A8N-SLI vs. Deluxe?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert James
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert James

I have noticed that some retailers are selling 2 versions of the
A8N-SLI. The non-deluxe version is cheeper by a fair amount (like $50
USD), yet I can't tell any difference between the two reading the specs.
Can someone please help me understand this?
 
Robert said:
I have noticed that some retailers are selling 2 versions of the
A8N-SLI. The non-deluxe version is cheeper by a fair amount (like $50
USD), yet I can't tell any difference between the two reading the specs.
Can someone please help me understand this?
Click to expand...

The Deluxe adds:

SIL3114 Four channel SATA RAID.
Vocal Post reporter ($2 worth of chips that is handy for debugging).
Marvell Gigabit LAN controller (total two LAN interfaces)

The non-Deluxe board uses a similar PCB to the
Deluxe, only the above chips will be missing.

The easiest way to compare them, is look at the specification
summary in the two manuals. The two manuals total 15MB of download.

http://www.asuscom.de/pub/ASUS/mb/socket939/A8N-SLI/e1815b_a8n-sli.pdf
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket939/A8N-SLI%20Deluxe/e1889_a8n_sli_deluxe.zip

Always download the manual before buying, as the manual contains
the actual board feature set. Verify the necessary DRAM settings,
and voltage adjustments you need, are there before buying.

Also, make sure there won't be a BIOS "chicken versus egg" problem,
by visiting this page. If you need a particular BIOS for your processor,
check with your vendor and see what is on the board. If in doubt,
buy the board locally, so you can look at the board in person.

http://www.asus.com.tw/support/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx

HTH,
Paul
 
The Deluxe adds:

SIL3114 Four channel SATA RAID.
Click to expand...
snip

I'm interested in installing a couple of Plextor SATA OPTICAL drives
in my new A8N computer. Will the extra SATA controller give me any
advantage in my quest, or is the Silicon Image controller limited to
hard drives? How about the built-in NF4 SATA controller -- can it
handle optical drives?

The Plextor SATA Compatibility List
(http://www.plextor.com/english/support/media_712SA.htm)
is not of much help because no NF4 mobo is listed, and there are
variations in results with SI controllers used on other boards. It
looks like SI3112 and SI3114 controllers give good results on some
motherboards and not on others.

(The subject is kind of moot because, as of this date, the A8N SLI
Deluxe seems to cost a few pence less than the A8N SLI, so I see no
reason not to buy the Deluxe, but I'd still like to have the answer to
the above questions if anyone knows.)
Ron
 
milleron said:
I'm interested in installing a couple of Plextor SATA OPTICAL drives
in my new A8N computer. Will the extra SATA controller give me any
advantage in my quest, or is the Silicon Image controller limited to
hard drives? How about the built-in NF4 SATA controller -- can it
handle optical drives?

The Plextor SATA Compatibility List
(http://www.plextor.com/english/support/media_712SA.htm)
is not of much help because no NF4 mobo is listed, and there are
variations in results with SI controllers used on other boards. It
looks like SI3112 and SI3114 controllers give good results on some
motherboards and not on others.

(The subject is kind of moot because, as of this date, the A8N SLI
Deluxe seems to cost a few pence less than the A8N SLI, so I see no
reason not to buy the Deluxe, but I'd still like to have the answer to
the above questions if anyone knows.)
Ron
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that the NVIDIA SATA controller is supposed to work with
optical drives, but haven't tried..
 
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