One key advantage NVIDIA has had over its competitors is their drivers. While VIA 4-in-1 drivers have improved, their install is a bit convoluted on most motherboards based upon their KT600 chipset which the nForce2 Ultra 400GB is intended to compete against. To install a driver on a Asus KT600, for example, you need to download the VIA RAID driver, the VIA Rhine Family Fast Ethernet Adapter Driver, the VIA 4 in 1 driver Package Service and the sound driver. This takes a total of 4 drivers just to install everything on the motherboard.
On the nForce2 reference board, however, the installation is one driver install, the Unified Driver Package which is currently at version 4.24. Double-click the installer and the chipset drivers, Ethernet drivers, RAID drivers, and sound drivers are installed at one go. This makes upgrading for businesses a very easy install. Just install the UDP, the Display driver and the NVIDIA System Utility (optional) and you're good to go!
NVIDIA's system utility is the same as that found on the nForce3 250GB drivers. From the menu, you can overclock your Hyper-Transport memory bus and AGP bus. You can also control the memory timings from this menu. The System Utility also gives you useful information like the CPU temperature, the system temperature, the voltages of the CPU, AGP, Memory, etc...
NVMixer is the replacement for the Sound Storm control panel. The nForce2 Ultra 400GB supports up to 7.1 audio the via Realtec ALC 65x codec. The reference board from NVIDIA sported nForce Audio which is also capable of reproducing 7.1 surround sound. I hope NVIDIA soon introduces a standalone sound chipset to rival Creative Labs, as innovation in sound is kind of lacking in recent years.
