Argh! I can't take it anymore!

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: 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.

Well I'd hope so! It's a solid $20+ more.

In that case, with price in mind, is the Epox worth the extra $30 over the Chaintech for the NForce 3 chipset finalists?

 

[darkswordsman17]

It depends. Will you need the onboard RAID, hardware firewall, and Soundstorm onboard sound?

 

[Boztech]

I have been very happy with my 8kda3j.

http://www.tarleton.edu/students/st_bostick/clocks.jpg

The Chaintech is a great board but lacks SATA RAID, GBe, and hardware firewall.

 

[moparmaga]

Can't speak for the other boards, but the Chaintech is a good overclocker if that matters to you. I have my Clawhammer A64 2800+ running at 3200+ stable on stock cooling. So I would say option one with the free Farcry. Just would not reccommend the MSI since my friends MSI Intel board bit the dust when the capacitors started leaking.

 

[CombatChuk]

I'm a bit wary of EPoX. My old 8RDA+ board had a few capacitors leaked, and apparently I wasn't the only one who had this problem.

 

[Sulaco]

Well, I am NOT picky at all with features. In fact, I'm probably a little too uncaring about features....

But I can definetly say I will not need SATA Raid, much in the way of heavy duty OCing (I've got PC2700 RAM and a 300Watt enermax PSU guys, c'mon), and I really don't think I'd need the hardware firewall either.

To be honest, the only onboard feature I care about is the sound, and even that doesn't have to be perfect. I've got some ok Altec Lansing Gaming Theatre 5.1s that are nice, but hardly cutting edge. Do you think I'd be able to notice much of a difference between onboard audio chips on my so-so speakers? All I'm doing is gaming and listening to the occasional MP3/ CD.

I currently have an 8RDA+, and it's been great to me for over a year. I like Epox, used an 8K7A before that. But if I can get the same quality motherboard for $69 with Far Cry, instead of the Epox board for $99 and nothing, I think I'd rather go the Chaintech route.

I just want a solid board, decent-to-good onboard sound, and good compatibility.

 

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by: moparmaga
Can't speak for the other boards, but the Chaintech is a good overclocker if that matters to you. I have my Clawhammer A64 2800+ running at 3200+ stable on stock cooling. So I would say option one with the free Farcry. Just would not reccommend the MSI since my friends MSI Intel board bit the dust when the capacitors started leaking.

I notice you're using Kingston PC2700RAM, exactly what I intend to be using.

I was worried because its older, slower ram, and was concerned there might be some problems with some of the boards.
How does it work for you? Any problems at all?

Also, have you tried the Chaintech board with that RAM?

I'm very interested in how these boards accept older, slightly slower RAM.