DFI LanParty UT CFX3200-DR
Performance Summary: For years we've seen motherboards for the AMD platform perform at near identical levels, due to the Athlon 64's on-die memory controller. And that tradition continued here. The nForce 4 SLI powered Asus A8N SLI Deluxe and CrossFire Xpress 3200 powered DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR performed at nearly the same level in every benchmark we ran.
The DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR is undoubtedly geared towards gamers and overclockers. In this respect, we feel this is a good motherboard. The board itself has an appealing aesthetic, with a design that is easily recognizable. And there are also a great deal of tweakable options found in the BIOS, which makes the board a very capable, and dare we say fun, overclocker. While there are reports floating around the net on various forums about instability with certain RAM modules, we had no trouble with our Corsair sticks, and we suspect DFI has resolved many open issues with recent BIOS updates. The April update in particular was designed to address reported memory incompatibilities.
On the performance front, we feel the board was able to hold its own against a popular competitor. While the ASUS A8N Deluxe, which is based on the nForce 4 SLI chipset, technically held the lead in many of our tests, the DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR was always close behind and the performance deltas were minuscule at best. We also have to give some credit to ATI here for their ability to produce a solid chipset in the CrossFire Xpress 3200.
The price of the LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR may turn some of you off, however. With the LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR currently retailing for around $180, it's relatively pricey for a socket 939 motherboard. After all is said and done though, we have a very good opinion of the DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR and think it is a fine choice for users in need of a socket 939 upgrade. Users looking to build a brand new AMD-based system from scratch, however, should definitely look towards the newer socket AM2 platform. Based on its style, enthusiast features, package contents, and performance, we're giving the DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR an 8 on our Heat Meter.
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._Unique Aesthetic ._Excellent Overclocking Features ._CrossFire Support ._No stability issues |
._Price ._Reports of some incompatibility with certain ram modules |
