[shortfuse]

Ok guys im going with the bandwagon again im going to buy a new mobo so i can finally reach my goal of 3.0ghz with my opteron, now the question is which DFI mobo should i get? i have no plans in buying a new ram and hard drive.

Whats the difference between the ultra-d and expert? would both support my geil value ram pc-3200?

 

[vLotN]

the expert has extra room for the sli cards. + enabled sli
the ultra-d does not have sli enabled but it can be if you are willing to connect 2 pieces on the chipset. I went with the ultra-d

 

[amped]

If you have the cash, get the expert, simple as that.

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

SLI-DR is pure pwnage

 

[The Duke]

The Ultra-D is not a true SLI MB.
Both will support almost any DDR400 RAM.

 

[tatted_taz]

As everyone has said, either the Ultra-D or Expert...are you planning on adding another card to your rig??? If not, save the cash and get the Ultra-d...The features when it comes to ocing are great no matteer what you decide.

 

[The Duke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tatted_taz As everyone has said, either the Ultra-D or Expert...are you planning on adding another card to your rig??? If not, save the cash and get the Ultra-d...The features when it comes to ocing are great no matteer what you decide.

Not everyone

I vote for the SLI-DR if your boing SLI, if not then the Ultra-D ... sorry, I don't trust the "Expert" yet!

 

[shortfuse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amped If you have the cash, get the expert, simple as that.

I have the money for a mobo, what i dont have is the extra upgrade that i will need to make this mobo work as i want it to. and so far i have seen issues with dfi expert thru dfistreets, and with my bad experience with the dfi nf3 mobo just dont wanna spend extra money on a mobo that will give me so much issues. I narrowed my choices to sli-dr and ultra-d question is this i've heard u have to use the orange slot for some RAMs, is this for all the dfi modo? or just the sli-dr expert? cuz the problem with using orange slot is im using xp120 so the first or initial orange slot is too close so chances are i wont be able to use that slot.

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke Not everyone I vote for the SLI-DR if your boing SLI, if not then the Ultra-D ... sorry, I don't trust the "Expert" yet!

X2 Me too.

The Expert have been having a bit of problems lately. This SLI-DR on the other hand is awesome.

 

[amped]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortfuse I have the money for a mobo, what i dont have is the extra upgrade that i will need to make this mobo work as i want it to. and so far i have seen issues with dfi expert thru dfistreets, and with my bad experience with the dfi nf3 mobo just dont wanna spend extra money on a mobo that will give me so much issues. I narrowed my choices to sli-dr and ultra-d question is this i've heard u have to use the orange slot for some RAMs, is this for all the dfi modo? or just the sli-dr expert? cuz the problem with using orange slot is im using xp120 so the first or initial orange slot is too close so chances are i wont be able to use that slot.

It's not necessary to use the orange slots with the sli-dr or ultra-d, it's just recommended to use them with TCCD RAM. The yellow slots will work fine though. I'm almost positive about this, someone correct me if I'm wrong/

 

[shortfuse]

Now my next question, i have some important work files on my hard drive, if i get the sli-dr or ultra-d can i boot and enter windows without reformating so i can save some of my files first?

 

[amped]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortfuse Now my next question, i have some important work files on my hard drive, if i get the sli-dr or ultra-d can i boot and enter windows without reformating so i can save some of my files first?

Probably. My guess is all you'd have to do is re-activate Windows. But don't take your chances, back up the files to disc.

 

[shortfuse]

Reactivate windows? well its been activated. i cant back up the files that i need since the computer wont turn on, and yes i will back up the files once i decide what mobo to et i just need to find out if i can boot it up without reformating so i can save the files i was working on today.

 

[amped]

If you make a drastic hardware change(changing motherboards is pretty drastic), you will need to reactivate Windows. All you really have to do is put in your serial again. I think it should work, since you'll have all the same hardware except the mobo.

 

[shortfuse]

U have to activate it again? even its been reactivated? ohhh yeah ur right but i thought that only works for sp1..

 

[amped]

Nope, I'm pretty sure if something like a mobo, or cpu is changed, you need to re-activate. This is to make sure that it's not an illegal OEM copy, without a key.

 

[shortfuse]

Hmmm thats odd cuz when i changed my venice to opteron never asked me to reactivate, however that had happnd to me before on my old dfi nf3 mobo. oh well my copy isnt bootleg anyways. so i wouldnt worry about it. i just need to be sure it will boot without reformat so i can save my files when i change mobos

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amped If you make a drastic hardware change(changing motherboards is pretty drastic), you will need to reactivate Windows. All you really have to do is put in your serial again. I think it should work, since you'll have all the same hardware except the mobo.

Not true.

It will most likely boot up, when I went from my Abit to this DFI it booted into windows and ran and everything, but the thing is wacky. The registry's are changed, so therfore most, if not all your menu's wont work, but you can get to your files through "My Computer" -> "Program Files"

*HOPEFULLY* You'll be able to get in, and save your stuff, but if not, you'll have to reformat