Look good. DRAM up to 4.1v and plenty of memory config.
Next, it's time for VCORE and its o/c potential.
Please keep update WWM.:toast:
Look good. DRAM up to 4.1v and plenty of memory config.
Next, it's time for VCORE and its o/c potential.
Please keep update WWM.:toast:
Lots of pretty pictures but what about the important stuff, you know, benchies :stick:
Wow, nice dual 16x! MSI? no thanks
you read my mind:fact:Quote:
Originally Posted by EvilCloudStrife
Ditto :slapass:Quote:
Originally Posted by thelostrican
And still no benchies :slapass: :slap:
I like MSI stuff. My K8N Neo2 Platinum was a great overclocker. Took a little longer to get it that way, but that was half the fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by EvilCloudStrife
:confused: What's wrong with MSI. Never own MSI that why I ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by EvilCloudStrife
MSI was in spot where DFI is right now for S939 AGP. One of better board out there hyped up a little too much by crowd dispite it's inconsistant boot issues, spontaneously dying for no reason kind of thing. However, it was one of the easiest to overclock back than. Personally though I found gigabyte offering better to my taste once v-core mod was there.Quote:
Originally Posted by nop
Funny thing was, when people got so burnt out and couldn't wait for new thing, PCIe hit full blast and this DFI NF4 series hit the fan in big way. Everyone jumped in and many of us got burnt out throughly... guess what when we have some finally stable platforms starting to pop up, I think socket M2 is on the way lol... Vicious circle I swear.
it is nature.. but s939 is indeed at its best:)
'04 for Neo2 and '05 for Ultra-D/SLI DR:) I still have a Neo2 that won't post out of the box:( and still stay in its nice retail package...brand new.
Used a Neo2 for good 8 months...had to go through 3 of them before i could get a good clocker...The 3rd board performed nicely!
This sure does look nice...but i would still preffer Asus A8N32
Does that mean i can use xf if i get another gfx card? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by craig588
(crossfire)
Next, the BIOS introduce
Then main menu
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b1_001.jpg
CPU frequency from 200 ~ 450 MHz
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b2_001.jpg
CPU voltage 1st section from 0.080 ~ 1.450V
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b3_000.jpg
CPU multiplier
According to the CPU frequency, the lowest value is x5
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b4_000.jpg
CPU voltage 2nd section
+50 ~ 750mV, one 50mV is about plus 0.1V
max plus to 1.2V… quite high
You can get any voltage you want when match with 1st level CPU voltage.
(ex: 1.575V=1.375V(Level 1)+100mV
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b5_000.jpg
DRAM: CPU
Combination as 1/1, 5/6, 2/3, 1/2
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b6_000.jpg
Memory voltage has a big revolution
It define to 2 level, switch by jumper
When it work over 3.3V, the IC of motherboard won’t create much heat
Section 1 is 2.6 ~ 3.2V
Section 2 is 3.3 ~ 4.1V
After DFI, this becomes the 2nd motherboard of memory voltage over 3.5V
And this is the 1st motherboard which reach 4.1V high memory voltage
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b7_000.jpg
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b8_000.jpg
Another important point
The options of DRAM BIOS was improved a lot and release a lot of catalogue
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b9.jpg
Under the options of DRAM BIOS
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b10.jpg
the options of north/south bridge and HyperTransport are quite good in detail
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/b11_001.jpg
Compare with Neo4, the BIOS options of this board definitely improve a lot.
Next is about the ability of over clock.
On CPU side, the ability of over clock is almost the same if the manufactures which have good over clock ability above average.
Test Platform
AMD 939 Athlon 64 3000+
MSI K8N Diamond Plus
G.Skill 1GBFF/1GBGH/2GBHZ
SPARKLE 6200
MAXTOR 30GB 5400rpm
EnLight 420W
First is 1GBFF Samsung TCCD series
http://shihwolf.mdorm.ntnu.edu.tw/wi...st/FFII/02.JPG
295MHz DDR590 1.5-4-3-7 1T, PI 32M 2.80V achieved
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/590.png
Next is 1GBGH Winbond UTT series
http://img5.picsplace.to/img5/10/12_024.jpg
DDR510 2-2-2-5 1T, PI 32M 3.3V achieved
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/510.png
At last, 2GBHZ Samsung UCCC series
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/1/HZ.jpg
DDR550 3-4-4-8 1T, PI 32M 2.6V achieved
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/550.png
ps.
The test of over clock is concerned in 3 phase, CPU, MB, and DRAM
For example,
If over clock to 300MHz FSB and 2T, CPU/Motherboard are fine, but DRAM is not, then it’s better to speed down the DRAM
If the CPU/DRAM can up to 300MHz frequency, DDR600 is stable but the MB is not, then it better to speed down the FSB
If the MB/DRAM can up to 300MHz FSB, but the CPU is not, then it better to turn down the multiplier or frequency
Because the standard spec of CPU/MB is 200MHz, the good over clock ability of CPU/MB is the key point of total over clock, on the other side, if the DRAM cannot reach the high frequency, there is still a way which is frequency divider.
Let us make a conclusion of this Diamond Plus
Good:
1. Use the 16X+16X chipset (although the performance up is not stand out enough)
2. DRAM Voltage from 2.85V to 4.1V (don’t tell me it cannot reach without Winbond DDR, I think it’s good to consumer that the function is provided)
3. the BIOS menu advanced, very close to DFI’s BIOS
4. the usage of heat pipe between northbridge and southbridge, it’s quiet and qualified with small fan
5. the overclock ability of CPU/DRAM is quite good, if the DFI get 100 scores, then MSI get 90
6. Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy SE, the highest spec so far.
7. the additional SATA2 chip uses Sil3132
8. this board seems solve the problem of voltage swing, It’s stable that the voltage move between 0.01~0.02V
9. addition PCI-E as Neo4 before, although cannot run 3VGA SLI, but provide additional fun
Bad
1. the airflow of northbridge is face to VGA, I think it should be change the direction, although the small fan is windless and do not has the big influence to VGA
2. Clear CMOS button is integrated, better if provide Power/Reset button
3. It’s better to use the heat sink on MOS section, the temperature is 40~50 degree by hand touch, not quite high
I give a highly recommend on spec/overclock/performance/layout of this board
It’s a balanced all new brand SLI motherboard
Of course there is no perfec motherboard, if the overclock is your first concern, DFI is still the better choice; if you want a better MOS components and fast release, ASUS A8N32-SLI also in concern
answering the question before
the gap between 7800GT and northbridge heat sink
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/13_012.jpg
I get the A8N32-SLI
http://img8.picsplace.to/img8/2/12_027.jpg
after doing a rough test, I found that the overclock ability of ASUS is weaker in faith
I’ll make a testing comparison in detail at free time, Wind’s hardware testing schedule at the end of this week is done…huhu…
good review. thanks.
thanks
nice review MWM. nice board. BTW, gap between VGA and northbridge heat sink is too close which may be a problem if using water cooling - Maze4.
Any 3d scores with the leadtek, what type of card is it.
Nope I don't think so because the mounting hardware is pretty tiny.Quote:
Originally Posted by nop
I still prefer the Asus A8N32-SLi (except 3.2vdimm limitation)
thanks alot for that nice review wwm :-)
looks like a great board.
diamond plus have 16x+16x+4x vgaQuote:
Originally Posted by althes
but sli only use two vga card:)
hmmmm that msi board looks really nice.... :D
im kinda sceptical about how good those heatspipes work...
and what about max fsb 1:1?
did you test with tccd or tcc5?
thx for the review wwm :toast:
Very Nice WWM. I like the layout. Its kinda a board that runs between the Asus and the DFI. Not all the things that the ASUS has and not all the Ocing abillity as the DFI just falls somewhere in the middle.. (or I assume thats where you rate this board) I have had lots of luck with MSI product.. I like the look.
295mhz is max fsb 1:1Quote:
Originally Posted by saaya
DDR590 2.5 4-3-7 1T
use TCCD:)