nForce4 SLI Roundup: Painful and Rewarding
by Wesley Fink on February 28, 2005 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI: Features and Layout
| Specification | Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI |
| CPU Interface | Socket 939 Athlon 64 |
| Chipset | nForce4 SLI (single chip) |
| BUS Speeds | 200MHz to 400MHz (in 1MHz increments) |
| PCI/AGP Speeds | Asynchronous (Fixed) |
| PCI Speeds | 100MHz to 150MHz in 1MHz increments |
| Core Voltage | Auto, 0.80V to 1.75V in 0.025V increments |
| DRAM Voltage | Normal, +0.1V, +0.2V |
| Chipset Voltage | Normal, +0.1V, +0.2V, +0.3V |
| Hyper Transport Ratios | Auto, 1x to 5x in 1x increments |
| LDT Bus Transfer | 16/16, 16/8, 8/16, 8/8 |
| LDT Voltage | Normal, +0.1V, +0.2V, +0.3V |
| CPU Ratios | Auto, 4x to 25x in 0.5x increments |
| Cool'n'Quiet MAX FID | Auto, 8.0 to 13.0 in 0.5x increments |
| DRAM Speeds | Auto, 100, 133, 166, 200 |
| Memory Command Rate | Auto, 1T, 2T |
| Memory Slots | Four 184-pin DDR Dual-Channel Slots Unbuffered Memory to 4GB Total |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x16 PCIe Slots 2 x1 PCIe 2 PCI Slots |
| SLI Setup | Movable PCB Card |
| Onboard SATA | 4-Drive SATA 2 by nF4 PLUS 4-Drive SATA by Sil3114 |
| Onboard IDE | Two Standard nVidia ATA133/100/66 (4 drives) |
| SATA/IDE RAID | 4-Drive SATA 2 PLUS 4-Drive IDE (8 total) Can be combined in RAID 0, 1 PLUS 4-Drive SATA by Sil3114 Sil3114 Raid 0, 1, 5 |
| Onboard USB 2.0/IEEE-1394 | 10 USB 2.0 ports supported nF4 3 1394B FireWire 800 ports by TI chip |
| Onboard LAN | Dual Gigabit Ethernet PCIe by Vitesse VSC8201 PHY PCIe by Marvel 88E8053 |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC850 8-Channel codec with 6 UAJ audio jacks, CD-in, front audio, and coaxial SPDIF In and Out |
| Other Features | Gigabyte Dual BIOS |
| BIOS | Award 2/01/2005 |
The shipping Gigabyte BIOS for the K8NXP-9/K8NXP-SLI family provides a wide and useful range of adjustments for many features, with the notable exception of a very limited range of memory voltage adjustments compared to other boards in the SLI roundup. As is the Gigabyte custom in recent designs, Advanced Chipset Features (and Memory Timings) can only be seen when you hot press CTRL+F1 while in the BIOS. HyperTransport adjustments are also provided in the hidden Advanced Chipset Features menu.
There are no BIOS options for adjusting or controlling SLI. This is handled in the nForce4 platform drivers and the nVidia graphics drivers.
The Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI, like the sister K8NXP-9, was designed as a top-of-the-line nForce4 motherboard. As the flagship model, it sports all the top Gigabyte features.
We are pleased that Gigabyte uses the nF4 on-chip Gigabit LAN by supporting it with a Vitesse (Cicada) Gigabit PHY. Gigabyte then goes one step further by including a second Gigabit LAN on the PCI Express Bus. This second LAN is also removed from the constraints of the slower PCI bus as it resides on the much faster PCIe bus.
Audio is AC '97 2.3, supported by the popular 8-channel Realtek ALC850. The K8NXP-SLI9 includes a wide range of audio I/O provided to make the most of the 850 chip. This includes 6 programmable audio mini-jacks and coax SPDIF in and out - all on the rear panel.
A pioneering feature for Gigabyte has been their support of high-speed 1394B Firewire on their boards. This continues with the K8NXP-SLI with 2 ports capable of 800MB/s or Firewire 800. This is double the speed of 1394A for those looking for fast Firewire access.
From a feature, board layout, and BIOS options point of view, the K8NXP-SLI can be considered the twin of the K8NXP-9. The only real change is the replacement of one PCI slot with a second PCIe video slot. All the good things about the features and layout of the K8NXP-9 are still here in the K8NXP-SLI.
DFI LANParty nF4 SLI-DR: Overclocking and Stress Testing
Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI: Overclocking and Stress Testing
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Heinrich - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Hi, this is a great article. I'm really disappointed that the issues with the new Winchesters and the MSI board were not uncovered. The new CPUs will not post past FSB of 219, which is far below the 250 many get with other boards. Someone with the depth of knowledge, experience, and understanding of all these little options in the BIOS could help us uncover the real problem. Here's the best thread devoted specifically to the problem on Rebel HQ:http://www.rhcf.com/sisubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/21...
ajmiles - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Hey,I enjoyed the round up of the SLI boards very much and thought it was very thorough.
I own an A8N SLI Deluxe board, and too have been thoroughly disappointed with it's overclocking performance.
On behalf of tens of users on the Anandtech - Motherboards forums, would it be beyond Anandtech's power to get a statement from Asus about the issue???
At a 2T Command Rate the board will overclock to 316, 1T however just 249. The sudden BSODing as you approach 250 smacks of something that could be fixed with a BIOS update.
Please Anandtech, A8N users are begging for this to be fixed, or at least be told it can't be.
Many thanks, and again, a great article.
Adam Miles
Viper4185 - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
is it true that the MSI board doesnt have a PCI Express x1 slot so that when the new Creative PCI express sound cards come out it wont fit?Viper4185 - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Thanks for the review guys, just what I wanted! Although I am interested in the Ultra versions its still very similar...I was wondring if you could comment on the stability/stress testing of the DFI board as Hardocp seems to have had some issues...
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzE3LDc=
Also would have been good if you included the Abit Fatal1ty board to make the review 100% conclusive for me.
nzimmers - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
dang, I wasn't first, oh well.one more thing....I no longer chase the FPS demon, and I am better for it (mentally and emotionally). To be honest I don't expect SLI to become a standard in MB design.....even for high end gamers. Isn't the price just too high?
nzimmers - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
First post!I was actually really (plesantly) surprised that DFI did so well. I know that they have been improving lately but isn't it great to see another MB manufacturer improving for once?
arfan - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
finally...., thx 4 your reviewjkv71 - Saturday, June 3, 2017 - link
My DFI video quit. I use an adapter to run hdmi on my tv. I replaced the video card and still nothing. I replaced the mother board. Still nothing. Any ideas?