Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe: NVIDIA Dual x16 for the Athlon 64
by Wesley Fink on November 6, 2005 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Overclocking: Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
The Asus A8N32-SLI set a new stock speed overclock record with this CPU at 246. This is likely a result of the excellent 8-phase power regulation of the Asus board, which greatly contributes to cool operation – even when pushed hard.
Lowering the multiplier to reach the highest CPU clock also yielded excellent performance – at 310 among the highest that we have tested. This Asus has an outstanding assortment of memory timing and voltage adjustments for overclocking, but they are somewhat unfamiliar. Given more time with this board, it is likely that we could achieve even higher reduced multiplier timings as we become more familiar with the memory adjustments. In general, the HyperTransport performs well when left on Auto, letting the board handle the HTT adjustments.
Other top overclockers like the DFI nForce4 series have extensive adjustments for tRef and Driving Strength. Best overclocking performance is often achieved on the DFI by reducing DDR Driving Strength with Samsung TCCD. The Asus has more limited Driving Strength and tRef adjustments, but it offers an extremely wide range of DDR Skew adjustments, which are missing from many enthusiast boards. The point is that Asus has taken a little different approach to controls, and it will take time to learn what works best with the available memories.
Asus also offers full Auto settings for those who do not wish to delve deeply into the BIOS for overclocking. There are even Auto Overclocking options in the BIOS where the board will set all parameters for best overclocking. These work well, but like other Auto OC options, the Asus can be pushed furthest with intelligent manual overclocking.
We were really unprepared for what a great overclocker the Asus turned out to be. The dual x16 is about graphics, and we really didn’t expect the excellent overclocking that this board delivers. It should be pointed out, however, that best overclocks are achieved with a single video card. While we reached 310x9 with a single 7800GTX, the best OC that we could achieve with a 7800GTX SLI setup was about 275.
| Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | Athlon 64 4000+ (2.4GHz, 1MB Cache) |
| CPU Voltage: | 1.45V (default 1.40V) |
| Cooling: | Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 Heatsink/Fan |
| Power Supply: | OCZ Power Stream 520W |
| Memory: | OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 (Samsung TCCD Memory Chips) |
| Hard Drive: | Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA 8MB Cache |
| Maximum OC: (Standard Ratio) |
246x12 (Auto HT, 2.5-3-3-7) 2952MHz (+23%) |
| Maximum FSB: (Lower Ratio) |
310 x 9 (3x HT, 1T) (2790MHz, 2 DIMMs in DC mode) (+55% Bus Overclock) |
The Asus A8N32-SLI set a new stock speed overclock record with this CPU at 246. This is likely a result of the excellent 8-phase power regulation of the Asus board, which greatly contributes to cool operation – even when pushed hard.
Lowering the multiplier to reach the highest CPU clock also yielded excellent performance – at 310 among the highest that we have tested. This Asus has an outstanding assortment of memory timing and voltage adjustments for overclocking, but they are somewhat unfamiliar. Given more time with this board, it is likely that we could achieve even higher reduced multiplier timings as we become more familiar with the memory adjustments. In general, the HyperTransport performs well when left on Auto, letting the board handle the HTT adjustments.
Other top overclockers like the DFI nForce4 series have extensive adjustments for tRef and Driving Strength. Best overclocking performance is often achieved on the DFI by reducing DDR Driving Strength with Samsung TCCD. The Asus has more limited Driving Strength and tRef adjustments, but it offers an extremely wide range of DDR Skew adjustments, which are missing from many enthusiast boards. The point is that Asus has taken a little different approach to controls, and it will take time to learn what works best with the available memories.
Asus also offers full Auto settings for those who do not wish to delve deeply into the BIOS for overclocking. There are even Auto Overclocking options in the BIOS where the board will set all parameters for best overclocking. These work well, but like other Auto OC options, the Asus can be pushed furthest with intelligent manual overclocking.
We were really unprepared for what a great overclocker the Asus turned out to be. The dual x16 is about graphics, and we really didn’t expect the excellent overclocking that this board delivers. It should be pointed out, however, that best overclocks are achieved with a single video card. While we reached 310x9 with a single 7800GTX, the best OC that we could achieve with a 7800GTX SLI setup was about 275.
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Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
I can't help on the Lian-Li question as I don't have a similar setup, but I am familiar with the upside-down mounting some top-end cases are providing. Our test setup runs the board flat, without the advantage of "heat-rising" and we had no issues. It's a good question for Asus engineering or the Forums.As for the slots, check my comments above. With 2 single slot 7800GTX we could still mount 3 PCI and an x4 PCIe - though 2 of the PCI will block video fan exhaust if they are too tall. With double-slot (and worst case) one PCI is usable and one x4 PCIe.
lopri - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Wesley,Could you please comment on the heatpipe's efficiency for this board? This is a real concern for people with Lian-Li V1000, or any case that houses the motherboard upside-down. I had a problem with A8N-SLI Premium board's heatpipe in my case, and I really, really want to know.
Thank you very much. This review is fantastic.
lop
dunce - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
What about using this board in a reverse ATX case? Like that Antec P180 or Silverstone TJ06? This a new trend in ATX cases to improve video card and CPU cooling by flipping the ATX mother board upside down. From what I know about heatpipe cooling the water boils, heat rises with the gases and cools at the “radiator fins” . Right? On this Asus board in a “normal” ATX case this would work great but in a reverse ATX the radiator fins will be at the bottom of the heat pipe exchange and rendered ineffective. Correct?Paul
Live - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Antec P180 does not flip the Motherboard. It places the PSU in a separate chamber below the board. The orientation of the board is still standard tough.For cases that does put the motherboard upside down the effectiveness of the heat pipes are decreased.
Aquila76 - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
That's what happened with the A8N-SLI Premium in 'BTX mount' cases like the Lian-Li, etc., I'm sure it happens on this board as well.deeltje - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
In the new cases it won't work, well, it works but the chipsets get insainly HOT!I ordered the V1000 but changed to the PC6070B Plus very quick :)
BTW, any USA shops that has this board in stock and ship abroad???? Anyone???
trooper11 - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
One thing that has been bugging me about this board is the pci-e/pci layout. I was suprised you guys didnt cover that when you talked about the layout of the board.I do want to use SLI on this, but I have to be able to use all 3 pci slots and the single pci-e x4 slot all at the same. now the video card i was going to start with is the EVGA 7800GTX KO with the sheathed cooler. now the way the layout looks to me, that would be impossible.
Did anyone check if the other slots are still useable when using SLI?
Wesley Fink - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
Our test rig uses two MSI 7800GTX in SLI mode. They are single slot cards. I was able to install 3 PCI network cards and a PCIe network card in the x4 PCIe slot. They would all fit, but the cards closest to the 7800GTX cards do mostly block the fans on the video cards. With double-slot video cards one PCI and the x4 PCIe would be all that are usable for expansion.Asus will be introducing a single-slot dual-GPU 7800 card in the near future, but that might mean SLI in a single x16 slot which is bakc to dual x8. We do know the Gigabyte 3D1 dual-GPU cards work on the Asus, DFI, and Gigabyte SLI boards - all 3 have the BIOS hooks to drive a single-slot dual-GPU.
deeltje - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
I've been waiting for this board for over 2 weeks now and it still isn't available anywhere in europe.So i would love to get this board shipped from USA to The Netherlands (where i live).
Does anyone know a good USA Computershop that has these boards in stock and accept Mastercard payments!?!?!?!?
I don't care about the shippingcosts, as long as they can ship FAST :)
Zebo - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link
with single card - your chart says DFI is 8x1 - and performance seems to bear that out. OTOH, in narrative below that chart, you say both are running 16x1 and DFI still takes a whoopin.