NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE: Enthusiast Features on a Budget

Test Setup

The NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE chipset fully supports all dual core Pentium D processors in both stock and overclocked conditions. Dual core really makes a difference in certain multi-tasking scenarios, as was demonstrated in the dual core performance preview. If you are interested in how the various chipsets perform in a real world multitasking setup, please take another look at that review.

Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s):	Intel Pentium 840EE (3.2GHz, 800FSB, Dual-Core, 2x1MB L2, HT) utilized for all tests
RAM:	2 x 512mb Corsair CM2X512A-5400UL revision 1.3 Settings- DDR2-667 as noted at (CL3-2-2-8, 1T)
Hard Drive(s):	2 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM SATA (16MB Buffer), 1 x Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300R0 300GB 7200 RPM IDE (16MB Buffer)
System Platform Drivers:	Intel Chipset Software - 7.2.2.1006 NVIDIA Platform Driver - 8.22
Video Cards:	1 x XFX 7800GTX OC (PCI Express) for base tests 2 x XFX 7800GTX OC (PCI Express) for SLI tests
Video Drivers:	NVIDIA nForce 81.98 WHQL
Cooling:	Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Power Supply:	Fortron Source FX700-GLN
Operating System(s):	Windows XP Professional SP2
Motherboards:	Biostar TForce4 U 775 Asus P5LD2 Deluxe Intel D975XBX Asus P5WD2-E Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe Gigabyte GA-G1 975X

We tested our XFX 7800GTX video cards using NVIDIA 81.98 WHQL drivers to provide recent performance results. (Testing began before the recent 84.21 driver release.) Resolution in all benchmarks is 1280x1024x32, except for 3DMark03 and 3DMark05, which use a "Standard Score" setup at the 1024x768 video resolution for testing. Our SLI game test resolution is set to 1600x1200 with 4xAA and 8xAF where applicable. Our Asus P5N32-SLI and Biostar TForce U 775 motherboards were retested with the latest available bios and platform drivers.