More DFI Boards?

[LT4CAMSS]

Well, I did do a search on this, both in these forums and those of DFI-Street. I even emailed DFI and received an absolutely stupid "I'm too stupid and lazy to answer your question...you go do the work" answer. I was wondering if anyone can simply lay out the basic differences between these following DFI nForce 4 boards. From doing my homework, I do know that the SLI is obviously able to support two monsters rather than one. I also know that an Ultra-D can be modified to support SLI. One of my other questions is that if one should modify an Ultra-D, will the performance be the same as the SLI versions? I remembering seeing on that website that was posted on AT that the second will only run pci-e 8x. Is this true? What's the deal with this. Now...these boards. I found so many...

DFI nForce4 4X (939) LanParty UT nF4-D
DFI nForce4 4X (939) nF4-DAGF
DFI nForce4 SLI (939) LanParty SLI-DR
DFI nForce4 SLI (939) LanParty UT SLI-D
DFI nForce4 SLI (939) LanParty UT SLI-DR
DFI nForce4 Ultra (939) LanParty UT Ultra-D

Also, I am correct in inferring that the UT prefix is the UV cabling stuff? Is it true that the only difference between the SLI-D and SLI-DR is support for raid 5? I'd appreciate the feedback and help in clearing this up. Peace...

 

[Continuity27]

Motherboards based on nForce 4:

NF4-DAGF
NF4-INFINITY
LANPARTY UT NF4-D

I don't know or don't think there's a difference between the NF4-DAGF and INFINITY models. Note that the INFINITY model seems to be rarer, so it's likely that the DAGF is a low-end replacement part. These have one PCI-E x16 slot, two PCI-E x1 slots, and 3 PCI slots. These have four external USB 2.0 ports and support for six more, totalling ten.

 

[Continuity27]

The LANPARTY UT NF4-D is a bit different though. It offers more BIOS options (mainly geared towards overclocking), and the Karajin audio module. (which is a seperated audio processing board - 8 channels 7.1 surround sound, it mounts where normal onboard audio jacks typically lie) This model supports RAID 0+1. This model excludes the serial and parallel external ports, but allows them to be external through an internal connector (may be just serial). It has two PCI-E x16 slots, one PCI-E x4, one PCI-E x1, and 2 PCI. It has six external USB 2.0 ports with four more possible. It also comes with UV sensitive cabling and UV sensitive motherboard components that glow yellow when near a UV light source.

All these motherboards have otherwise similar specs like: Supports up to 4GB of PC2100, PC2700, or PC3200 memory. Basic BIOS options. Six channel (5.1) audio support. Four SATA ports (1.5Gb/s or 150MB/s) that support RAID 0 or 1. One external 1394a port (with internal support for one more, totaling two), one gigabit ethernet port, two IDE/PATA-133, floppy, etc.

 

[Continuity27]

Motherboards based on nForce 4 Ultra:

NF4 ULTRA INFINITY
LANPARTY UT NF4 ULTRA-D

The ULTRA INFINITY is only different fron the INFINITY in terms of SATA speed and a couple other small enchancements due to the nForce 4 Ultra chipset. 3Gb/s or 300MB/s SATA ports now. I'm sure there's more difference between nForce 4 chipsets but I'm unsure at this time of day.

The LANPARTY UT NF4 ULTRA-D has all the same features the LANPARTY UT NF4-D has but adds on dual gigabit ethernet and 3Gb/s or 300MB/s SATA ports.Might be other advantages I'm forgetting.

 

[Continuity27]

Motherboards based on nForce 4 SLI:

NF4 SLI INFINITY
LANPARTY UT SLI-D
LANPARTY UT SLI-DR
LANPARTY SLI-DR

As before the only difference the INFINITY SLI card has from the other INFINITYs are the two PCI-E x16 ports and being SLI ready. (x8+x8 in SLI mode)

The difference between the ULTRA-D and SLI-D is that SLI-D supports SLI out of the box, whereas the ULTRA-D does not... (I think it can be modded)

The difference between the UT SLI-D and the UT SLI-DR is that the UT SLI-DR adds on a second SATA controller from Silicon Image, which adds four more SATA ports, but only at 1.5Gb/s or 150MB/s. It also offers RAID 5 support now.

The difference between the UT SLI-DR and SLI-DR is that the SLI-DR comes with a FRONT-X panel.

 

[Continuity27]

I had to split my post because the reply window kept timing out when it was all combined. Sorry.

 

[Continuity27]

My recommendations are:

DFI LANPARTY UT NF4 ULTRA-D or
DFI LANPARTY UT NF4 SLI-DR

Depends if you want those extra SATA ports for the SLI-DR and SLI out of the box.

 

[LT4CAMSS]

Continuity - They need to give you a medal of honor or something mang. Thanks for the help...that was a quite thorough breakdown of the boards. Another question I had is what's a "Front-X Panel?" I went and looked at the pictures on newegg, I can't seem to make out any differences. Also...is that what the UT prefix stands for? The "Front-X Panel?" Or does it stand for the UV capability?

Thanks again for the help. This is something not even DFI did. And they act like going on their website and comparing will answer all my questions. They still didn't tell me about the UT thing...nor did they tell me about the "Front-X Panel." They make great OCing boards but damn...that was a terrible reply by them.

 

[Continuity27]

I'm not quite sure what UT signifies, because it looks like all their LANPARTY motherboards have UV sensitivity, even the non-UT SLI-DR does.

FrontX is some sort of 5.25 inch bay component that had various connections like USB, etc on it I believe. It's not really worth it to me, that's why I bought the UT SLI-DR instead of the SLI-DR.

 

[TankGuys]

I don't know if this will help much or not, but I have posted an excel spreadsheet that lists all the DFI motherboards and thier major features. It's a modified pricelist I get from DFI each week, but it should have all the info you need. I hope this helps!

DFI Boards in Excel