ben Pope]

Hi,

I have a A7N8X-X and a GF 5700 Ultra running in 8x agp mode and fast write
but in the hidden features of the GF control panel "AGP SEttings" in
cannot check the "Side Band Adressing" box. Moreover, in 3DMark03 it is
mentionned that the Side Band Adressing is supported but disabled.

How can I enable it as ther isnot option in BIOS for that ? Therefore, am
I losing performance ?

OK, I just tried it on my A7N8X Deluxe with Ati 9800 Pro.

Booted windows with SBA off, and did some benches in Aquamark03:
Switched it on: 37015
Switched it off: 36945
Switched it on: 37081
Switched it off: 36945
Switched it on: 36945
Switched it off: 37267

Average:
On: 37013
Off: 37052

So you can safely say that it doesn't affect performance much, if at all.
The average between on and off varies less than the score in three tries.
Pretty much statistically insignificant.

If you want it on, then do this at your own risk:
Grab WPCREDIT and set bit 1 of offset 0x49 (I changed it from 0x01 to 0x03)

Off is just clearing the same bit.

I think that the value is reset on reboot, so if you have problems, just
reboot. However, I do not know this for a fact, so use with caution.

Ben

 

[Ed]

OK, I just tried it on my A7N8X Deluxe with Ati 9800 Pro.

Booted windows with SBA off, and did some benches in Aquamark03:
Switched it on: 37015
Switched it off: 36945
Switched it on: 37081
Switched it off: 36945
Switched it on: 36945
Switched it off: 37267

Average:
On: 37013
Off: 37052

So you can safely say that it doesn't affect performance much, if at all.
The average between on and off varies less than the score in three tries.
Pretty much statistically insignificant.

If you want it on, then do this at your own risk:
Grab WPCREDIT and set bit 1 of offset 0x49 (I changed it from 0x01 to 0x03)

Off is just clearing the same bit.

I think that the value is reset on reboot, so if you have problems, just
reboot. However, I do not know this for a fact, so use with caution.

Ben

I just ran 3Dmark01se two times with SB off, two times with it enabled.
Long story short, it made no difference on my A7N8X/Barton/9800 Pro.

Ed