DFI NF4 SLI-DR Expert – Can the best get better?
by Randi Sica on November 25, 2005 12:05 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
DFI NF4 SLI-DR Expert: Memory Stress Testing
For this evaluation, we utilized a large selection of DDR memory. All of our RAM modules, except the Corsair 4000PT, were capable of running the following timings at DDR400 at manufacturer prescribed voltages. The 4000PT would not run lower than a setting of 2.5-3-3-5 1T, which may be attributable to its SPD programming.
For the 4 DIMM stability test, we installed 4x512MB OCZ PC4800EL Elite Platinum Limited Edition modules. For many enthusiasts, the ability to run 1T command rate while using 4 DIMMS is very important, but in this test, the board would not boot to Windows even when increasing the voltage to reasonable levels, nor would combinations of BH5 based RAM boot until the command rate was reduced to 2T.
For this evaluation, we utilized a large selection of DDR memory. All of our RAM modules, except the Corsair 4000PT, were capable of running the following timings at DDR400 at manufacturer prescribed voltages. The 4000PT would not run lower than a setting of 2.5-3-3-5 1T, which may be attributable to its SPD programming.
| Stable DDR400 Timings - One Dual-Channel (2/4 DIMMs populated) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz (1000Mhz FSB) |
| Timing Mode: | 1:1 |
| CAS Latency: | 2.0 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2T |
| RAS Precharge: | 2T |
| Cycle Time (tRAS): | 5T |
| Command Rate: | 1T |
For the 4 DIMM stability test, we installed 4x512MB OCZ PC4800EL Elite Platinum Limited Edition modules. For many enthusiasts, the ability to run 1T command rate while using 4 DIMMS is very important, but in this test, the board would not boot to Windows even when increasing the voltage to reasonable levels, nor would combinations of BH5 based RAM boot until the command rate was reduced to 2T.
| Stable DDR400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 DIMMs populated) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz (1000Mhz FSB) |
| Timing Mode: | 1:1 |
| CAS Latency: | 2.0 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2T |
| RAS Precharge: | 2T |
| Cycle Time (tRAS): | 5T |
| Command Rate: | 2T |
DFI NF4 SLI-DR Expert: Overclocking
DFI NF4 SLI-DR Expert: Memory Overclocking and Performance Evaluation
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Wesley Fink - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
The Expert uses the nForce4 chipset, so it supports SATA2 and NCQ. The performance of the nForce4 chipset is already well-documetned. THere are links on the first page to tests of all these nForce4 controllers and features.bob661 - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
Nice board for the OCers. Too complicated for me.Zebo - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
Besides being too expensive in this particular case.. everyone should looking into an overclocking "complicated" board simply because they are built to last overclocked! Which means they should last longer stock than cheezy boards even if you're not interested in tweaking at all. Notice he mentions highend componets on board like Jap caps..better cooling etc.ceefka - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
I agree that good components and a stability are where it all begins.Still, for a price like this, I'd miss the features AT mentions and Firewire 800a
(on a PCIe lane, please). Plus I don't care for SLI. A simple 16x 4x 1x PCIe would do.
To me this an overture to what DFI can do. This one is a bit too much in the OC niche for me.
What would you consider a cheezy board? Just curious.
ceefka - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
bummer, typo: 800a (?) forget the "a" please.Pete84 - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
Wow, what an overclock!!bob661 - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
Yeah. My jaw was dropped on that one. Never seen 500MHz on memory before. At least, not without extreme cooling.ViRGE - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
The memory is not running at 500mhz, it was divided down to 250mhz. The 500mhz mark is purely a measure of the highest FSB that could be attained.NullSubroutine - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
is this another penis test?Zebo - Friday, November 25, 2005 - link
Nice...Any word about a ultra expert? $200 way to much for a mobo if you don't need SLi. I can identify with heat on old ultra..mosfet HS get waaay too hot.. Another feature I like of this board is it looks like you might be able to replace fan with a passive Zalman thingi... old boards set chipset right under PCIe #1 leaving you no alternative but running a fan.