nForce 4 4x or Ultra -- which should I get?

[Wolfgangap]

Hey guys,

I am looking at building a new PC and am not able to find a website that breaks down nForce 4x vs Ultra. I am curious if you could recommend a chipset and motherboard. The only real requirement I would like is that the Motherboard support flashing the bios via Windows like Abit does.

Other parts to be used:
AMD Athlon 64 4000+
Nvidia 7800 GT
PC3200 DDR1 1GB
Creative Labs Audigy 2

Thanks.

 

[keeleysam]

Ultra.

Go for the MSI K8N Neo4-F.

 

[danklumpp]

Welcome to Anandtech!

Why not SLI it? It's becoming the standard these days, and it has all the features of the Ultra, plus more upgradability.

 

[vanvock]

Ultra. If you're going SLI might as well go for the X16.

 

[aiya24]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
Ultra.

Go for the MSI K8N Neo4-F.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Originally posted by: Wolfgangap
Hey guys,

I am looking at building a new PC and am not able to find a website that breaks down nForce 4x vs Ultra. I am curious if you could recommend a chipset and motherboard. The only real requirement I would like is that the Motherboard support flashing the bios via Windows like Abit does.

Other parts to be used:
AMD Athlon 64 4000+
Nvidia 7800 GT
PC3200 DDR1 1GB
Creative Labs Audigy 2

Thanks.

If you're going with all that you might as well spend a premium for your board. I just set up a similar system, except with a 3800+ and a DFI Lanparty SLI-DR, although I'd recommend the SLI-D instead becuase the extra accessories are useless.

Or, if I were you I'd get the Ultra-D instead, and save some cash. I don't think you'll be SLIng a 7800GT anytime soon, unless you're really rich or really anal about benchmarks.

About windows flashing, I don't recommend it at all. Bad idea. Overhead from windows, possible crashing, possible BSOD, all signs that point you AWAY from windows flashing.

FYI on the DFI you just insert a floppy, run the Diamond Flash Image bios (that's what they call their new BIOSes) and it'll write things to the floppy. Then you restart and press OK to flash - not too hard is it?

PS: If you're considering alteratives to DFI, EPoX 9NPA+Ultra is the one to look at.

-The Pentium Guy

 

[forumposter32]

Originally posted by: danklumpp
Welcome to Anandtech!

Why not SLI it? It's becoming the standard these days, and it has all the features of the Ultra, plus more upgradability.

Really? It's becoming a standard? When?

LOL, I got a socket 754 Asus K8N4-E Deluxe and 3400+ 2.4 GHz with a X700 Pro and 2x512 MB Corsair Value Select RAM and I can run UT2004 AS-Convoy at over 50 fps at 1268x1024 with the highest quality settings (but no AA and physics etc on default settings).

Anyway, the image is godlike and the frame rates in every single map I've played is great.

The reason why I wouldn't bother with SLI is for the reason I'll describe like this: I'd rather buy an X700 Pro for $135 CDN this year and purchase a Geforce 8 next year than put a card of this year and add that same model next year. We'll have Directx10 and Shader Model 4 by next year maybe. So, what's the point of these stupid SLI? You'd have two cards that won't play crap anyway. The Geforce 8 is expected to be 4 times more powerful than a 6800 Ultra. So, even adding another 6800 Ultra would only give you half the performance and wouldnt' have the latest technologies.

 

[Vette73]

Ultra DFI
IMO

 

[grooge]

Unless you absolutely need Active armour (nvidia firewall which cause trouble often), NCQ (which doesnt really improve performance for desktop computer), 3GB/s SATA interface (which drive that support it are not 2 time faster than the standard SATA one and cost much more) and 5X HTT link instead of 4x (when test shows that even set a 3x, the computer do not suffer from performance drop and start to show minimal loss a 2x), then the nforce4 4x would do good if the motherboard you plan to buy have it.

 

[akugami]

Some features on the NF4 SLI boards may make them better (depends on your use) than the NF4 Ultra boards but SLI is a waste of money considering the price/performance. I'd think about what you want to do with your computer now and what you think you might do one year down the line and get the features to match all potential uses for your computer.