DFI LANParty UT RDX200: ATI’s Crossfire AMD for the Bleeding Edge
by Wesley Fink on October 18, 2005 11:03 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Overclocking
Maximum overclock data was added to our Performance graphs beginning with the nForce4 SLI roundup several months ago. The overclocking performance graphs allow a better comparison of the overclocking capabilities of tested boards. For more details on the specific overclocking abilities of a specific board, please refer to the Overclocking and Memory Stress Test section of individual board reviews.
305 at lower multipliers is not the highest value that we have reached in past testing, but it does place the DFI in the company of the few excellent overclocking Athlon 64 boards that have managed to reach a stable 50% or better frequency overclock (300) at lower ratios. It is also a very acceptable compromise that was required for the 4DS 1T option at DDR400.
As we have commented before, ATI has made tremendous progress in board design, since we looked at the initial Bullhead board last November. DFI definitely incorporated many of the best things about the ATI Crossfire Reference Design while still marking the RDX200 with their own unique stamp.
Maximum overclock data was added to our Performance graphs beginning with the nForce4 SLI roundup several months ago. The overclocking performance graphs allow a better comparison of the overclocking capabilities of tested boards. For more details on the specific overclocking abilities of a specific board, please refer to the Overclocking and Memory Stress Test section of individual board reviews.
The overclocking performance of the DFI RDX200 was impressive, reaching 305 at the reduced multiplier, and matching the highest stock overclock that we have tested with this CPU.
305 at lower multipliers is not the highest value that we have reached in past testing, but it does place the DFI in the company of the few excellent overclocking Athlon 64 boards that have managed to reach a stable 50% or better frequency overclock (300) at lower ratios. It is also a very acceptable compromise that was required for the 4DS 1T option at DDR400.
As we have commented before, ATI has made tremendous progress in board design, since we looked at the initial Bullhead board last November. DFI definitely incorporated many of the best things about the ATI Crossfire Reference Design while still marking the RDX200 with their own unique stamp.
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Skoad - Friday, October 21, 2005 - link
Board just came in stock at newegg for $209+5 shipping.Also what psu was used in this test. I read somewhere that the board needs an 8pin connection from the psu and that very few psu's have this right now.
I can't seem to find where I read this at atm.
Wesley Fink - Friday, October 21, 2005 - link
We use the OCZ 520W as a standard bench PSU. It has both 4 and 8-pin 12V connectors. 8-pin slots will also work with 4-pin 12V plugs.Zoomer - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
Will there be a value ATi board?I don't forsee myself getting a xfire solution, ever.
smaky - Thursday, October 20, 2005 - link
Guess who is getting one this week? hiihihihiihih x850?danidentity - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
You make no comment on the stability of this board, how is it?cryptonomicon - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
Sorry, but I can't help but ask why the gaming performance graphs were not all done on the same graphics card. Initially I thought WOW THIS NEW ATI CHIPSET IS MAD FAST but then I see it was using the 7800 gtx while all the other boards got 6800 ultras... WTF?What the heck is going on? Was the scientific method forgotten or something? This is a let down.
rjm55 - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
I'm always amazed in reading AT Comments that those who complain loudest are the ones who don't even bother to READ the review. I may not always agree with Wesley's approach on a review, but I know his results are always documented clearly in the review, logical, and repeatable. In fact he is the reviewer at AT who is most careful to always document the components he tested with and the setups. Derek and Anand often leave you guessing how they tested and you have to ask to figure it out.If you had bothered to read the test setup you would have seen that the red bars are tests with the 6800 Ultra - the same used in every other compared board. The 7800GTX and Crossfire were BONUS results - for those who would be screaming "Why have you tested with the obsolete 6800 Ultra instead of the 7800GTX".
Please READ before you scream so your rants aren't a total waste of time.
JarredWalton - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
Sorry to have to point this out, but assembling and testing a motherboard can take several days. The 7800GTX scores were there for reference, but 6800 Ultra was used as well (the red bar) to make scores comparable. It's not practical to go back and retest seven (or more) motherboards every time a new article needs to be published. If we don't include something like the 7800GTX, people wonder how that affects performance. Just look at the red bars for motherboard comparisons and the gold bar to see what a $500 (instead of $350) GPU will do. :)cryptonomicon - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
nevermind, wesley made no error, just me :D the board using the 6800u in red is the direct comparison (which it said in the article, albeit not on the gaming performance page). must have been too late at night or i was just too dumb to see it! excellent article as always.cryptonomicon - Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - link
hats off to DFI, this board is wicked fast. i am curious though as to how it will sell given the high price.