Anybody try the Albatron KX18D PRO II yet?

[DahDee]

I'm looking for a motherboard for my new Barton 2500, have been considering the Asus A7N8X Deluxe, Abit NF7-S, Gigabyte GA-7N400PRO2, Soltek SL-75FRN2-RL, Leadtek nForce2 Ultra400 Deluxe Limited. Now I see there's a new Albatron board out, and I like my Albatron Ti4800SE, so I'd consider this board as well -- it'd look good with a blue cathode in my Xaser III windowed case. Ack, too many choices! Anybody out there try this motherboard yet? Looking for help on this decision.

 

[DahDee]

Heh heh, I guess I'll be the first with this motherboard! Just ordered one from newegg for $107 shipped. I like its features, looks, overclocking ability (based in part on this new review: http://www.cluboc.net/reviews/motherboards/albatron/KX18PRo2/index.htm), and it'll match my Albatron Ti4800SE, which has been a very good performer. I'll update after installation for anyone that might be interested in this board.

 

[lghost]

Let me know how it goes, I'm very interested in this board as well.

 

[integ94]

Let me know how it goes 2 cause i am going to buy this board soon as soon as i make a decision from bet abit nf7-s and Kx18d pro2!

 

[DahDee]

Okay, I've put together a new system using this Albatron mobo, and I like it, enjoyed hooking everything up, including the extra firewire, USB, audio connectors. It really is a good-looking motherboard for those of you with windowed cases. First system I've built, and first CPU overclocking, and the KX18D Pro II made it all pretty easy. Have my 2500 running at 2.20 Ghz (200x11) with the stock HSF and AS3 (BIOS = 46C idle, so it's running warm (right?); I'm going to pick up a better HSF this week before really pushing the CPU) (case temp = 36C), took about 5 minutes playing around in the BIOS settings to do it (worked the first time). Upped the vcore slightly, from 1.65 to 1.70, just in case, and when I restarted the system it reported I have an AMD 3200+; BIOS reported it running at 2200 Mhz. Here's info on the rest of the system:

Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A w/5 stock case fans + 2 Antec 80mm blue LED case fans (one side intake, one rear out)
1GB Kingston Hyper-X PC3200 (stock settings) in dual channel mode
XFX Ti4200 128MB 8X AGP at 275/540
WD 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB cache SE HD w/ Antec Cobra round cable through Promise ATA133 controller card
Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW w/ Antec Cobra round cable
Alps silver floppy drive w/ Antec Cobra round cable
Antec TruePower 430 PSU
Thermaltake blue cold cathode tube
Gateway EV910 19" CRT
Gateway 2000 multimedia keyboard
Microsoft optical mouse
Windows XP

I really like the blue glow of the lights inside the case with the blue Albatron mobo, blue Kingston heat spreaders, blue XFX video card. As you can see, I changed my mind and didn't move the Albatron Ti4800SE from the other system to match up with this mobo, as I discovered the XFX card was also blue and matched well enough. Maybe I'll switch them after I improve the CPU HSF. First things first.

Ran 3DMark2001SE and scored 13340 with these settings. I think I can do a little better once I cool off that Barton. I guess it's back to Newegg for another deal!

I know it's early in the game on the mobo, and knock on wood, but I'm impressed so far. It took that 2500 to 200/11 without so much as a stutter and has tons of features. For $107, what's not to like? I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an AMD board.

 

[DahDee]

A few more observations:

Looking around in the BIOS last night, I realized that it had set the Hyper-X to run at 3-3-3-8, whereas the standard settings on this mem are 2-3-2-6, so I changed the settings to 2.5-3-3-6 (wouldn't run at rated speeds?). System seems okay, 3DMark 2001SE score went up to 13448, whatever that means.

Installed the Nvidia Detonator 44.03 drivers I'd previously downloaded/used with same card in old system, then noticed that 45.03 drivers were available, so downloaded and installed those. Seems like that was a mistake, as many reboots and error screens ensued. Uninstalled those and re-installed the 44.03 drivers, and system seems okay again. Weird.

Replaced the stock CPU fan with an 80mm Antec blue led fan (using 60mm-to-80mm adapter), and temps seem to have dropped from around 46C to 42C idle, 46-48C on multiple cycles of 3DMark 2001SE. I'm still going to replace the stock aluminum heat sink with an SK-7 or something like that, but it's nice to have it a little cooler with that easy alteration.

Questions:

The complete mem timings are actually 2-3-2-6-1T -- what does that 1T mean?

BIOS set the mem voltage at 2.70, but as stated above the mem doesn't seem to want to run at its stock ratings (currently 2.5-3-3-6) -- should I up the mem voltage to 2.8?

If I'm overclocking the video card (currently up from 250/513 to 275/530), should I up the AGP voltage in the BIOS from 1.5?

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

Question for those who have this Albatron board. One of the reviews stated that the fan on the nforce2 chipset is a bit loud compared to say other mbs with the chipset. Asus mb uses passive cooling with no "noisy" fan. Since I'll be getting an antec sonata case, any thoughts on this albatron mb with the chipset fan? thanks......

 

[DahDee]

I really wish there were others with this great mobo so you wouldn't have to just hear me talk about it, but....I can't hear the chipset fan -- the 7 fans in the Thermaltake, along with the replacement HSF, must drown it out. I mean, the thing is pretty small, it can't be that loud. I opened the side of the case, swung out the side fan door, and stuck my head as close as I dared, and I just can't hear anything except the case fans/hsf. I'm thinking somebody went a little overboard with the nit-picky approach.

To update my earlier post on my adventures with this board:

I upped the DDR voltage ("vdimm") to 2.8 and the Kingston now seems perfectly happy at its intended settings (2-3-2-6).

I upped the AGP voltage to 1.6 and the 4200 seems fine at 280/531 (still a disappointing overclock and the reason this component is the first that will be upgraded).

I still don't know what the heck that "1T" in the mem timings means, but my system seems stable and pretty fast so I won't worry about it.

Posted a 13585 in 3D Mark 2001SE.

 

[DahDee]

Anybody know if a Thermalright SLK-900A will fit on this motherboard? I'd like to snag one with that SVC deal but cannot tell if it will fit even after looking at the Thermalright and Albatron web sites. Thanks for any help.

Review of the KX18D Pro II that talks about clearances, has diagram re same: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview....eid=1457&page=3

Albatron KX18D Pro II web page: http://www.albatron.com.tw/english/....asp?pro_id=69#

Thermalright SLK-900A web page: http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/...uct_slk900a.htm

Thermalright diagram of SLK-900A showing dimensions: http://www.thermalright.com/a_image...900a-k7_ifn.gif

Edit: Got a favorable answer over in the Cases&Cooling forum ( http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=1158199 ), so I went ahead and ordered the 900A, will update after installation.

 

[DahDee]

I'm still loving this fast, solid motherboard and found a new review for anyone thinking about trying it:

PC Tech Zone review of the KX18D Pro II

 

[rancidcrabtree]

I got this board yesterday and it rocks!!! I'm running a 2500+ @ 233x10 at 2-2-3-11 solid. Couple that with my 9800np @ 440/370 and I'm getting better than 6400 on 3dmark03. I can't wait to get home today to tweak some more. More people need to check this board out. Highly recommeded.


kev

 

[Minjin]

I've been reading about this board and it certainly seems nice. Everyone seems to be running like lemmings to the NF7-S and noone's willing to try something different. I'm seriously considering picking this up.

At Newegg, the Albatron is at $109 (free shipping) and the NF7-S is $112 (free shipping). Whats different about the two? From a quick look at stats:

- Albatron has 6 pci slots, Abit has 5
- Abit has 2 serial ports, Albatron has 1
- Abit has the extra 4 pin power connector, Albatron does not
- Albatron has dual bios, Abit does not
- Abit has 4 heatsink mounting holes, Albatron has none

Those are just the physical differences I noticed. Here are some of the overclocking voltages available:

Core: Abit,1.1-2.3 Albatron,1.1-2.65
Memory: Abit, 2.6-2.9 Albatron,2.5-3.0
AGP: Abit, 1.4-1.8 Albatron, 1.5-1.8
Chipset: Abit,1.4-1.7 Albatron, 1.6-1.9

I have nothing against the Abit. I am currently using a KR7A-133R and its been a good board. I'd just like to see people try some different boards to increase competition in the market. That yields better product and cheaper prices. With everyone running to use one or two boards, companies like DFI or Albatron might decide to look elsewhere for their money.

Just some food for thought.

Mark

 

[RJRD2]

i bought one too because of reading a few good reviews and the comments here on the board. pretty soild with nice features. i was considering the dfi lanparty or gigabyte, but the gigabyte is 160 and the lanparty 155.. i picked this up for 107 also. the main reason i choose this over the giga is the price..and i choose this over dfi because of the dual bios.. im not gonna write a novel about my experience/results but ill say it was very pleasant & effortless. the board is great overclocker..took my 2500 to 2300Mhz+ at bus speeds up to 235. for anyone thinking of getting one don't hesitate.

 

[grrrwoof]

howd the slk900(a) fit?
thanks!

 

[DahDee]

Originally posted by: grrrwoof
howd the slk900(a) fit?
thanks!

It was very easy to install and fits GREAT! I'm extremely pleased. Put a 92mm Vantec Tornado on top of it and my idle CPU temp went down to 28C. Hits 40C under load.

 

[grrrwoof]

mm very nice=D
just got my slk900 today and was thinking about getin the albatron board but didn't kno if it would fit or not

i heard the tornados were loud=P
u don't mind the noise?

 

[DahDee]

Originally posted by: grrrwoof

i heard the tornados were loud=P
u don't mind the noise?

Yeah, the Tornado is kinda loud, so I'm thinking of trying to dial it down some with the Hardcano 9. Some people apparently find it unbearably loud, and I can understand that, but it just sounds like an air cleaner to me, and I've got one of those in my bedroom running at night, so it's really just white noise to me -- the PC might put me to sleep!

 

[Mindflux]

Originally posted by: Minjin
I've been reading about this board and it certainly seems nice. Everyone seems to be running like lemmings to the NF7-S and noone's willing to try something different. I'm seriously considering picking this up.

At Newegg, the Albatron is at $109 (free shipping) and the NF7-S is $112 (free shipping). Whats different about the two? From a quick look at stats:

- Albatron has 6 pci slots, Abit has 5
- Abit has 2 serial ports, Albatron has 1
- Abit has the extra 4 pin power connector, Albatron does not
- Albatron has dual bios, Abit does not
- Abit has 4 heatsink mounting holes, Albatron has none

Those are just the physical differences I noticed. Here are some of the overclocking voltages available:

Core: Abit,1.1-2.3 Albatron,1.1-2.65
Memory: Abit, 2.6-2.9 Albatron,2.5-3.0
AGP: Abit, 1.4-1.8 Albatron, 1.5-1.8
Chipset: Abit,1.4-1.7 Albatron, 1.6-1.9

I have nothing against the Abit. I am currently using a KR7A-133R and its been a good board. I'd just like to see people try some different boards to increase competition in the market. That yields better product and cheaper prices. With everyone running to use one or two boards, companies like DFI or Albatron might decide to look elsewhere for their money.

Just some food for thought.

Mark

Abit NF7-S Rev2. Does not have the mounting holes, FYI.

 

[DahDee]

The KX18D Pro II is now only $104 at Newegg.

 

[will889]

Out of all the Nforce2 boards I built ( I have built nearly all except XFX, MachSpeed (go figure), I Think Albatron is #2 right next to, and maybe as good as the Abit.




- The rest..(I did not include budget mobos some of which are MCP only and are also very good like the Biostar, and Shuttle)

 

[SP33Demon]

Anyone else want to comment on this board?

In this review for gaming, this mobo nudges out the DFI in every category!!

I'm looking for an nForce2 board and I think this is the one. It is compatible with T-Breds, or only Bartons? Also, what is the spec'd Ram for it? PC3200 or PC3500? Could it use my current PC2700?

Rob

 

[DahDee]

Incredibly, Newegg has already dropped the price, again, on this motherboard, to $100 (still free shipping). Still nothing but great customer comments there.

SP33Demon, your PC2700 should work just fine, as will a T-Bird; see the specs at Albatron's web site:


KX18D Pro II page at Albatron's web site

 

[DahDee]

Originally posted by: DahDee
Incredibly, Newegg has already dropped the price, again, on this motherboard, to $100 (still free shipping). Still nothing but great customer comments there.

SP33Demon, your PC2700 should work just fine, as will a T-Bird; see the specs at Albatron's web site:


KX18D Pro II page at Albatron's web site

Another price drop, to $98 shipped.

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

This great board has been dropping in price every week or so. I'm going to wait until they pay me to take it...

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

Originally posted by: DahDee

Originally posted by: DahDee
Incredibly, Newegg has already dropped the price, again, on this motherboard, to $100 (still free shipping). Still nothing but great customer comments there.

SP33Demon, your PC2700 should work just fine, as will a T-Bird; see the specs at Albatron's web site:


KX18D Pro II page at Albatron's web site

Another price drop, to $98 shipped.

It's showing $102 on newegg website. where did you find $98?