nForce4 SLI Motherboards: Premium Performance at a Bargain Price
by Gary Key on January 3, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Basic Features: nForce4 SLI from Asus, Foxconn, and Albatron
The Asus A8N-SLI Premium is a member of the Proactive Ai product family and as such, it is a fully featured board targeted towards the PC enthusiast. The board ships with an extensive accessory package along with several dynamic overclocking features, such as AI NOSTM (Non-delay dynamic Overclocking System), AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner with preset profiles), ASUS PEG Link (automatic performance tuning for single/dual graphics cards), and the ASUS Ai Booster Utility Precision Tweaker software that allows control over certain system settings within Windows. The board also features the Cool-Pipe heat pipe design to dissipate heat away from the chipsets.
The Foxconn NF4SK8AA-8KRS2 is their featured value segment performance board targeted towards the PC enthusiast. The board ships with an accessory package along with several BIOS and software features such as SuperBoot (reduces boot times), SuperRecovery (easy to operate tool designed to back up or recover hard disk data), SuperBIOS-Protect (protection against viruses designed to wipe BIOS information), SuperStep (software based monitoring utility with ability to change FSB settings), SuperUpdate (Windows based BIOS update), and SuperLogo (Windows utility designed to replace and backup the BIOS logo).
The Albatron K8SLI is a featured value segment board targeted to the PC gamer on a budget. The board ships with an minimal accessory package along with a unique dual BIOS feature. The Albatron BIOS Security module contains an operational BIOS that can restore the main BIOS in case of corruption. You simply plug the ABS module into the appropriate header location, set the jumper to recover, and boot the system.
| Specification | Asus A8N-SLI Premium | Foxconn NF4SK8AA-8KRS | Albatron K8SLI |
| CPU Interface | Socket 939 Athlon 64 | Socket 939 Athlon 64 | Socket 939 Athlon 64 |
| Chipset | nForce4 SLI (single chip) | nForce4 SLI (single chip) | nForce4 SLI (single chip) |
| Bus Speeds | 200 - 400 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) | 200 - 300 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) | 200 - 450 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) |
| PCI/AGP Speeds | Asynchronous (Fixed) | Asynchronous (Fixed) | Asynchronous (Fixed) |
| PCI Express | 100 MHz to 145 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) | 100 MHz to 145 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) | 100 MHz to 145 MHz (in 1 MHz increments) |
| PCI Synchronization | Auto, To CPU, 33.33MHz | Auto, To CPU, 33.33MHz | Auto, To CPU, 33.33MHz |
| Core Voltage | Auto, 0.800V - 1.65V (in 0.125V increments) | Auto, 0.825V - 1.55V (in 0.025V increments) | Default, +5% to +15% (in 5% increments) |
| DRAM Voltage | Auto, 2.60V - 3.00V (in 0.05V increments) | 2.5V to 2.85V (in 0.05V increments) | 2.7V, 2.8V, 2.9V, 3.0V |
| Chipset Voltage | 1.5V, 1.6V | Default | 1.5V, 1.6V, 1.7V, 1.8V |
| Hyper Transport Ratios | Auto, 1X to 5X (in 1X increments) | Auto, 1X to 5X (in 1X increments) | Auto, 1X to 5X (in 1X increments) |
| CPU Ratios | Auto, 4x to 20x (in 0.5x increments) | Startup, 4x to 20x (in 0.5x increments) | Auto, 4x to 25x in (0.5x increments) |
| DRAM Speeds | Auto, 12 memory dividers | Auto, 7 memory dividers | Auto, 7 memory dividers |
| Memory Command Rate | Auto, 1T, 2T | Auto, 1T, 2T | Auto, 1T, 2T |
| Memory Slots | (4) x DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR 400/333/266, non-ECC, un-buffered memory | (4) x DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR 400/333/266, non-ECC, un-buffered memory | (4) x DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR 400/333/266, non-ECC, un-buffered memory |
| Expansion Slots | (2) x PCI-E x16 (support X8-X8 in SLI) (1) x PCI-E x1 (1) x PCI-E x4 (3) x PCI 2.3 |
(2) x PCI-E x16 (support X8-X8 in SLI) (1) x PCI-E x1 (3) x PCI PCI 2.3 |
(2) x PCI-E x16 (support X8-X8 in SLI) (2) x PCI-E x1 (2) x PCI PCI 2.3 |
| Onboard SATA | nForce4: (4) x SATA II | nForce4: (4) x SATA II | nForce4: (4) x SATA II |
| Onboard IDE | nForce4: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 | nForce4: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 | nForce4: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 |
| SATA/IDE RAID | nForce4: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, JBOD, and spans across Serial and Parallel drives Silicon Image 3114R: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5 |
nForce4: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, JBOD, and spans across Serial and Parallel drives |
nForce4: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, JBOD, and spans across Serial and Parallel drives |
| Onboard USB2.0 IEEE-1394 |
(10) USB2.0 ports (2)TI-1394a ports |
(10) USB2.0 ports | (8) USB2.0 ports |
| Onboard LAN | nForce4 Gigabit MAC with External Marvell PHY. Marvell 88E1001 PCI Gb LAN |
nForce4 Gigabit MAC with External Marvell PHY. | nForce4 Gigabit MAC with External Vitesse PHY. |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC850, 8-channel Audio CODEC, Jack Sensing and Universal Audio Jack, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port. (1) x Optical S/PDIF out port. |
Realtek ALC850, 8-channel Audio CODEC, Jack Sensing and Universal Audio Jack, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port. (1) x Optical S/PDIF out port. |
Realtek ALC655, 6-channel Audio CODEC, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port. |
| Power Connectors | 24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V 4-pin EZ Plug |
24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V 4-pin Plug |
24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 2 x RJ45 LAN 2 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial+Optical) 4 x USB 1 x IEEE1394 |
1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 1 x Serial Port 1 x RJ45 LAN 2 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial+Optical) 4 x USB |
1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 1 x Serial Port 1 x RJ45 LAN 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial) 4 x USB |
| Other Features | ASUS Cool-Pipe ASUS AI Selector ASUS NOS ASUS PEG Link ASUS C.P.R. ASUS Q-Fan ASUS EZFlash ASUS Instant Music |
SuperUtilities Suite - SuperBoot SuperBIOS-Protect SuperRecovery SuperSpeed SuperStep SuperLogo SuperUpdate |
ABS Module Watch Dog Timer |
| BIOS | Award 1011-11 | Award 538W1P23 | Award R1.12 |
The Asus A8N-SLI Premium is a member of the Proactive Ai product family and as such, it is a fully featured board targeted towards the PC enthusiast. The board ships with an extensive accessory package along with several dynamic overclocking features, such as AI NOSTM (Non-delay dynamic Overclocking System), AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner with preset profiles), ASUS PEG Link (automatic performance tuning for single/dual graphics cards), and the ASUS Ai Booster Utility Precision Tweaker software that allows control over certain system settings within Windows. The board also features the Cool-Pipe heat pipe design to dissipate heat away from the chipsets.
The Foxconn NF4SK8AA-8KRS2 is their featured value segment performance board targeted towards the PC enthusiast. The board ships with an accessory package along with several BIOS and software features such as SuperBoot (reduces boot times), SuperRecovery (easy to operate tool designed to back up or recover hard disk data), SuperBIOS-Protect (protection against viruses designed to wipe BIOS information), SuperStep (software based monitoring utility with ability to change FSB settings), SuperUpdate (Windows based BIOS update), and SuperLogo (Windows utility designed to replace and backup the BIOS logo).
The Albatron K8SLI is a featured value segment board targeted to the PC gamer on a budget. The board ships with an minimal accessory package along with a unique dual BIOS feature. The Albatron BIOS Security module contains an operational BIOS that can restore the main BIOS in case of corruption. You simply plug the ABS module into the appropriate header location, set the jumper to recover, and boot the system.
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Gary Key - Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - link
As stated in the article the current pricing structure lends itself to the purchase of an SLI capable motherboard if the nForce4 is your chipset of choice. Even if you do not utilize SLI you at least have the option of doing so, if not for gaming, then for multiple monitor support and excellent performance utilizing two x8 lanes. If you look at the current support from the motherboard suppliers and product plans it is very obvious that SLI/CrossFire capable motherboards are becoming the standard across all price points. Our statements were based on these facts regarding the motherboard choices available. If you consider the potential cost/performance benefits then why pay the same amount of money for a board that is not capable of SLI or CrossFire and will probably not receive the same level of support over the lifespan of the product.
bob661 - Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - link
Isn't this a contradiction?
Capt Caveman - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - link
What are you talking about? You can get a SLI board for $70.andlcool - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - link
for the asus one, it should be ddr and not ddr2.ElFenix - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - link
still, should be a good price for stock speed boardsElFenix - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - link
looking at the first chart i mean. doesn't seem to fall off much eh?<--- wants an edit function
Gary Key - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - link
The Foxconn board offered excellent stability throughout testing although it certainly is not targeted at the overclocking crowd. The performance was certainly acceptable and without the benchmarks you probably would not be able to tell the difference between it and the other boards. The layout is really nice unless you plan on utilizing two video cards with two slot cooling solutions as the space becomes very tight between the two x16 slots.I would like an edit function also. ;->