Tuesday, November 30, 1999

The performance tests results

All tests were all performed under Windows98.

The system setup was as following:

Motherboard: TMC TI6NBFV+
CPU: Intel Pentium II 350mhz
Memory: 64mb of Mushkin PC133 SDram
IDE first channel Primary port: Quantum Fireball KA 9.1gig UDMA66
IDE second channel Primary port: Kenwood 48X True X
AGP slot: ATI Rage Fury 128GL
OS: Win98 4.10
DirectX 6.1

Winbench 99 CPUmark

TMC is not off to a good start, with the TI6NBFV+ falling 2 points behind its closest competitor, despite having an identical chipset. This may be explained by the TI6NBFV+'s lack of a Turbo mode of 103Mhz or 105Mhz, but that stands the same for the Shuttle AV61 that nevertheless score 2 points higher...

Winstone 99

Here, the differences in score are less evident. On the other hand,
the TI6NBFV+still occupies a place well behind its competition.

Video Sub-System Tests

As you can see, the TI6NBFV+ is as disappointing
in terms of video performance, but that is perhaps
to be expected, considering the previous scores...

Using Mushkin PC133 memory, we were able to tweak our PII-350Mhz to 437Mhz in this test, allowing us to push the edges of its Overclocking ability. Even when pushed to 437Mhz, the TI6NBFV+ failed to catch-up with some boards that were clocked 20Mhz slower...

Video Sub-System Tests

The evaluation table below shows both the strong and weak points of the tested motherboard. No need to remind you that performance is not the sole purchasing criteria in a motherboard. Most of today's motherboards exhibit performance very close to each other, so we need additional information in order to help us distinguish the real advantages of a motherboard compared to its competitors. This is exactly where this evaluation table comes in handy.

The TI6NBFV+ score 80, out of a possible 100 points. This board could easily have done better. For more, check the following evaluation...

The weak points

The TI6NBFV+'s weak points are these: disappointing performance, Overclocking ability hampered by few choices in clock frequency, and a sparse and unoriginal software pack. While other manufacturers have competed aggressively to provide increasing latitude to Overclocking fans, TMC doesn't seem to be taking the subject seriously, and thus neglects several important aspects of a great Overclocking system; such as the ability to adjust the VCore and VIO voltages of a processor, a larger set of choices in clock frequency, the ability to vary the operating frequencies of the AGP bus, memory bus, etc, etc...

The strong points

This TI6NBFV+'s strong points are as such: 6 PCI slots in lieu of the typical 5, packaging that protects the board more than sufficiently, terrific stability under all modes of use, and easy installation.

Conclusions

The TI6NBFV+ function quite well, and comes across as a product put together with some care. On the other hand, it truly lacks in versatility relative to its competitors. In my opinion, the designers at TMC lack a bit of imagination or originality, but it seems they really haven't been earning their keep, as they could easily have done better. On the flip side, this all could be an intentional state of affairs. It would not be the first time a motherboard manufacturer chose to voluntarily reduce the performance of a board, in favor of increased stability. In short, the TI6NBFV+, while not out going in performance, is a solid product that is hard to find fault with if equipped with the right memory.

For additional performance, visit TMC.

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