Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI Motherboard Review :: Setup and Bundle

Socket 939

12v Power

Setup went smooth as butter on this one and I was amazed at how well every just came together so easily. The overall size of the K8NXP-SLI is 30.5 x 24.4 cm; this means it will fit in any ATX form factor enclosure of mid tower to larger size. Remember that power requirements on an SLI running system are very high; using the highest rated power supply you can get your hands on will help increase system stability and lower the chances of power failures due to an overtaxed power source. Using the RAID functions on the board is achieved without any problems whatsoever as the drives are automatically detected and ready to be configured in whatever RAID array you desire. One thing that is cool in the design of the K8NXP-SLI board is the fact that the VGA cards do not block the memory slots when installed. You will need to use the included bridge connector if you want to use the cards in an SLI mode configuration and you will need two six-pin power connectors for each card, so keep that in mind when purchasing parts for your system build.

3D1

SLI Bridge

Single Card

SLI

SATA Cables

Firewire/USB Brackets

Sata Power

Manuals/Driver CD

Gigabyte has a very complete bundle package that has all the necessary goodies and gadgets for getting setup and going without problems. All the cables, manuals and driver CDs needed are in the box. The audio user interface is very easy to use and the Realtek solution offers things such as auto Jack Sensing, this allows the user to plug in the speakers just about in any plug and then configure it correctly. There are a few different sound rooms and environments you can choose from as well as a ten-band equalizer for shaping your sound to your personal preference. If you want the clearest and best clarity sound achievable, using speakers that accept the SPDIF (Sony/ Phillips Digital Interface) is what I recommend as it offers the best signal reproduction available. On the rear I/O there are the standard analog connections in addition to coaxial in and out jacks depending on your need. You can use 2.1 through 7.1 surround sound speaker environments, which gives the user a vast amount of flexibility in their choice of speakers. For enjoying DVD movies a 5.1 system is optimal for most users. You can get a good set of 5.1 speakers online for under $50.00 U.S so the cost is not high to get into 5.1 audio.

General Information

10-Band EQ

Automatic Jack Sensing

Speaker Setup

SPDIF

Microphone