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"Official" DFI nF4 Ultra-D / SLI-DR Thread

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everything i ordered from newegg arrived in perfect conditon. they are well protected in a large box full of little foam pieces.

anyway, i got my setup to post last night, everything shows up properly in the bios. I'll install the OS tonight and hopefully everything will go smooth. I'm using a 20pin PSU. I only plug into the 12v 4-pin square connector on the mobo. i didn't connect the FDD and HDD connectors. I want to see if they are necessary. anyway here's my new rig:

Case: Antec Super Lanboy
Mobo: DFI NF4-Ultra D
CPU: A64 3000+
Ram: 1GB Geil DC DDR 3200 Ultra
HDD: 36GB SATA Raptor
HSF: Zalman 7000B AlCu
Video: Leadtek 6600GT
Optical Drive: PATA DVD/CD-RW

In term of noise level, when system is cool, in bios screen, HSF is spinning at <1k rpm even at full level (fanmate), chipset fan is >3k rpm, very quiet.
 
BTW, the Zalman 7000 does not block any ram slot. It sort of gets in the way of DIMM4, but there's still enought room there to remove or put in a normal-height ram
 
So far I've received an Ultra-D from ZZF and an SLI-D from Monarch. Both packaged perfectly and not a single issue. The Ultra-D now has XP running and is working wonderfully. Just put the SLI-D together last night and immediately got into BIOS. Will install XP and whatnot tonight or tomorrow.

Originally posted by: unpossible
1) In the manual, on the page describing the power connectors, it shows four connectors. Do all four of these connectors need to be hooked up, or just the 24-pin one? The manual wasn't very clear on this matter.
Click to expand...

Hook up the 24-pin, the 4-pin, and, according to the manual, the 4-pin Molex and 4-pin FDD connectors help provide extra stability, especially if using 2 video cards. I plugged them in anyway on the Ultra-D, and of course have them plugged in on the SLI rig.

2) I'm using a Seasonic Super Tornado 400w, and it includes a 3-pin fan controller. Which 3-pin on the DFI do I hook this up to?
Click to expand...

Fan2 is right there next to the PSU by CPU FAN. I'd use that one. There's a total of 5 fan connectors IIRC, but only 3 of them have RPM monitoring capabilities.


3) I'll have two fans (one CPU, one rear 120mm case fan). If I want to be able to adjust fan speeds for these, will the BIOS allow me to do so if I attach these two to the MB, or do I have to get one of those Fanmates?
Click to expand...

What is the CPU fan? How many amps do they draw? Well, I wouldn't plug in the 120mm straight to the mobo. Usually, large fans draw a lot of current and can harm the motherboard. If you really want to be able to adjust speeds, get an adjustable fan or a fan controller. If you're using a retail chip, the stock HSF can be controlled through BIOS by temperature.

4) Has anyone tried the onboard sound? Is it adequate enough for gaming and listening to MP3's? Or do I need to buy a soundcard for decent quality?
Click to expand...

This question is too dependant on personal tastes to answer effectively. Try it out and see if it works for you... THEN spend the cash for an add-on if you're not happy with it.
 
Originally posted by: PascalT
Keep in mind onboard sound draws away from the CPU. you'll get slightly better FPS using a sound card AFAIK.
Click to expand...

also the front audio connector is so far back that the front audio wires in my case are not long enough to reach it. lame.
 
Originally posted by: TJmoney
I'v run into a problem i'd not even considered. The PCB of the sound module is pretty tall and my 120mm fan on my Cooler master centurion 5 interferes with it. Is it safe to cut away at the frame of the fan to make it fit? Everything else is looking good, I have a Zalman 7000alcu installed and it fits.
Click to expand...

I got it to fit. Removed the fan and installed, and put te ba back a little crooked, using only 2 screws. Kinda ghetto, but it works. Everything is up and running and working great. It seems to crash if I run the ram (corsair value select) at 2.6 volts, but at 2.7 everything is good. Its warranteed up to 2.9, so I have some headroom there. I'm very happy with this board.

 
Originally posted by: mooncancook
BTW, the Zalman 7000 does not block any ram slot. It sort of gets in the way of DIMM4, but there's still enought room there to remove or put in a normal-height ram
Click to expand...

Does the Zalman 7000 clear the last pci-e slot? Pics I have seen of the 7700 look like it blocks the use of it.

 
Originally posted by: Quaqmier
Originally posted by: mooncancook
BTW, the Zalman 7000 does not block any ram slot. It sort of gets in the way of DIMM4, but there's still enought room there to remove or put in a normal-height ram
Click to expand...

Does the Zalman 7000 clear the last pci-e slot? Pics I have seen of the 7700 look like it blocks the use of it.
Click to expand...

I tried to line up my video card on the last pci-e slot and there was about 1cm of clearance from the fins of the HSF. since all pci cards face down, you shouldn't have to worry about it. I have no idea about the 7700, but since a 120mm fan is about 15cm bigger in radius, i wouldn't recommend it if you want to use the last pci-e slot

 
Originally posted by: shira
Originally posted by: AthlonAlien
I couldn't resist and ordered 1 fro NewEgg just a few minutes ago 🙂
Click to expand...

Considering the three cases I've heard of that indicate that the DFI arrangment of components within the package is less than optimal, and the on-board power and reset switches can get mashed, could you report back one way or another and let us know what shape your board is? Maybe DFI should be notified if this is a common occurrence.
Click to expand...

Got mine from ZZF, no damage. Didn't see a memory forum so I'll ask this here. I've got Corsair TwinX, which is listed as CAS2 but then I found out that is on Intel systems & it's listed as 2.5 on AMD 🙁 (That's as tested on an NF2 board). Has anyone tried this memory yet? Any chance it will do CL2 on the NF4? On the modules is CMX512-3200C2 XMS3202v5.1 How can I find out if they are TCCD or other without pulling the heatspreaders?
 
What's normal temp for a stock HSF? Mine's running really hot (I think). Acording to Mobo monitor it's 156F (69C)! (again I'm not sure that's the CPU or what or if Mobo Monitor even supports this board correctly) However, when I look in bios it's only like 33C. Is there a better way to monitor that? Also I selected the >50C for overheat shutdown in the bios and it was shutting down soon after Windows booted so I'm guessing it thinks it that hot at least. I've got a thermal probe from my Antech P160 case down in the fins and it's only showing 90F. Argg! so confused!

Just for the record, on the topic of condition of the switches on arival, my Ultra-D was fine from and came from ZZF.
 
got mine just now, no damage, which really surprises me because ncix's packing was VERY lacking. it was basically the mobo box in a box and protection on ONE side only.

what am I looking for to see if the mobo is moddable to SLI?
 
Originally posted by: TJmoney

I got it to fit. Removed the fan and installed, and put te ba back a little crooked, using only 2 screws. Kinda ghetto, but it works. Everything is up and running and working great. It seems to crash if I run the ram (corsair value select) at 2.6 volts, but at 2.7 everything is good. Its warranteed up to 2.9, so I have some headroom there. I'm very happy with this board.
Click to expand...

Corsair Value Select is warranteed up to 2.9? could you find some documentation for that? i'm deciding if i should get it.
 
Originally posted by: PascalT
got mine just now, no damage, which really surprises me because ncix's packing was VERY lacking. it was basically the mobo box in a box and protection on ONE side only.

what am I looking for to see if the mobo is moddable to SLI?
Click to expand...

not looking for anything. To mod it you pull off the Nf4 heatsink fan. though it doenst matter as you wont have a connector
 
Originally posted by: beloved patriot
Originally posted by: TJmoney

I got it to fit. Removed the fan and installed, and put te ba back a little crooked, using only 2 screws. Kinda ghetto, but it works. Everything is up and running and working great. It seems to crash if I run the ram (corsair value select) at 2.6 volts, but at 2.7 everything is good. Its warranteed up to 2.9, so I have some headroom there. I'm very happy with this board.
Click to expand...

Corsair Value Select is warranteed up to 2.9? could you find some documentation for that? i'm deciding if i should get it.
Click to expand...


Its nothing official but this thread on corsair's forum says it is. I also saw it in the reviews at newegg. So, nothing official, but it looks right
 
Another quick question:

I finally got my DFI installed, and it's up and running, and I'm going to install XP. Hopefully that goes smoothly. But after the system is up, do I need to actually install any of the drivers in the CD? If so, which ones?
 
After spending 20 hours trying to figure why none of my OS would install i found that the RAM on my system was dogified. (Generic 512 DDR RAM)

The system boots up ok, but when doing anything really intensive, like booting and OS or formatting a partiion in the NTFS file system, it BOSDs. Turns out this only happened when the RAM was set in dual-channel. When I placed both the DIMMS on Channel A Win2k installed perfectly, but after install i removed the DIMMs ad despite the order i put them back the mobo refused to turn on giving me a RAM error beep.

Im slightly biased, and refuse to belive that this is due to the mobo - despite the fact that sometimes the RAM seems to work and sometimes it doesnt. Using one stick at a time doesnt help either.

So im taking in the RAM for replacement tomorrow. (last day for Return to point of sale) and getting some 2 x Kingston 512.

Does anyone know of people who are having similar RAM problems with the DFI nf4?
 
Originally posted by: unpossible
Another quick question:

I finally got my DFI installed, and it's up and running, and I'm going to install XP. Hopefully that goes smoothly. But after the system is up, do I need to actually install any of the drivers in the CD? If so, which ones?
Click to expand...

Yes, you need to install all the nforce drivers.
 
Does the "SATA RAID drivers" on the diskette have the sata drivers or just the RAID ones? If they do it's what I need to install my OS on a new SATA drive right?
 
kk, learnin a lot about the board and RAM.

For everyone new getting the board just a few pointers about RAM.

1. RAM in dual channel goes into DIMM Sockets 2 and 4 (orange). Single DIMMS into DIMM socket 2.

2. If your OS, BSODs on install or boot, or the mobo beeps (long *pause* long *pause* ...) even when RAM is installed in correct sockets you have bad ram.

3. Always run memtest on new RAM. Mine reported 100000 errors between the pair of em.

Question:

Is the latest release of the BIOS 01/25/2005? (Ultra-D) Ta.
 
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Originally posted by: unpossible
Another quick question:

I finally got my DFI installed, and it's up and running, and I'm going to install XP. Hopefully that goes smoothly. But after the system is up, do I need to actually install any of the drivers in the CD? If so, which ones?
Click to expand...

Yes, you need to install all the nforce drivers.
Click to expand...

What are those necessary for? I'm up and running and the only drivers I have installed are for the display adapters and LAN.
 
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