LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D to mod or not.

[VezinaGhost]

So here's my question. I don't plan to SLI (at least not in 2005) but like the idea of having the option. I want to get an nForce4 board, and the current crop of DFI Ultra-D are still modable. New Egg has them for $149 with Free Shipping. Should I get one of these now? And go ahead and mod it, so the SLI function is there a year from now? Between now and then I am SURE someone will be selling replacement SLI bridges

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Yeah I just went from an A8N-SLI to the Ultra D. I dont care about SLI anymore (just bought a X850XT PE). But maybe when SLI matures later down the road i will go back to nvidia, otherwise im sticking with the single card solution. I bet you in a couple months we will have hacked nforce drivers and people selling the bridge connector on ebay.

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

The chipset itself won't accept the mod in the very near future. If you plan to get the DFI board I would suggest that you buy it soon.

 

[VezinaGhost]

Originally posted by: ChineseDemocracyGNR
The chipset itself won't accept the mod in the very near future. If you plan to get the DFI board I would suggest that you buy it soon.

My thoughs exactly. Question is, should I? I want a board that will still be viable in the next 16 months. So I think SLI is the way to to go. Think the DFI SLI boards will be down to $150 by say, June? Or should I jump on the Ultra-D now?

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

DFI will be releasing a cheaper SLI board, the LANPARTY UT SLI-D. If the Ultra-D is supposed to cost $140 (like AnandTech's article says, it's just not there yet because of the high demand), the SLI-D should be about $160. Of course, this all depends on chipset availability.

By June nVidia may have a new chipset for Athlons already (nForce5?) with Raid5 and Azalia audio support, so the nForce4 SLI should be cheaper too (if not discontinued).

Before I give my opinion on what I would do if I were you, what video card are you planning to get? Do you have a good system to take you until June?

 

[VezinaGhost]

Originally posted by: ChineseDemocracyGNR
DFI will be releasing a cheaper SLI board, the LANPARTY UT SLI-D. If the Ultra-D is supposed to cost $140 (like AnandTech's article says, it's just not there yet because of the high demand), the SLI-D should be about $160. Of course, this all depends on chipset availability.

By June nVidia may have a new chipset for Athlons already (nForce5?) with Raid5 and Azalia audio support, so the nForce4 SLI should be cheaper too (if not discontinued).

Before I give my opinion on what I would do if I were you, what video card are you planning to get? Do you have a good system to take you until June?

My current rig will last me until the summer months. Like a lot of people I am eyeing a 6800GT, but can't spring for 2 of them. So I like the "upgrade" option of adding a second in SLI down the road.

As you mentioned, by this summer, "true SLI" may be down to the $150 range, so it may just be worth waiting for.

 

[Demo24]

nforce 5 is for Intel. AMD wont be getting a new one for awhile. Though if you think you can find a connector get a Ultra. I kind fo doubt it. DFI wont sell them and I doubt anyone else will either

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

I'm not sure the Intel chipset will be called nForce5, there have been some rumours that it won't be called that. Who knows.

I don't know when they will be releasing a new chipset for AMD but they're definately coming out with Raid5 and HD Audio next. I'm sure nVidia doesn't want to lose market to the K8T890+VT8251 which will have those features, so they can't take that long. Again, who knows.

VezinaGhost, you should definately wait a little then. The prices on AMD PCI-E boards are coming to normal leves already but not quite there yet. Pricewatch is listing the ASUS A8N-SLI (non-Deluxe) for $161.