"Grouper" first look

**Tony** · 06-01-2005, 03:13 PM

One was for sata rom, the other 2 can run system bios or other roms you may want at boot.The sata was integrated into board bios and they chose to ship with just 1 bios installed.

**cadaveca** · 06-01-2005, 03:16 PM

lol overclockers need a second bios!

nice to have the option of having it!

**situman** · 06-01-2005, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Grayskull

This board doesn't have super heated anything. It's using a totally different architecture for every power supply compared to any board that I've seen. Efficiency is kept high to avoid thermal stress. Tony will tell you that the board doesn't get hot no matter how much voltage/current you pump through the memories.

There have been some questions regarding maximum currents that the board can deliver. The board as seen here is not configured to deliver full current capacity. It can and it does with different parts that fit on the same board. We saw no need to do so for engineering samples.

Great, my specially designed motherboard cooling radiator will go to waste now. Seriously!

**Tony** · 06-01-2005, 04:50 PM

Best i can squeeze is 34k.

Memory bandwidth is about right for 260fsb with a sandiego which is similar to a clawhammer when it comes to what bandwidth the ram gives.

**EMC2** · 06-01-2005, 05:53 PM

Thanks for dropping in

Originally Posted by Grayskull

It's using a totally different architecture for every power supply compared to any board that I've seen. Efficiency is kept high to avoid thermal stress.

Actually a very nice way of doing it (given transient response and HF noise is handled)

Are you running in the low 90s on efficiency for the two key regulators? And... I take it that's a 4-phase on the Vcore?

There have been some questions regarding maximum currents that the board can deliver. The board as seen here is not configured to deliver full current capacity. It can and it does with different parts that fit on the same board.

Thanks for clearing that up

We saw no need to do so for engineering samples.

Semi-understandable regarding samples (although isn't the intent to have them really shaken out?)

Two Qs if you would be so kind... do you have distributed HF bypass on the backside of the DIMM slots? How high did you run SI sims for the memory bus?

Peace

**Grayskull** · 06-01-2005, 06:45 PM

4 phase vcore. Board was designed with 4v vDIMM in mind which leads to many different considerations all of which are proprietary. As for the bypass I have to check into that.

As for eng samples, they are configured in the manner that they will most likely be sold.

Originally Posted by EMC2

Thanks for dropping in

Actually a very nice way of doing it (given transient response and HF noise is handled)

Are you running in the low 90s on efficiency for the two key regulators? And... I take it that's a 4-phase on the Vcore?

Thanks for clearing that up

Semi-understandable regarding samples (although isn't the intent to have them really shaken out?)

Two Qs if you would be so kind... do you have distributed HF bypass on the backside of the DIMM slots? How high did you run SI sims for the memory bus?

Peace

**eva2000** · 06-01-2005, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Grayskull

This board doesn't have super heated anything. It's using a totally different architecture for every power supply compared to any board that I've seen. Efficiency is kept high to avoid thermal stress. Tony will tell you that the board doesn't get hot no matter how much voltage/current you pump through the memories.

excellent

Guess Tony and I don't need our 120mm fans over the board anymore LOL

**Saffire** · 06-01-2005, 08:16 PM

Bigtoe, do you think you can see if the XP120 will fit properly on this board?

Thanks in advance.

**Mikesta** · 06-02-2005, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by Saffire

Bigtoe, do you think you can see if the XP120 will fit properly on this board?

Thanks in advance.

Very important consideration for me as well!

In regards to this Board being cool, I h8 u people. LOL. I bought my CM stacker to tackle the heat issues of my DFI nF4 Ultra-D.

Now you are throwing my 'investment' down the drain

But seriously Great looking board! Looks like the CM stacker's crossflow fan will hit the RAM (well that closest to the edge at least).

Looking forward to seeing how this compares to DFI nF4 in benchies + Real World performance.

**ettis** · 06-02-2005, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by Grayskull

This board doesn't have super heated anything. It's using a totally different architecture for every power supply compared to any board that I've seen. Efficiency is kept high to avoid thermal stress. Tony will tell you that the board doesn't get hot no matter how much voltage/current you pump through the memories.

Does that mean there are no reasons to use waterblocks on the chipset and mosfets and that a simple heatsink will do even when overclocking?

**[XC] leviathan18** · 06-02-2005, 04:00 AM

i would like to see the danger den mobo that we saw some time ago i want to see how well OC how much is going to cost and well if is better than dfi

**EvilWhiteDragon** · 06-02-2005, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by leviathan18

i would like to see the danger den mobo that we saw some time ago i want to see how well OC how much is going to cost and well if is better than dfi

I can't remember properly but I thought it was the same bord but with watercooling for the chipset and the mosfets. And since they now have mounting holes there you should be able to put any chipset WC block on it.

**Tony** · 06-02-2005, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by leviathan18

i would like to see the danger den mobo that we saw some time ago i want to see how well OC how much is going to cost and well if is better than dfi

This is the same board. just the revB as they say

I have asked DD for the blocks and I will try and show the water cooling fulling installed as soon as they arrive.

**Tony** · 06-02-2005, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by ettis

Does that mean there are no reasons to use waterblocks on the chipset and mosfets and that a simple heatsink will do even when overclocking?

if you are pushing the board hard water cooling would be the best choice, it does not however get really hot like some boards/chipsets do....

**CNCL** · 06-02-2005, 08:44 AM

It looks really good!

**Playful_Buffalo** · 06-02-2005, 10:05 AM

i like it,

i got a unopened DFI board sitting in its box.......if this thing gets 1/2in. water blocks i am sold (granted it turns out a good board)

**babyelf** · 06-02-2005, 10:13 AM

if the board gets released will the DD blocks be as well?

**Tony** · 06-02-2005, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by babyelf

if the board gets released will the DD blocks be as well?

Sure they will, as far as I know they will be red, etc just like the prototypes.

**Psyche911** · 06-02-2005, 04:00 PM

Did you have a chance to ask about an ETA yet?

Going from my Northwood > a 3500+ Venice on this would rock!

**Kjaks** · 06-02-2005, 04:32 PM

Nice color and specs!

I would have liked to see a Pentium m (s479) model with Crossfire support

**turtle** · 06-02-2005, 04:48 PM

Looks very sweet indeed.

Couple questions:

1. Will this thing actually work with a 20pin psu with/without 24pin adapter? We all know some peeps had trouble with the DFI NF4 (although I don't.)
2. What's the onboard sound on this thing...is it the same ol' 850? I'd love to see a good enthusiast board with a VIA envy or at least something better than the 850...It's something i've been missing since my nf2 w/ SS...I always have lived with onboard sound...So i'm just curious.

TIA Tony.

**babyelf** · 06-02-2005, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by bigtoe

Sure they will, as far as I know they will be red, etc just like the prototypes.

*breaks piggy bank*

**cadaveca** · 06-02-2005, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by bigtoe

Sure they will, as far as I know they will be red, etc just like the prototypes.

They best be selling the whole lot as a package...

**Highland3r** · 06-03-2005, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by turtle

Looks very sweet indeed.

2. What's the onboard sound on this thing...is it the same ol' 850? I'd love to see a good enthusiast board with a VIA envy or at least something better than the 850...It's something i've been missing since my nf2 w/ SS...I always have lived with onboard sound...So i'm just curious.

TIA Tony.

ATI have licensed Intels Azalia HD audio chip

Should sound sweet

**babyelf** · 06-03-2005, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by cadaveca

They best be selling the whole lot as a package...

that sounds really good too

Thread: "Grouper" first look

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