Would you recommend DFI nF4 Ultra-D?

[Jaxidian]

I've not been following the mobo market lately and just got me a Venice that I want to get some good OC results with and am planning on pairing up some BH5 with it so I also want a mobo that I can crank up the RAM voltage on.

From some quick scanning of the forums it seems like the DFI nF4 Ultra-D is what I want. Comments on this?

(btw, already have an Antec TruePower 2.0 480W PSU as I'm aware that's an issue with many newer mobos)

Also need a good HSF to go with this setup (that will allow all 4 RAM slots to be populated and accessed). Any thoughts here as well? Looking for good, cheap, quiet, easy-to-install (no more difficult than the wires on Thermalright heatsinks). I'm willing to suffer a little bit on my OC if I can get something significantly quieter. I'm guessing the XP-120 or XP-90 will be likely candidates but please give me your thoughts here as I'm not entirely in the know of if these will allow enough space for the RAM as I've seen some pics and it looks pretty tight.

Thanks in advance!

-Jax

 

[Jaxidian]

Still no thoughts on the DFI board for this? Would like to get this ordered very soon...

After doing some looking around it seems I'll probably just go with an aluminum XP-90 with a nice quiet fan. Any concerns with that and the DFI board that I should be aware of?

 

[Addy]

I have the Thermalright XP-90 Aluminum HSF coupled with a Thermaltake 90mm Silentcat. Place I got it from was out of Panaflos at the time but the Thermaltake is a really good fan. Awesome cooler, no need to get the super heavy all cooper one.

I don?t have Ultra-D so can?t comment on ram specifically but I have BH5 1GB OCZ ram (2x512) OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K which seems to be quite popular in the bang for the buck category.
Lots of DFI ram threads @ http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/index.php? & http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=45

 

[imported_Kensai]

XP-90 + DFI Ultra-D = Insane Overclocking combo.

 

[silverpig]

Make sure you update the BIOS though. I had problems with some memory settings before an update fixed them.

3200+ Venice
DFI Ultra-D
2x512 Mushkin PC3200 TCCD

The best I was able to do with the old BIOS was:
10x267 = 2670 MHz
7/10 divider for ~190 MHz on the memory
2-3-3-5-2T timings

I know going to 1T is much better for A64s, but the only way I could get 1T to work on anything was if I ran the memory at a 1/2 divider. Underclocking everything didn't help.

Updated BIOS and now I run
9.5x282 = 2680 MHz
3/4 divider = ~210 MHz on the memory
2-3-2-6-1T timings

All my scores have improved.

I can get it to run at just over 2.7 GHz for an hour or so, but it locks up. This seems pretty good. Oh and this is with stock cooling. I'm gonna get an XP-90 in a while.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Addy
I have the Thermalright XP-90 Aluminum HSF coupled with a Thermaltake 90mm Silentcat. Place I got it from was out of Panaflos at the time but the Thermaltake is a really good fan. Awesome cooler, no need to get the super heavy all cooper one.

I don?t have Ultra-D so can?t comment on ram specifically but I have BH5 1GB OCZ ram (2x512) OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K which seems to be quite popular in the bang for the buck category.
Lots of DFI ram threads @ http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/index.php? & http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=45

Yeah, I've been lurking around those boards a lot over the past couple days. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I won't get too unbiased of a comparison of the DFI board versus other manufacturer boards on a DFI forums.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'd recommend jab-tech.com for the XP-90 and selection of fans. Good prices and customer service.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
I'd recommend jab-tech.com for the XP-90 and selection of fans. Good prices and customer service.

Looks like these guys are about even with SVC (who I usually get this type of stuff from). If prices end up being the same in the end I'll give these guys a try based on your recommendation.

Any recommendation for a quiet fan for the heatsink? Quiet is more important than uber overclocking (i.e. I'd prefer silence over another 100MHz to my overclock). Perhaps this guy?

 

[cbehnken]

DFI Ultra-D is the most stable, robust board I have ever had the pleasure of using. Just be sure you use the correct ram slots or it won't post.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: cbehnken
DFI Ultra-D is the most stable, robust board I have ever had the pleasure of using. Just be sure you use the correct ram slots or it won't post.

oh? I was considering going 4x 512 sticks - that a problem?

 

[Addy]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Yeah, I've been lurking around those boards a lot over the past couple days. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I won't get too unbiased of a comparison of the DFI board versus other manufacturer boards on a DFI forums.

Oh thought you had your mind made up on the DFI and wanted info on the best ram and HSF for the Ultra-D...

 

[silverpig]

Got the xp-90 and a panaflo today. Didn't really reduce my temps at all (47C under load @ 2.68 GHz). Can't really get much more out of the chip, but I'll see if I can squeeze out another few MHz.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: cbehnken
DFI Ultra-D is the most stable, robust board I have ever had the pleasure of using. Just be sure you use the correct ram slots or it won't post.

oh? I was considering going 4x 512 sticks - that a problem?

no, no problem aside from 2t. which isn't a problem anyway.

i love my dfi nf4s, sweet boards. i like the 5.10-2 bios right now. my ultra-d just came with 3.10 which is fine but i think the 5.10's are better.

 

[Jaxidian]

Okay, I finally bit. Here's what I bought:

$115 3000+ Venice
$112 nF4-D (gonna mod to be an SLI-D)
$250 X800 XL
$70AR Antec TruePower 2.0 480W
$25 XP-90 + $8 Panaflo M1A

I have plenty of RAM laying around (hopefully 2GB of it will work together, if not then I'll end up putting 1GB of my BH6 in it). Also got a 74GB Raptor in another box that I'm going to move to this box. Also considering putting in one of my spare 200GB IDE drives just for storage purposes (when burning DVDs and such).

 

[rise]

i haven't checked lately but how are those modding now? i noticed dfi is shipping with some epoxy or something on the pins on the ultra chipset now.

thats going to be a sweet system. i got in on that 115 venice too, can't beat that. interested to see how long it takes to come ground from wherever they are to me in ma.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: rise4310
i haven't checked lately but how are those modding now? i noticed dfi is shipping with some epoxy or something on the pins on the ultra chipset now.

Just take an exacto and scrape it off a little bit at a time such that you don't come in contact with the metal. And of course, do it carefully and gently.
linky

 

[rise]

cool, i'm giving the board to a friend and i don't think he'll need it anyway. my damn chip won't be in till monday ah well.

 

[Jaxidian]

Mine shows up this Friday though I just ordered the mobo so I'm sure I'll be waiting on other things.