For your reference, below are our test system specs and setup.  We used identical components across all platforms wherever possible and our methodology was to configure each system for optimal performance at stock processor speeds, with the exception of the Pentium 840 which was overclocked in our SLI gaming tests toward the end of this article.

Test System Specifications "Intel & AMD Inside!"

Test System Memory and Power Supply Showcase The essentials of a solid system

We typically don't offer "shameless plugs" for products here at We but we felt compelled to tell you about a couple of critical components that were used throughout all of our testing.  We've recently begun working with new high performance, low latency DDR2 Corsair memory and a very top notch Power Supply from OCZ Technology for our current Intel platform testing.

Left is a pair of Corsair XMS2-5400UL v1.2 modules that comprise their Twin2X1024A-5400UL kit. They are rated for 675MHz at CAS 3, 2, 2, 8 settings.  These sticks run at a recommended stout 2.10V and were absolutely the most stable RAM we could get our hands on with these aggressive timings and high bus speeds in combination.   In the Sandra scores ahead, you'll get a taste for what this RAM can do.  With 667MHz 3,2,2,8 timings and an FSB of 1066MHz we achieved Sandra Memory scores that were the highest available bandwidth we've seen reported yet in our own testing.

On the right is OCZ ModStream 520-12U Power Supply. With its detachable cable assemblies, it makes life really easy around the lab, hooking various motherboards and breaking the assemblies back down on a regular basis.  Inside a case, it allows you to only connect the cables you need and the rest can be left in the box not cluttering your chassis cable routing. All leads also have braided rounded coverings for neatness and EMI reduction.  Finally rated at 520 Watts this supply has proven it is more than up to the task for our demanding test regimens and handles it all extremely quietly we might add as well.

Preliminary Benchmarks with SiSoft SANDRA 2005 Synthetic Testing

We began our testing with SiSoftware's SANDRA, the System ANalyzer, Diagnostic and Reporting Assistant. SANDRA consists of a set of information and diagnostic utilities that can provide a host of useful information about your hardware and operating system. We ran three of the built-in subsystem tests on the P5ND2-SLI that Sandra has to offer, the CPU, Multimedia and Memory tests.  When then took some comparable readings from our i955X Intel motherboard for reference and lastly we also to a quick look at some overclocked scores in these areas as well.

CPU 3.73 EE P5ND2-SLI	CPU 3.73 EE i955X	Memory DDR667 P5ND2-SLI	Memory DDR667 i955X
MultiMedia 3.73 EE P5ND2-SLI	MultiMedia 3.73 EE i955X	CPU P5ND2-SLI OC'ed 4.29GHz	Mem. P5ND2-SLI 4.29GHz - 1225MHz FSB DDR667

As you can see, both the P5ND2-SLI nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition and i955X boards scored nearly identical performance metrics in the CPU and Multimedia tests but in the Memory test, the nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition based Asus P5ND2-SLI Deluxe chalked up a more significant edge, besting the i955X by about 200MB/s at DDR667 speeds.  Finally it comes as no surprise that a 4.29GHz Pentium 4 blows past our 3.73GHz settings by about 1000 Dhrystone MIPS in the CPU test, with a serious clock speed boost at its disposal.  Perhaps what's more impressive however, are our system memory bandwidth scores clocking in at over 7700 MB/sec, a new land-speed record here at ; without question courtesy of those Corsair XMS2-5400UL sticks in combination with NVIDIA's robust DDR2 Memory Controller in the nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition Northbridge.