ASUS P5NSLI: Core 2 Duo and SLI on a Budget
by Gary Key on August 22, 2006 5:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Basic Features: ASUS P5NSLI
The BIOS layout and configurable options are representative of a mid-range performance system. We would like to note that if the second X16 PCI Express slot is not utilized for a GPU then it will operate as an X1 PCI Express capable slot. The P5NSLI certainly does not offer the same level of controls as the upcoming 590SLI Intel boards or that of current upper-end Intel P965 or 975X boards. However, the options available allow enough control over the BIOS and subsequent performance of the board as not to hinder the user except for one setting.
The one major issue we have with the BIOS is the lack of memory voltage controls over 2.1V. Although this board is targeted to the value performance segment, the lack of voltages over 2.1V for DDR2 memory is unacceptable considering higher performing DDR2-800/667 memory requires around 2.2V for stable operation at the low latency memory timings. This issue will be raised again in our initial overclocking and memory tuning tests. Our belief is that the typical user who is going to spend money on a SLI capable motherboard and SLI GPUs will typically purchase a higher grade memory.
| ASUS P5NSLI Specifications | |
| CPU Interface: | LGA775-based Pentium 4, Pentium 4 XE, Celeron D, Pentium D, and Core 2 Duo processors. |
| Chipset: | NVIDIA nForce 570SLI - SPP (C19-A3) NVIDIA nForce 570SLI - MCP (MCP51-A2) |
| Front Side Bus: | 1066 / 800 / 533 MHz |
| Front Side Bus Speeds: | Auto, 533MHz ~ 1600MHz in 1MHz increments |
| Memory Speeds: | Auto, 400MHz ~ 1200MHz in 1MHz increments |
| Memory Timings: | Auto, CAS, tRCD, tRP, tRAS, tRC, Command Rate |
| PCI Bus Speeds: | Fixed |
| PCI Express Bus Speeds: | Default, 100MHz ~ 150MHz in 1MHz increments |
| Set Processor Multiplier: | Auto, (1X step increments for EE or X series) |
| LDT Multipliers: | 1x, 2x, 3x, 3.5x, 4x, 5x |
| Core Voltage: | Auto, 0.8375V to 1.6000V (in 0.0125V increments). |
| DRAM Voltage: | Auto, 1.8V to 2.1V (in 0.1V increments) |
| SPP Chipset Voltage: | 1.4V. 1.5V |
| CPU Termination: | 1.25V, 1.35V |
| Memory Slots: | (4) x DIMM, max. 4GB per DIMM max. 16GB total system memory DDR2 667/533, non-ECC, unbuffered memory |
| Expansion Slots: | (2) x PCI-E X16 (operates in X8+X8 mode for SLI) (3) x PCI-E X1 (2) x PCI 2.3 |
| Onboard SATA: | NVIDIA nForce 570SLI: (4) x SATA II |
| Onboard IDE: | NVIDIA nForce 570SLI: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 |
| SATA/IDE RAID: | NVIDIA nForce 570SLI: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 |
| Onboard USB2.0: | (8) USB2.0 ports |
| Onboard LAN: | Marvell 88E8001 PCI 10/100/1000Mb/s Ethernet LAN |
| Onboard Audio: | ADI 1986A, 6-channel capable HD Audio |
| Power Connectors: | 24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V |
| Back Panel I/O Ports: | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel (LPT) 1 x Serial (COM 1) 1 x S/PDIF Coaxial Out 1 x Audio I/O Panel 1 x RJ45 4 x USB |
| Features: | AI Tuning - Manual, Auto, Standard, AI Overclock - 9 options System Clock Mode - CPU only, Memory Only, CPU/Memory |
| BIOS: | Award 0601 |
The BIOS layout and configurable options are representative of a mid-range performance system. We would like to note that if the second X16 PCI Express slot is not utilized for a GPU then it will operate as an X1 PCI Express capable slot. The P5NSLI certainly does not offer the same level of controls as the upcoming 590SLI Intel boards or that of current upper-end Intel P965 or 975X boards. However, the options available allow enough control over the BIOS and subsequent performance of the board as not to hinder the user except for one setting.
The one major issue we have with the BIOS is the lack of memory voltage controls over 2.1V. Although this board is targeted to the value performance segment, the lack of voltages over 2.1V for DDR2 memory is unacceptable considering higher performing DDR2-800/667 memory requires around 2.2V for stable operation at the low latency memory timings. This issue will be raised again in our initial overclocking and memory tuning tests. Our belief is that the typical user who is going to spend money on a SLI capable motherboard and SLI GPUs will typically purchase a higher grade memory.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
27 Comments
View All Comments
Calin - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
I wonder if the FSB wall (the 320-321 MHz) the mainboard run into is real or an engineering trick... Conspiracy theory, but I think that the top-end chipset might reach a much higher FSB, luring overclockers to pay a handfull of dollars for the premium chipsetGary Key - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
On the previous C19A boards we hit 268FSB with a Pentium 4. We were starting at a 200FSB level. We are now starting at a 266FSB and hitting around the 320FSB level which is actually lower from the base. The Intel NVIDIA chipsets have never been good overclockers and our sample will not even post past 325FSB. We are expecting our final NF590SLI sample this week so it will be interesting if there is a cap although I doubt it.
shabby - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
321 max fsb? Who in their right mind would buy this mobo when the gigabyte ds3 hits speeds over 500fsb?bob661 - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
Because this board costs $120 or lower and has more features (SLI). Not everyone OC's their motherboard. Besides, the DS3 has questionable stability. Why would I or other non-OCers would want to pay $140+ for a board (DS3) that has less features and less stability? Also, DS3's are NOT hitting 500 fsb regularly. A fortunate few are getting 500 fsb but not everyone.DigitalDivine - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
i thought asus would have phased out their signiture gold puke color by now. that board is probably the ugliest i've seen come out of asus, it's not subtle, but bright!!!! black is a very nice color... stick with black... or go platinum silver (i miss my soyo dragon)...the sad part in all of this is that their low cost subsidiary "asrock" offers a very tasteful blue color for their boards.
---------------------------------
This board will be excellent for when i buy a conroe though, maybe i'll wait to see what other manufacturers will be able to put out.
R3MF - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
why does the Intel version of the 570SLI have only 20 PCIe lanes when the AMD version of the 570SLI has 28 PCIe lanes?Gary Key - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - link
They are not utilizing the same chipset. The 570SLI for Intel Edition is just updated marketing language for the existing C19A+/MCP51(nForce 430).