Argh! I can't take it anymore!

[Sulaco]

Ok guys, I've been agonizing over my upgrade to A64 for several days now. I've lost sleep over it and even called in sick at work to think it over more...and I've come down to (I THINK!) only 3 motherboards left.

Just a quick rundown. I'm NOT Ocing, need the board to stable, with good onboard audio, and under $100.

So if you guys were me and had $285 to spend, WHICH WOULD YOU BUY?

Option 1:
Chaintech VNF3-250 w/ AMD Athlon64 3000+ CPU and Far Cry bundle....$250.98 SHIPPED at Mwave

Option 2:
Asus K8V ($97) w/AMD Athlon64 3000+ CPU...$267.00 SHIPPED at Newegg

Option 3:
Epox 8KDA3J ($99) w/ AMD Athlon 64 3000+ CPU...$274 SHIPPED at Newegg


Ok, so there you have it guys. The Chaintech is awfully tempting now, seeing as how it's a good $16 cheaper than the closest competitor, and I've seen a number of members of this board posting good impressions of the board, and Anantech seemed to like it in their review.

So please guys, if you were me, which would you choose and why...I REALLY need to choose one and fast!
Thank you!

 

[CraigRT]

I still recommend teh Soltek
I'd go for the Chaintech/Farcry/3000+ bundle for sure.

 

[Arcanedeath]

If you don't have Farcry yet get the bundle, otherwise of those 3 I'd take the Epox, but thats just me

 

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
I still recommend teh Soltek
I'd go for the Chaintech/Farcry/3000+ bundle for sure.

Really? You'd go for the Chaintech? You think it's a pretty good board then?


Alright....what I wanted to hear!

One notch for Chaintech.

 

[dennisjai215]

im tempted to buy option 1 now =]
if you dont like it you can always sell farcry for 20$ shipped and then u only ended up paying 230$ for the combo!
crazy shizzle!

 

[earthling30]

Option 3 bacause of the better chipset.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

i'd say go with option 3 or consider more expensive mobos Chaintech left a bad taste last time I dealth with them.

 

[imported_ceejay]

8KDA3J, i've been waiting for freakin mwave or newegg to get it in stock!

 

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: earthling30
Option 3 bacause of the better chipset.

Don't the Chaintech and the 8KDA3J have the same chipset? (nF3-250Gb)

 

[earthling30]

Originally posted by: Sulaco

Originally posted by: earthling30
Option 3 bacause of the better chipset.

Don't the Chaintech and the 8KDA3J have the same chipset? (nF3-250Gb)

You're correct. I must have had that one mixed up with another combo similar to what you're looking at but it had a VIA chipset. Sorry my mistake! Might be worth a shot to try. I've never bought anything from MWave before so I don't know how they are on customer service!

 

[beach2nd]

Option 1...Farcry put it over the top.

 

[DarkAmeba]

I'd go Epox.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

The Chaintech has the 250 the epox has the 250 GB. I can't remember exactly what the differences are but I know for sure the 250 lacks the hardware firewall.

 

[dennisjai215]

lacks the gig lan / firewall no big deal

 

[JBT]

I love my EPoX board.

 

[Sulaco]

*sigh*

Option 4:

MSI K8T NEO-FSR w/ AMD Athlon64 3000+ and Far Cry bundle...$261.09 SHIPPED at Mwave



Really though guys, I figure I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and pick one. I'm not into OCing, and most users seem to say the NF3 chipset is the way to go. Yet sites like Sharky and HardOCP seem to love the VIA boards.
I really just want the the thing to be stable and work.

But almost everyone here seems to think the Nf3 250 is the chipset to go with...I suppose thats probably the wisest thing to do.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Whichever one you get, I'd get it from mwave. I think if you bundle any mobo with an A64 you get Far Cry free.

I like the Epox one since its a 250 Gb board.

Have you considered the Asus 250 Gb board?

 

[DarkAmeba]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
*sigh*

Option 4:

MSI K8T NEO-FSR w/ AMD Athlon64 3000+ and Far Cry bundle...$261.09 SHIPPED at Mwave



Really though guys, I figure I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and pick one. I'm not into OCing, and most users seem to say the NF3 chipset is the way to go. Yet sites like Sharky and HardOCP seem to love the VIA boards.
I really just want the the thing to be stable and work.

But almost everyone here seems to think the Nf3 250 is the chipset to go with...I suppose thats probably the wisest thing to do.

You just posted the best option up there. Go with the MSI. Great board, plus its got the 250gb chipset fully implemented.

 

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Whichever one you get, I'd get it from mwave. I think if you bundle any mobo with an A64 you get Far Cry free.

I like the Epox one since its a 250 Gb board.

Have you considered the Asus 250 Gb board?

Could someone quickly explain the real benefits of a 250Gb board over the regular 250? I just want to see whether or not it really applies to me, since my needs and tastes are rather small...

 

[JBT]

MSI boards are nothing but trouble. They are great at first but soon they are not so hot. Atleast thats what I have seen about them and many people feel the same. Th only people who seem to think they are great are those who currently own one and it hasn't died "YET" that my opnion of MSI motherboards anyways.

 

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: DarkAmeba

Originally posted by: Sulaco
*sigh*

Option 4:

MSI K8T NEO-FSR w/ AMD Athlon64 3000+ and Far Cry bundle...$261.09 SHIPPED at Mwave



Really though guys, I figure I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and pick one. I'm not into OCing, and most users seem to say the NF3 chipset is the way to go. Yet sites like Sharky and HardOCP seem to love the VIA boards.
I really just want the the thing to be stable and work.

But almost everyone here seems to think the Nf3 250 is the chipset to go with...I suppose thats probably the wisest thing to do.

You just posted the best option up there. Go with the MSI. Great board, plus its got the 250gb chipset fully implemented.

Actually, the K8T is the VIA chipset. I believe you might be thinking of the K8N?

 

[DarkAmeba]

Originally posted by: JBT
MSI boards are nothing but trouble. They are great at first but soon they are not so hot. Atleast thats what I have seen about them and many people feel the same. Th only people who seem to think they are great are those who currently own one and it hasn't died "YET" that my opnion of MSI motherboards anyways.

I build PCs as a side job. I've used MSI boards for 2 years and have yet to have a problem. The latest MSI A64 boards both got awards form anand I believe.

 

[DarkAmeba]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
Actually, the K8T is the VIA chipset. I believe you might be thinking of the K8N?

Whoops.. yup

 

[Sulaco]

I also think the K8N is quite a bit more than the K8T, too...

Would you still recommend the K8T over the others?

Seems most users prefer the nForce3 chipset here.

 

[DarkAmeba]

Definatly go NF3 if you can. Personally, I'd still get the K8N if you can. Otherwise the Epox board is supposed to be good as is the chintech.