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ASUS K8N-DL (nForce4 Professional)
By CPU-zilla
Category : WorkStations/Servers
Published by Jimmy Tang on Tuesday, 12th July, 2005
Rating : 4.5 out of 5 stars  


Introduction

The new ASUS K8N-DL is the only workstation/server motherboard from ASUS that supports dual AMD Opteron processors. The board is based on NVIDIA's nForce4 Professional chipset which is basically a modified version of their nForce4 series for the desktop. This single chip solution provided by NVIDIA enables motherboard manufacturers like ASUS to design highly integrated motherboards for high-end workstations or servers.

The highly integrated nature of the board makes it hard to classify it as a board suitable for server applications as the board doesn't come built-in with usual devices like graphics or dual LAN ports. What ASUS has offered with the K8N-DL is a full suite of features more adapted for workstations and even the occasional hardcore user. With devices like an eight-channel audio codec, optical and coaxial S/PDIF output jacks and IEEE 1394a support, it's likely that the board is targeted at high-end digital video editing enthusiasts.

The ASUS K8N-DL dual Opteron motherboard is jam packed with features as we run through some of them on the following pages.

Let's look at the full technical specifications of the ASUS K8N-DL motherboard below as we discuss the board's features in the next page.

ASUS K8N-DL Technical Specifications
Processor
  • Supports dual Socket-940 AMD Opteron processors 
  • Supports AMD64 architecture that enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing
  • Supports HyperTransport speeds at 1600MT/s or 2000MT/s
Chipset
  • NVIDIA nForce4 Professional 2200 (CK8-04)
    • Supports 20 flexible PCI Express lanes
    • Supports four SATA and four PATA drives
    • Supports RAID 0, 1 and 0+1
    • Supports SATA 3Gbps
    • Built-in native Gigabit Ethernet controller
    • Built-in TCP/IP hardware offload engine
    • Supports 10 USB 2.0 ports
    • Supports 32-bit PCI devices
Memory
  • 6 x 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM slots
  • Supports dual-channel DDR 400/333/266 ECC registered modules
  • Supports up to 24GB memory (with 64-bit operating system)
  • Supports 2.5V DDR SDRAM
Storage
  • 2 x Ultra ATA-133 IDE ports supported by the nForce4 Professional 2200 MCP (up to 4 drives)
    • Support for PIO, UDMA-33, UDMA-66, Ultra ATA-100/133 IDE devices
  • 4 x SATA ports supported by the nForce4 Professional 2200 MCP (up to 4 drives)
    • Supports RAID 0, 1 and 0+1
  • 4 x SATA ports supported by Silicon Image SiI3114R controller (up to 4 drives)
    • Supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and software RAID 5
I/O Interface
  • 1x floppy connector (360KB - 2.88MB)
  • 1x serial port 
  • 1x parallel port (SPP/EPP/ECP)
  • 1x PS/2 keyboard
  • 1x PS/2 mouse
  • 4x USB 2.0 ports (4x ports in the rear, 6x ports via bracket)
  • 1x RJ-45 Gigabit LAN port with LED
  • 6x stereo jacks for 8-channel audio
  • 1x optical S/PDIF output
  • 1x coaxial S/PDIF output
  • 2x IEEE-1394a port (1x port in the rear, 1x port via bracket)
  • 1x game port (via bracket)
  • 5x 3-pin fan connectors
Expansion slots
  • 1x PCI Express x1 slot
  • 1x PCI Express graphics x16 slot
  • 2x 32-bit 33MHz PCI slots
Power Management
  • Supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
  • ACPI Suspend modes supported : S1, S3 and S1&S3
  • Power On by PCI, Ring, USB, Alarm, PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse
Form Factor
  • E-ATX Form Factor : 12-inch x 10.5-inch (30.5cm x 26.7cm)
  • Requires SSI power supply (with 24-pin and 8-pin 12V plugs)
BIOS
  • 4Mbit (512KB) Flash ROM
  • Phoenix-Award Flash BIOS with PnP, DMI 2.0, ACPI, SMBIOS 2.3 and WfM 2.0 features
  • Multi-boot on Floppy, SATA, ATAPI CD-ROM, SCSI, IDE, LAN


You'll find the following items in the package: -

  • ASUS K8N-DL motherboard
  • Single port IEEE 1394a bracket
  • Dual port USB 2.0 + game port bracket
  • 8x SATA cables
  • 4x SATA power cables (4-pin to dual SATA power plugs)
  • 1x 80-conductor IDE ribbon cable (Ultra ATA-66/100/133)
  • 1x 40-conductor IDE ribbon cable (Ultra ATA-33)
  • Floppy drive ribbon cable
  • I/O shield
  • CD with drivers and utilities
  • Motherboard user guide
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