DFI Lanparty NF4 UT-D or what else ?

[oralpain]

A64 tweaker only works in windows. Not everything I do is done with in windows. I don't build computers to benchmark them, but to use them. Every single option in A64 tweaker is in the BIOS of the DFI Lanparty boards. Most of them are in the Abit AN8 v2.0/ultra, and the less flashy DFIs.

I have no probelm with complicated bioses or having to tinker with dozens of settings to get things just right. I do have a problem with boards that seem fundamentally unstable for inexplicable reasons.

I'm not an extreme overclocker, I just get what I can out of whats available at or below a certain price point. I use only air cooling and I have nither the tools nor the skills to do delicate soldering. However, I still need reasonably high vdimm as I am on a very tight budget and this CH-5 UTT stuff is simultaniously some of the cheapest and potentially fastest stuff I can buy.

I do like ASUS boards (my old A7M266 is still going strong) and the A8N-E is tempting, but it has fewer bios options and the CPU socket is placed a bit closer to the edge of the baord than is ideal for my Zalman 7700-Cu.

What is the highest stable external clock you have achived on the A8N-E?

[StormPC]

With which chip? And what do you consider stable? What cooling?

The 4200+ X2 runs at 2580MHz bench stable on air. More volts will make it run higher but the heat is too much for 24/7 use. If you are not using better than air cooling more volts will only help you fry your CPU.

[oralpain]

I was refering to HTT/clock generator speed, sorry if that was unclear.

Basically, whats the highest HTT that gives you no errors/crashes in long term use while still maintaining a decent CPU/memory speed (with at least 2 dimms)?

I'm concerned with the limit of the board itself.

Most of my recent boards (and many boards I've seen in revews) have hit a wall around 280-290Mhz, I'm looking for one that can remain stable well past 300Mhz, should I ever like it to do so.

[Fjorko]

Hi

Can I run a single GFX card on the DFI NF4 SLI Mainboard, and in which of the two PCI-X slots will it need to go ?

Cheers

[StormPC]

Hi

Can I run a single GFX card on the DFI NF4 SLI Mainboard, and in which of the two PCI-X slots will it need to go ?

Cheers

Yes you can and it's the slot closest to the CPU.

I haven't tested to see what the FSB limit is but I had the Asus running at 310x8 for awhile without issue. I think all NF4 Ultra chipsets will hit over 300MHz with no problem. That's one of the advantages of the NF4 over NF3.

[Fjorko]

So rather than getting a LANparty NF4 UT-D, It might be a better idea to go for a UT SLI-D or DR if I need raid ?

Cheers

[Firelord]

The UltraD is a great board and I will be sad to see mine go (need portability so moving to a shuttle). The SLi-D and Ultra-D are almost the same board down to design everything bar the fact the SLi-D has SLi chipset. The SLi-DR is the same apart form an extra SiL3112a chipset providing another 4 SATA150 ports.

[arthurleung]

The UltraD is a great board and I will be sad to see mine go (need portability so moving to a shuttle). The SLi-D and Ultra-D are almost the same board down to design everything bar the fact the SLi-D has SLi chipset. The SLi-DR is the same apart form an extra SiL3112a chipset providing another 4 SATA150 ports.

Don't forget the marvell PCI (not PCI-e) GbE port.

I wanted to get the UltraD but it ran out of stock here. You don't really need the SLI-D for SLI . You don't need soldering, just some silver paint is ok.

Another question:
I got some crappy Corsair 1G CL3 VS stuff, without ramsinks, should I push it over 3V?

[Firelord]

Just make sure you have a slow 120mm or medium speed 80mm fan blowing air over the RAM to keep em cool; thats all their need.

In addition RAM does better without RAMsinks hence why GSkill don't have them its just a commercial thing