Abit KN8 SLi

[bluemaverick]

Originally posted by: Dweekie
Got one recently, running a venice 3000 at 300htt (2.7ghz @ 1.5v). I havent tested the max htt yet on this board since I'm really happy with it right now (only the second day of running it). Awesome board, especially with the passive cooler. With a sychthe ninja with a nexus silent fan, Im getting a max cpu temperature of 30C and system temperature of 28C. It's got all the major features you need and no quirks other than the above mentioned layout. All my voltages are great (12v, 5v, 3.3v) and are all slightly above their rated values. Plus, I'm only running on an old antec 350 20pin powersupply and running a 7800GT graphics card and 3 hard drives and a dvdrw drive. There's no need for super high wattage and super clean powersupplies like some of the other boards; this abit board is just awesome. Plus, it's silent and is only 110 bucks at the egg. I had no problems using the firewall with the latest nvidia drivers from the website, but other have mentioned issues with it. I really dont know why there is a lack of reviews on this board, but it's really an awesome board and i'd really recommend it. The only thing im wondering is if my powersupply can handle another 7800gt. how important is it for a ps to be sli ready? I feel like my 350 maybe pull it off, whereas all the certified ones are 500watts or higher. Oh, and yes it has all the standard oc settings and more; hence, I have a highly overclocked rig with barely any effort (abit softmenu is the best organized of all mobo brands in my opinion).

Can you share your setting with me? I havew the same board with a 3700+ Sandy, please email me the seeting you changed from default to dbegej@yahoo.com. Thank you very much!

 

[Dweekie]

Most sandiegos seem to overclock very well. Most of my settings with be very different from yours due to different memory and processor. My ht is at 3x (chipset settings in bios), htt at 300(softmenu), vcore at 1.5(softmenu), memory at ddr266 (chipset settings). Those are the major settings and I tweaked them a bit for my components, but please check out a very good guide at http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=888001&highlight=overclocking+guide

 

[tvdang7]

whats the differnce between this board and the an8?

 

[Dweekie]

3 phase power vs 4 phase and a much higher price tag (comparing sli version of each) are the major differences i found. Also, kn8 is a later revision and seems to be considered extremely stable and unfinicky (although that may be because of a more recent bios vs the original nforce 4 release bios that shipped with the an8). Abit doesnt seem to cripple overclocking settings on their "budget" boards unlike some other brands so all the major settings are present in the kn8.

 

[tvdang7]

so it will overclock the same?...........tad worse?.........

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: Dweekie
Abit doesnt seem to cripple overclocking settings on their "budget" boards unlike some other brands so all the major settings are present in the kn8.

This board (KN8 SLI) is not overclocking crippled. But some of the other "budget" Abit boards (I'm thinking of the MicroATX variants) have had basicly zero OC options.

 

[tvdang7]

hmm so its ok for me to buy a kn8 instead of an an8 to save a a few bucks with out loosing any overclockability.?

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: tvdang7
hmm so its ok for me to buy a kn8 instead of an an8 to save a a few bucks with out loosing any overclockability.?

Which AN8 are you comparing it with?

A quick search on newegg for "abit an8" returned too many versions to list.

I think the concensus here (and on the egg) is that the ABIT KN8 SLI is a nice stable silent SLI board. With enough overclocking functions and chipset cooling to keep you stable somewhere above stock speeds.

If determined to reach past 2.6ghz ... then ignore my opinions. I'm happy achiving a stable long term 2.2+Ghz with anything that comes stock at 2ghz or below.

 

[tvdang7]

just a regular an8 or an8 ultra no sli for me

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: tvdang7
just a regular an8 or an8 ultra no sli for me

Personally, I prefer chipsets to be cooled passivly. I've seen too many dead motherboards due to dead chipset fans.

With the AN8-Ultra (Passive cooled chipset version ) you could use some of the "Guru" stuff. Allowing you to change overclocking settings with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813999405

'egg AN8 Ultra
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127212



Good luck with your decision... Amazing how hard the decision is when there are so many good options.

 

[tvdang7]

well i had my heart set on an8 for a long time! but if hte kn8 is the same performance for cheaper then i guess its not too bad then!!!

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: tvdang7
well i had my heart set on an8 for a long time! but if hte kn8 is the same performance for cheaper then i guess its not too bad then!!!

If you've wanted the an8 that long ... then get the an8. If there's anything you don't like about the KN8 SLI... "Damn, that VooDooAddict. He said this crap was good. I should have gotten the AN8 that I wanted."

 

[DasFox]

Here's my son helping build the box for his Science Fair:

http://img304.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brandilvideo6rd.jpg

http://img304.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brandilcase1bn.jpg

The only thing I don't like at this point in time is how close the second video card is next to the PCI slot below it. It looks like you can't get anything in it and if you do, so much for the idea of GOOD air flow and cooling.

THANKS

P.S. Should have it running in a few weeks.

 

[Transistor]

Originally posted by: Dweekie
3 phase power vs 4 phase and a much higher price tag (comparing sli version of each) are the major differences i found. Also, kn8 is a later revision and seems to be considered extremely stable and unfinicky (although that may be because of a more recent bios vs the original nforce 4 release bios that shipped with the an8). Abit doesnt seem to cripple overclocking settings on their "budget" boards unlike some other brands so all the major settings are present in the kn8.

How did you find out how many phase power these motherboards have? Also, which one has 4 phase, the KN8 or AN8?

 

[imported_Sincity]

Just following the thread here. I bought a AN8 SLI from Fry's this week that was $100.08 (incl tax after rebate). I haven't installed it since I cannot find too many reviews on it. Since this is an older board, I have been contemplating on getting the KN8 SLI instead. Should I keep the AN8 SLI?

 

[nanjil]

Guys:

I built a board with dfi lanparty ultra d recently. But it has two problems with no solution at hand and one of which is a show stopper for me.

The problem 1 is I cannot put it in s3 suspend mode without losing my overclock settings. when I come out of the suspend all my overclocking settings is lost. i need the s3 and this is a show stiopper

the next problem is when the usb is connected to my canon multipass 390 printer, the board will not boot. This is a major irritant and I can get around it by unplugging the printer. (it happens only wiht this usb , probably because it has its own power)

I am considering kn8 and I want to know whether it has the same problems (that will mean the problems with the nf4 chipset).
I am certainly attracted to the passive nb cooler. in my previous life i had abit ic7-max3 and the nb fan died on me and was a huge irritant!!

thanx