AHH! I cannot decide which MOBO!

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
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Ok, these three have been driving me nuts, I can't decide which one. I like the Epox cuz it's cheap, I like the DFI cuz of all the options but hate it cuz of how picky the thing is, and the MSI looks great but if I ever want to overclock in the feature I'll have to buy a new mobo. The setup I will be getting is:

X2 4400+
7800GTX by EVGA
2 gigs of ram (because I found an awsome deal but doubt the DFI board will like these cuz they are somewhat no name brands but people have been having great luck with them...)
And the other misc stuff, it's going to be a gaming rig, I still haven't found a case yet for it, I'll probably be getting a fortron or OCZ power supply too.

Can anyone help me to decide or do you have any suggestions?

EDIT: Can you see the poll?
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,986
1
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Don't see the poll.

And I'm going to offer a new option: The ASUS A8N-E, or the A8N-SLI if you plan on SLI'ing in the future.
 

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
Since you said "If I want to overclock in the future," it is obvious overclocking is not your #1 priority. In that case get the Epox.
 

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
781
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Overclocking is not my #1 priority, I want something stable and solid, that's why I have gone with MSI before. When I think of Epox I think of some no-name company for some reason that has horrible customer service, weird I know but that is what I think. I have had no problems at all with MSI's boards before and that is what I have used for all the systems I have built.

I was told DFI needs a beefy psu.

I have no idea what is with the poll...

EDIT: Atleast you guys know what mobo's I'm talking about haha...
 

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
DFI is very picky about PSUs, RAM etc. and may take a little tweaking to get it to work properly. Also, yes the DFI board requires a native 24-pin 480w+ PSU according to this

Just get the EPoX :thumbsup:
 

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
781
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http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=246486

Is that a typo? 2000FSB?

I guess I stand here: I'd rather buy the Epox or MSI and sacrifice the overclocking ability that the DFI has for the sake of being able to pull everything out of the box and install it right then and there and have it work like it's suppose to. I don't really want to fiddle around with the system trying to find out if everything is running as it should be or tweaking this a little to get this to work, I want to be able to throw everything together, update the software and throw in a game right away and go "ohhhh, ahhhhh" as the game comes to life...Swapping out a motherboard later on won't be to much of a biggie for me if I wish to enter the overclocking world.

After saying that, MSI has never let me down, whether service, software, or technical. How is Epox on this? Pardon my sceptisism, but I have no idea when I will want to overclock, with the hardware I am buying I should not have to for alteast 3 years I hope, by then I can certainly buy a new mobo then, who knows maybe there will be a better one, I guess MSI has always been there and I like that secure feeling.

A lot of blah blah blah, I know, but I hate trying new things when i know for certain this other product has never let me down...catch my drift?
 

BigCoolJesus

Banned
Jun 22, 2005
1,687
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Originally posted by: MDE
Epox

:thumbsup: x10


honestly, i couldnt be happier with my Epox 9NPA+ SLI, it overclocks almost as well as a DFI (and is 2x user friendly as a DFI) but it has the rock stable performance of an Asus.

and its cheaper then either company
 

raildogg

Lifer
Aug 24, 2004
12,892
572
126
you can get a free evga sli motherboard with a evga 7800gtx. why not get that?

it has all the overclocking potential of the DFI, minus the super high ram voltage. plus it has SLI if you eve need it.

Anandtech reviewed the Jetway board and highly recommended it for people wanting a fast board with a nice layout and great overclocking ability. it is the same board except for the sound chip and the evga name
 

woodchuck69

Member
Jun 23, 2005
97
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Originally posted by: lodmdma
does the 7800 gtx fit well with epox??? heard it blocks the IDE slots

My evga 7800GTX squashes down on the primary IDE slot and you'd have to use a really slim fitting ribbon cable to make it work - the supplied round cables Epox gives you with the mobo wouldn't come close. Luckily I only need 1 IDE slot because I'm all sata hard drives now.

 

woodchuck69

Member
Jun 23, 2005
97
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Originally posted by: Krypto
Ok, these three have been driving me nuts, I can't decide which one.

I like the Epox cuz it's cheap,

If you like the Epox because it's low price, then how can you pass up the free Evga SLI board with card purchase?? It sells for $139 just by itself.
 

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
781
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I'm not sure, I'd have to look at it, these were just the 3 choices that people helped me narrow down, so I was voicing what I liked about each of them. I'll have to look into the EVGA one.

EDIT: Anyone got a link to the combo deal haha? Also, I just noticed there was a 6800 Gt 512MB for cheaper than the 7800 GTX, worth thinking about?

EDIT X2: So is the EVGA mobo worth looking into? I'm guessing since I have to buy the combo from EVGA it will cost more so I was just wondering if it'll add up. Has anyone bought this combo and how much was it?

EDIT X3: Found the deal, that 7800 GTX isn't overclocked to the one I am buying. The one that comes with the comb is at 450/1200 - the one I am buying is 490/1300.
 

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
781
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Do you think it would be safe to buy the card in the combo and ramp up the clocks right away to 490/1300 or would you not do that?
 

imported_Krypto

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
781
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Ok, I think I am going to go with the epox, however I can't find the new BIOS that I will need to take control of the dual core 4400+. Is there one for the Epox?
 

t3h l337 n3wb

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: Krypto
I'm not sure, I'd have to look at it, these were just the 3 choices that people helped me narrow down, so I was voicing what I liked about each of them. I'll have to look into the EVGA one.

EDIT: Anyone got a link to the combo deal haha? Also, I just noticed there was a 6800 Gt 512MB for cheaper than the 7800 GTX, worth thinking about?

EDIT X2: So is the EVGA mobo worth looking into? I'm guessing since I have to buy the combo from EVGA it will cost more so I was just wondering if it'll add up. Has anyone bought this combo and how much was it?

EDIT X3: Found the deal, that 7800 GTX isn't overclocked to the one I am buying. The one that comes with the comb is at 450/1200 - the one I am buying is 490/1300.

1. 7800GTX >>>>>>> 6800GT 512MB
2. That mobo is pretty decent. I say go for it. The MSI will still get you a decent overclock though. I have my 2.0Ghz Venice running @ 2.5Ghz very easily. I'm sure I could go a lot higher. The RAM voltages are a bit low, but that's okay.
3. You'll be able to manually overclock it pretty easily. Go for the combo :thumbsup:
 

johnnqq

Golden Member
May 30, 2005
1,659
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of those 3 get the dfi.the asus a8n-e is a good choice too.
i just noticed that you're getting an evga 7800gtx. did you buy it already? you can get a free mobo (not sure if it's sli or not) with purchase of a 7800gtx or gt.