X-bit labs

DFI LanParty UT RDX200 CF-DR Mainboard on ATI Radeon Xpress 200 CrossFire Chipset (page 6)

Category: Mainboards

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 01/20/2006 | 07:14 PM ]

Almost all the connectors for additional devices are located at the front and left sides of the mainboard PCB, so that you can easily reach them when the mainboard is installed into the system case. The only two things that do not belong to this nearly ideal arrangement are the USB and IEEE1394 pin-connectors. Note that you will face some serious difficulties if you decided to use these connectors. The USB connector is located in front of the PCI slots, and the IEEE1394 connector is hidden behind the first graphics card slot.

The Karajan audio module can actually prepare an unpleasant surprise like that, too. It carries the connector for the case front panel ports. In other words, the cable from the case front panel connectors will go all the way through the case to the mainboard rear panel, because this is exactly where the Karajan module is installed. And this cable will be exactly above the hottest system components such as CPU, memory and video cards.

However, when it comes to expansion slots, DFI engineers have definitely deserved our admiration. The first graphics card slot has not just been moved away from the memory slot locks, but there is enough free space on the left of it for the massive cooling system of the graphics card installed.

Among the pleasing trifles, I would like to mention Power and Reset buttons on the mainboard that allow to significantly simplify the setup procedure. The mainboard is also equipped with the simplest diagnostic tool: four LEDs reporting the status of the major POST stages.

The connector panel of the DFI LanParty UT RDX200 CF-DR mainboard carries PS/2 ports for the mouse and keyboard, 6 High Speed USB ports, IEEE1394 port, two network RJ45 ports with diagnostic LEDs and a coaxial SPDIF In and Out.

When you install the Karajan module you also acquire 6 analog audio-jacks. Note that there are no Parallel and Serial ports on this mainboard, there is only a special connector for the external COM-port. However, you should keep in mind that there are no brackets with the COM ports in the mainboard accessories bundle.