NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition Preview

[Clay]

NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition Preview (http://www.nvnews.net/previews/nforce4_sli_intel_edition/index.shtml)
The NDA has now expired...Mike has been putting a new nForce4 SLI Intel Edition system through the paces the past few days.Although this preview has now been published, I am eager to continue working with this system by testing SLI performance with other games and will provide updates as necessary.

Although I have only used this system during the past six days, I threw a lot at the SLI setup by using 16X antialiasing, high quality texture filtering, and resolutions up to 2048x1536 (in Half-Life 2 no less). The system has been stable and the end results are impressive. Hard-core gamers that prefer Intel processors need to look no further than NVIDIA's nForce4 SLI to deliver the best gaming experience on the market today.http://www.nvnews.net/previews/nforce4_sli_intel_edition/images/logo.jpg (http://www.nvnews.net/previews/nforce4_sli_intel_edition/index.shtml)
http://www.nvnews.net/previews/nforce4_sli_intel_edition/images/system_1_s.jpg (http://www.nvnews.net/previews/nforce4_sli_intel_edition/index.shtml)

[jcossin]

But it still doesn't keep up in game benchmarks with an AMD 64 system with SLI....

Nice try Intel, but try again.

Heck, even their new dual core CPU isn't keeping up with the AMD 64 in games...

[MUYA]

Interesting numbers, and a BTX board too. Wonder if the BTX design and I presume BTX case helped lower the thermal limits of the 2 GTs when stressed.

Looking at the numbers the SLI numbers are good but do seem to be lower than AMD SLI configs?

Still great stuff Mike! :)

[jAkUp]

Nice review! And that sticker is awesome :D

[joltcola]

Is there any price range on the intel SLi board? And what a system cost break down would be?

I'd like to see what the price vs. performance be compared to an AMD based system.


-- jolt

[JoKeRr]

question 1:

does Intel SLI support Smithfield??

Q2:
how hot did the case get??

i mean a prescott with 2 GT inside is almost like an oven.

Q3:
How will Intel SLI scale with processor, it seems that many times the processor is holding back the SLI setup, wonder what it'll be like with a P4 EE inside.

[Clay]

Nice review! And that sticker is awesome :D
I think that is etched into the side glass, not a sticker. :cool:

[MikeC]

Is there any price range on the intel SLi board? And what a system cost break down would be?-- jolt

As with the AMD SLI boards at launch, the price of Intel SLI boards will be at a premium. FiringSquad mentioned an initial price of $200, with prices eventually dropping to the $160-$190 range.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_nforce4_intel_edition/page5.asp

I seem to recall the first AMD SLI boards were closer to $300 though :eek: I waited to buy mine and ended up paying $200. for it in a deal ZipZoomFly had.

[MikeC]

question 1:

does Intel SLI support Smithfield??

Q2:
how hot did the case get??

i mean a prescott with 2 GT inside is almost like an oven.

Q3:
How will Intel SLI scale with processor, it seems that many times the processor is holding back the SLI setup, wonder what it'll be like with a P4 EE inside.

Q1 - Don't know :)

Q2 - I didn't mention temperature conditions in the preview because I am waiting for parts to arrive that I hope will alleviate the high temperature of the Prescott. I will update the preview shortly thereafter.

I had to remove the chassis cover as the system automatically shut down after Prime95 ran for a few minutes. Again, this is more than likely a result of the CPU overheating and with the chassis cover off no further heat related problems occurred.

The FiringSquad mentioned that their system would automatically reboot with the chassis cover in use.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_nforce4_intel_edition/page20.asp

I can also confirm another point they made in that the primary graphics card typically operates at a higher temperature that the secondary graphics card.

Q3 - I believe that reviewers from some of the other web sites were provided with a top-of-the-line Pentium 4 to do their testing. I am in the process of updating the last page of our preview to include links to other reviews.

[joltcola]

As with the AMD SLI boards at launch, the price of Intel SLI boards will be at a premium. FiringSquad mentioned an initial price of $200, with prices eventually dropping to the $160-$190 range.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_nforce4_intel_edition/page5.asp

I seem to recall the first AMD SLI boards were closer to $300 though :eek:

Thanks Mike and great review!

-- jolt

[ChrisRay]

Excellent review Mike. I really would love to try an Intel setup.. lately their so taboo. :)

[SH64]

Nice review & nice scores Mike ... the benchmarks shows some good results & most of them are close to what a high-end AMD CPU would get except in HL2 i think . ( despite the fact that Mike didnt run the games at thier max settings nor disabled the Tri/AF optimizations ;) )

[jbirney]

Great job with the review Mike!!!

[d2thez]

Hey there Mike Chambers,

I noticed you used Nforce 7.02 for this review. Did you by any chance get info on when we may see a new Unified driver for all Nforce chipsets??

I'd really like some new IDE drivers on my Nforce3 since it has new read caching options and the fact that the IDE driver from the 5.10 set totally kills my bootup when opticals are installed (a well know problem).

Could you by any chance find out when we will get new Unifieds??

[sabersix1]

:beer: Thank you Mike C., as the review of the NForce4 Intel Edition was quite informative and it is refreshing to read an unbiased look at such a Fantastic Motherboard. As you can see in my signature that my ASUS P5AD2-E 925XE does Quite well in Benchmarks and I am very pleased with the Intel 560J Processor. I have been waiting for the Intel/Nvidia SLI to be released and I Believe that if a 3.73GHz EE CPU using 1GB of DDR2 6400 800MHz and a Pometiea Mach II Phase Change CPU Cooler is used in conjuntion with a Pair of DangerDen 6800 GPU Water Blocks for Twin 512MB Ultra's on any Good Liquid Cooling System that will also Cool the NForce4's NorthBridge and SouthBridge as well you could possibly Break the World Record. Last month NVNEWs showed an article: Worlds Fastest CPU at Cebit showing an Intel 3.73GHz Extreme Edition being Chilled by the Prometiea Mach II and using prototype 800MHz DDR2 RAM on an ABIT AA8XE Fata1ity 925XE mobo and it hit a stable 5.415GHz of Speed and Power. I also remeber the Current record for SLI being set using Liquid Nitrogen. I just thought that maybe if some one had the TIME and MONEY and this NForce4 Intel Edition Motherboard, they could POST some GREAT BENCHMARKS and Probably go on a world tour to show off the Technolgy. Of Coarse the AMD Fanboys will Cry but they cry all the time anyways. But Thanks again Mike, for such a Great Article. I look forward to reading more and when I get some more Cash Saved up I just might get me an Nforce4 SLI Intel Edition with either a 3.73EE or an 8xx Series Duel Core. That's why this Board is so great. Like the 925XE it is so Scalible to the next Gen CPU's and GPU's coming out. BTW I use EVGA Graphics Cards exclusivly and am awaiting the 512MB Ultra Release. Great Job Mike. :beer: :beer:

[MikeC]

Could you by any chance find out when we will get new Unifieds??

Will ask...

[MikeC]

Thanks for all the replies. :)

[d2thez]

Will ask...

Thanks MikeC. Let me know when and if you get an answer. My PC really needs a reformat and I ain't likin' the idea of beta drivers....