DFI LANParty DK P45-T2RS PLUS (Intel P45)
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Conclusion
Conclusion
Previously known more for its extensive and somewhat intimidating BIOS, DFI has tried to reach out to the mainstream with its new Auto Boost System feature. From our experience with the LANParty DK P45-T2RS PLUS so far, DFI has on paper an interesting idea here to make overclocking easier but the full potential has not been reached. First, the overclocking profiles available from DFI's website seem to be a positive move. But there aren't that many yet and those we saw were tied to certain hardware configurations (processor and memory speed) so it's not exactly ready for mass adoption.
Nevertheless, this is an idea with much potential and a larger installed user base in the future, especially with overclockers, should improve the quantity and quality of the profiles. In any case, the DFI BIOS we found on our board had as many options as we had seen from other DFI boards, so enthusiasts should have no worries about DFI dumbing down the BIOS in a bid to make their products more mainstream.
In terms of performance, the DFI LANParty DK P45-T2RS PLUS was quite competitive with the other P45 boards that we had tested, despite using DDR2 memory instead of DDR3. The decision to go with the more affordable memory will probably predispose this board favorably to users looking for a decent short term fix, though overclockers may find that a DDR3 board will give more overclocking headroom.
By following the reference chipset and enhancing it with some extra features, DFI has produced a decent P45 motherboard that is a step up from the no-frills mainstream variants. Lacking the heavy duty cooling systems (we personally found the heatsinks on the PLUS to be slightly warm to the touch but more than acceptable) adopted by major players in the market recently may affect its attractiveness to the hardcore crowd. For those wishing to try their hand at overclocking, the ABS system may offer a head start until users master the many arcane BIOS settings on this board. At S$239, it's not too pricey (especially once you factor in DDR2 prices), so if tweaking the BIOS is your pastime, then this DFI board will be a perfect companion.
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