Sapphire Pure Innovation (PI-A9RX480)

[SynGroW]

I've seen the crossfire version running @ the hardware.info dagen in the Netherlands.

It looks very nice and it ran stable with 2 X850XT's in crossfire. Scored 103xx in 3DMark05 with a 3500+. DFI's crossfire board did 9800 3DMarks with a 4000+ for example (same graka's, not sure about the drivers though)

They didn't allow me to overclock it but I did have a look in the bios

I think the following 3 options are very interesting:

Memory DQ Drive Strength
DRAM Drive Strength
DDR Memory Drive Strength

Is it possible that one of these settings will help to fix the coldbug ?(or atleast reduce it)


(sorry for the bad quality of the pic, phonecam and only paint avaible at my system makes it like this)

[don_vercetti]

what's MTRR mapping?? I've never seen that in a DFI before, or anywhere else.

Looks like a very nice BIOS though, well layed out.

[SynGroW]

Some more pics of the BIOS






The last one is really bad, i know I don't have a pic without the PLL calibration popup
Above the CPU/HT Reference clk you can find the usual CPU Fid Control, CPU Vid Control and CPU VID Offset settings.

vcore up to 2.15v
vdimm up to 4v

The board:

[LowRun]

c'mon, where are the OC results? We all know how anand and xbit did, but we need the general publics consensus!

I bet the ones who have the board are having a hard time to make it perform.

[biohead]

hey SynGroW that's a VERY nice board! I want one heel graag!

[SynGroW]

hey SynGroW that's a VERY nice board! I want one heel graag!

Hehe, it should be avaible in NL in about 3 weeks according to the Sapphire representative for ~200e

[don_vercetti]

I bet the ones who have the board are having a hard time to make it perform.

Well i still wish they would post about it. People did about the RDX200, after all.

[Nem]

Just a quick question, whats the differnce between this lovely motherboard and this one:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=307851&cks=PRL

I'm just thinking that the first board is this week only on OCUK at £135, but the second on Komplett is only £56. What extra am I getting for the extra £80 or so? I can see the difference with the pci and pci-ex slot number and the extra S-ata ports, but not much else.

Thanks.

Nick

[DJ_Datte]

I will admit I am having a hard time making it fetch high HTT.

The cpu isnt the limiting factor I belive. Max sofar I've reached is
282 HTT, x 9 2538 MHz, CPU is at 27 Deg with watercooling.

Tell me what you need, and I'll provide it tomorrow, to see if we can get it up higher.

I am running my memory at 100 FSB 2:1 Divider, so its around 144 MHz when the FSB is at 282.

I think the board has lots of potential, but the BIOS is just *mean* =)

I am btw running the 44.Bin bios thats on Saphs web.

/DJ

[ironsid3]

It seems a very nice board to me. This is my first attempt with A64 overclocking but it has been made very easy so far. Got an Opteron 144 CABYE 0536 running at 295HTT with the memory at 166Mhz I think. Crashed at 300HTT after a few seconds of Prime but have run for a couple of hours at 195. Have not had time to really play and want to get it watercooled before I crank it up. First impressions are very good but I don’t have anything to compare it to so my opinions can be dismissed as worthless

[Sushi1976]

Can an owner of the Sapphire Pure Motherboards say to me highly the Opteron 144 on Board runs and is recognized properly?

Sushi

[don_vercetti]

It seems a very nice board to me. This is my first attempt with A64 overclocking but it has been made very easy so far. Got an Opteron 144 CABYE 0536 running at 195HTT with the memory at 166Mhz I think. Crashed at 200HTT after a few seconds of Prime but have run for a couple of hours at 195. Have not had time to really play and want to get it watercooled before I crank it up. First impressions are very good but I don’t have anything to compare it to so my opinions can be dismissed as worthless

195htt??

as in less than 200mhz HTT?

[Arkangyl]

A few questions about the two Sapphire boards;

on the SLI, why are the PCI slots right next to the PCI-E's when there's all that space that's devoted to the logo? just shift everything down and give a slot of clearance for the 2nd video card

and with the single VGA board, why are the NB and SB epoxied on [my guess as the mounting holes are empty], arnt the holes there for a reason? and the mosfet cooling looks like it misses quite a few fetts

[Nitestorm]

Will this board be any better than dfi rdx200 / expert¿

Btw. the board is in stock at www.overclockers.co.uk

Yeah it's been in stock for quite a while now at overclock.co.uk and they are £6 cheaper than overclocker's normal price. Makes a change that us brits get something in stock and some price competition.

[ironsid3]

195htt??

as in less than 200mhz HTT?

Ummm yes but no.

I meant 295htt. Like I said, all this A64 stuff is a bit new to me...lol

and my Opteron 144 runs fine on it Sushi.

[don_vercetti]

ok phew. A board that can't run at 200HTT is a board not worth even mentioning around these parts.

I remember when i was new to A64..its a lovely platform to be new too.

[Grayskull]

Trying setting the PLL High Speed mode to "enabled" for anything over 250 MHz HTT. In high speed mode, the chipset will clear 300 MHz without even breaking a sweat. But getting your memory to run that fast will depend on many other things

Do not play with the PLL stability calibration.

Some more pics of the BIOS






The last one is really bad, i know I don't have a pic without the PLL calibration popup
Above the CPU/HT Reference clk you can find the usual CPU Fid Control, CPU Vid Control and CPU VID Offset settings.

vcore up to 2.15v
vdimm up to 4v

The board:

[Nem]

Trying setting the PLL High Speed mode to "enabled" for anything over 250 MHz HTT. In high speed mode, the chipset will clear 300 MHz without even breaking a sweat. But getting your memory to run that fast will depend on many other things

Do not play with the PLL stability calibration.

Is the clearing 300HTT something that is definate, something anyone has seen done yet? I'm after a new toy to play with and this seems the ideal item, but need to make sure it's going to let me run at 300HTT or beyond.

Thanks

Nick

EDIT: Just noticed your ATI Support tag, so I assume you know whats what Can you comment on the question I posted further up this page regarding the differenced betweek the 2 boards.

[Bar81]

It's been cleared by everyone using the board. Admittedly, these are all reviewers but it shouldn't be an issue.

Dammit, when are these coming to America?

[Grayskull]

I haven't seen the board in the link in person and can't tell much from such a small picture. It doesn't look like a Grouper reference board from what I can tell might have some of the features...for example I think I see a 4 phase CPU supply and some pretty beefy looking inductors near the memory sockets but it's too blurry when I blow the picture up.

Just a quick question, whats the differnce between this lovely motherboard and this one:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=307851&cks=PRL

I'm just thinking that the first board is this week only on OCUK at £135, but the second on Komplett is only £56. What extra am I getting for the extra £80 or so? I can see the difference with the pci and pci-ex slot number and the extra S-ata ports, but not much else.

Thanks.

Nick

[Bar81]

I have Good News. I picked up a Grouper today after inspecting it. Sapphire have changed the Caps as promised. The Retail Grouper has only Sanyo and Nichicon caps on board

Time to rejoice

NIIIIIIIICE. Now come to the US, Mr. PURE Innovation, PLEASE

[Grayskull]

300HTT is no problem.

Is the clearing 300HTT something that is definate, something anyone has seen done yet? I'm after a new toy to play with and this seems the ideal item, but need to make sure it's going to let me run at 300HTT or beyond.

Thanks

Nick

EDIT: Just noticed your ATI Support tag, so I assume you know whats what Can you comment on the question I posted further up this page regarding the differenced betweek the 2 boards.

[LowRun]

I will admit I am having a hard time making it fetch high HTT.

The cpu isnt the limiting factor I belive. Max sofar I've reached is
282 HTT, x 9 2538 MHz, CPU is at 27 Deg with watercooling.

Tell me what you need, and I'll provide it tomorrow, to see if we can get it up higher.

I am running my memory at 100 FSB 2:1 Divider, so its around 144 MHz when the FSB is at 282.

I think the board has lots of potential, but the BIOS is just *mean* =)

I am btw running the 44.Bin bios thats on Saphs web.

/DJ

Hey, thanks for the input DJ, not trying to have you doing this or that but surely appreciate to know whats been working and what didn't for you, so please keep it comin' and have a nice play

[split]

Yeah it's been in stock for quite a while now at overclock.co.uk and they are £6 cheaper than overclocker's normal price. Makes a change that us brits get something in stock and some price competition.

Cheaper here @ £129.98 inc VAT

[Dynasty]

Cheaper here @ £129.98 inc VAT

They have 35 in stock, I need CF version of this board.

None yet in Can or USA ??