Since nVIDIA launched nFORCE-integrated chipset, nVIDIA has launched nF2 for K7, nF3 for K8 and well-selling nF4 to grab the K8 market.
ATI is 1 of the 2 largest VGA chipset makers.
Since last year, their integrated IGP was getting better.
Now, it combines with great OC blood from DFI LANParty UT RDX200 CF-DR.
We are looking forward to seeing the performance.
Outlook
The pack is changed to red. Looks great, different with others.
Accessories 1
2 IDE cables, 1 Floppy cable
Multi-Language quick installation guide(Improvement 1)
Accessories 2
Karajan audio module is using ALC822 ¡V 8 channels HD audio.
Manual is much thicker than the past. Look closely, it is Multi-Language (Improvement 2)
Driver CD
SATA UV cables
RAID diskette
SATA power cables
IO panel
Board outlook
It's the first AMD motherboard with HD-AUDIO technology.
Enlarge the PCI-e gaps. NB cooler position is no interfile to any VGA (Improvement3)
Left-down corner
3 PCI for using (Improvement 4)
Right-down corner
The chassis pin headers with recognized colors (Improvement 5)
Silicon Image 3114 with 4 SATA in RAID0.1.5
Plus chipset built-in 4 SATA, you can use 8 SATA devices
Nearby CPU
4 Phases PWM (Improvement 6)
24PIN + 8PIN( not 4PIN as before),LGA775 stable power supply spec.
First board uses this memory layout position.
You can use system fan to spread the heat better (Improvement 7)
IO part has 6 USB, 2 Gigabit LAN, 1 1394
Improvement parts are comparing with DFI original nF4 board.
Of course, new DFI nF4 expert has the same advantages as well.
Then, lets look at the test equipment.
VGA
ASUS X800 256MB VIVO
DRAM
GSkill 2GBHX DDR400 2 3-2-5
I will use TCCD to test again as only TCCD can reach
512MBX4 4DIMM DDR400 1T 2 2-2-5
The other TCCD magic parameter will come as well¡K
Next ¡VBIOS Introduction
The outlook takes me 2 hours....
Maybe it will take 1 week more to finish the detail test....
BIOS Introduction
Rich BIOS items make DFI be better than others.
The boot screen is modified.
Smaller art, better quality with some marks. Let me feel better. (Improvement 8)
Main setup menu
Below the main setup menu, it shows the current voltage status.
DRAM Voltage, the main course
This revision, you don¡¦t need jumper to setup 3.3~4V
You can adjust it from 2.4~4.03V
BTW, even it is over 3.3V, no IC will be over 100 degree
More voltage stepping, really great! (Improvement 9)
Lowest voltage becomes 2.4V from 2.5V.
CPU voltage is still separated into 2 parts.
First, 0.800V~1.550V
Second, ratio : maximum is 136%
The highest voltage is 1.55X1.36=2.108V
FSB jump to 500Mhz from 450Mhz.
The original DFI nF4 almost can reach 400~450Mhz every boards.
You can adjust in 1Mhz. It¡¦s very convenient. (Improvement 10)
LDT is from1.0~5.0X
Also have 1.5 and 2.5X for easier OC.
The new item, if it is over 280Mhz, better to enable it to enhance the OC ability.
Built-in Sil 3114 with RAID0,1,0+1,5.
The pity is not SATAII version.
DRAM menu part 1
It¡¦s plenty as usual. Over OC limitation comes from these items.
As nF4 512MBX2 DDR600 1T, only DFI can reach it. The BIOS items are the key factor.
If you are not looking for limitation( around 200~280Mhz), you just adjust some setting as the normal board.
DRAM menu part 2
High FSB sync. Key setting
DRAM Drive Strength
Changing from LEVEL1~8 to LEVEL1~15(Improvement 11)
BIOS test rpm/temp/voltage page
You can control the temp, the chipset temp is around 50.
4000rpm, the sound is still very low.
Warm up. GH reach DDR500 2 2-2-5 3.3V.
Some parts are different with nF4.
I may spend more time to familiar with it to break the barrier.
In the past, I think ATI K8 chipset is only for normal usage.
The same chipset on DFI RD design, the OC and performance is over my expectation.