Best motherboard for overclocking?

[Bona Fide]

I went to DFI Street and was turned away by the fact that they require a 24-pin connector and at least a 480W PSU. Also...the colors were less than appealing to me.

Could someone recommend to me a good overclocking board that can meet the following requirements?

- Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego (939)
- nForce4 Ultra or SLi chipset
- SATA support
- 20-pin OR 24-pin connector support

 

[Capt Caveman]

All nf4 motherboards require 24pin psu's and support sata. If you plan on overclocking, 480w is a good starting point for psu's.

 

[js9600]

You need a 20->24 converter, not necessarily new powersupply. MSI should have one included in package, I got one at least.

Where does it say DFI needs 480W psu? You need good quality psu more than high numbers, I think my junior model from OCZ Powerstream series would run any DFI just fine - even if only 420W. Depends on use/needs. Weak 12v line might give problems for a 500W psu designed for older motherboards.

 

[Siddy]

As said above ull need a good PSU and a 24 pin connector for all of them, but im running my A8N-Sli deluxe with a "ISO" (cheap brand) 350watt 20pin (shhhh.. dont tell anyone) but i never push it so its fine, well sum times unstable. If i overclock at all then its unstable as!

 

[Viperoni]

My system ran fine with only my PS's native 20pin connector.

 

[n yusef]

DFI says 480W PSU, because they don't want to sya things like "of a quality brand," "with high +12V amperages (what is high?)?," etc. A 400W+ of a good brand with high amps is recommended for overclocking though. If you really don't want the DFI, then EPox got a really high FSB on AT's review.

EDIT: Added link.

 

[Zim]

Originally posted by: Viperoni
My system ran fine with only my PS's native 20pin connector.

Does the 20-pin plug just push into one side of the 24-pin socket?

Anyone know if the MSI Neo4 Plat (non SLI) comes with a convertor? Mine arrives at the end of the week and it would be a bummer if I couldn't get it powered up over the weekend.

EDIT: ok, I ordered one for $4 shipped off ebay. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Dav373]

Originally posted by: Viperoni
My system ran fine with only my PS's native 20pin connector.

mine did too, just put it into one side and it popped right in. haven't had any problems and i have an overclock of 272x9 (2.45) on a 3000+ venice. DFI nForce4 UT SLI-dr mobo.

 

[Bona Fide]

Interesting...yeah I was looking at the Epox board as well. I'm not gonna be requiring any serious juice to be running to my RAM, so I don't need DFI's 4.0V upper limit. And it's about $25 cheaper too.

 

[FlyBono24]

I thought we were talking about motherboards.... how the hell did this turn into an argument about power supplies?

 

[Zim]

Originally posted by: FlyBono24
I thought we were talking about motherboards.... how the hell did this turn into an argument about power supplies?

In the same way it turned into a thread on complaints about it becoming a thread about powers supplies.

 

[Bona Fide]

LoL.

Well the DFI motherboards insist on using 24-pin ATX connectors...none of that 20pin-to-24pin convertor stuff. So I guess it stemmed from there

 

[FlyBono24]

Is the A8N-SLI Premium good for OC'ing?

 

[Jaxidian]

Main "official" DFI thread about power supplies
DFI really trying to get the point across

I enjoyed the post at the second link.

I think I'm getting the DFI nF4 Ultra-D. I already have an Antec TruePower II 480W PSU so I'm not worried about the PSU. But totally understandable if you don't want it. Just wanted to post these links so others know what you're talking about as for them saying not to use 20-pin -> 24-pin adapters.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: FlyBono24
Is the A8N-SLI Premium good for OC'ing?

Yes, as long as you're not using have voltage ram.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Doesn't it have that 1T issue and lots of bugs?

 

[ryanv12]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
All nf4 motherboards require 24pin psu's and support sata. If you plan on overclocking, 480w is a good starting point for psu's.

They do? I was going by the sticky that's posted in the General Hardware forum and I was assuming my Antec Truepower 480Watt would be sufficient for any nf4 motherboard except the DFI ones.

It also says not to use the 20-24 pin converter...is all of this still true?

I'm buying a PCI-E motherboard so I can get a 7800GTX but I ain't buying a new power supply!

I'm really quite confused on what motherboard I should get.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Doesn't it have that 1T issue and lots of bugs?

I think you're talking about the A8N-SLI Deluxe. The 1T issue on the Deluxe has been fixed w/ the latest bios update.

From everyone that has the A8N-SLI Premium, there haven't been any issues to come up yet other than user error. The premium is a kick-ass motherboard(and I don't even plan to run sli).

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: ryanv12

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
All nf4 motherboards require 24pin psu's and support sata. If you plan on overclocking, 480w is a good starting point for psu's.

They do? I was going by the sticky that's posted in the General Hardware forum and I was assuming my Antec Truepower 480Watt would be sufficient for any nf4 motherboard except the DFI ones.

It also says not to use the 20-24 pin converter...is all of this still true?

I'm buying a PCI-E motherboard so I can get a 7800GTX but I ain't buying a new power supply!

I'm really quite confused on what motherboard I should get.

My apologizes. I meant that all nF4 motherboards have a 24pin power connection. You may be able to get away with a 20pin psu with an adapter. But based on number of components, video card power requirements and overclocking, you may need a 24pin psu to maintain stability.

 

[ryanv12]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: ryanv12

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
All nf4 motherboards require 24pin psu's and support sata. If you plan on overclocking, 480w is a good starting point for psu's.

They do? I was going by the sticky that's posted in the General Hardware forum and I was assuming my Antec Truepower 480Watt would be sufficient for any nf4 motherboard except the DFI ones.

It also says not to use the 20-24 pin converter...is all of this still true?

I'm buying a PCI-E motherboard so I can get a 7800GTX but I ain't buying a new power supply!

I'm really quite confused on what motherboard I should get.

My apologizes. I meant that all nF4 motherboards have a 24pin power connection. You may be able to get away with a 20pin psu with an adapter. But based on number of components, video card power requirements and overclocking, you may need a 24pin psu to maintain stability.

Gotcha. no need to overclock for me though, I guess it's just not my hobby. I just want it to be stable. My PSU has 28A on the 12v rail I believe, and that's juicy enough for me

Thanks.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: ryanv12

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: ryanv12

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
All nf4 motherboards require 24pin psu's and support sata. If you plan on overclocking, 480w is a good starting point for psu's.

They do? I was going by the sticky that's posted in the General Hardware forum and I was assuming my Antec Truepower 480Watt would be sufficient for any nf4 motherboard except the DFI ones.

It also says not to use the 20-24 pin converter...is all of this still true?

I'm buying a PCI-E motherboard so I can get a 7800GTX but I ain't buying a new power supply!

I'm really quite confused on what motherboard I should get.

My apologizes. I meant that all nF4 motherboards have a 24pin power connection. You may be able to get away with a 20pin psu with an adapter. But based on number of components, video card power requirements and overclocking, you may need a 24pin psu to maintain stability.

Gotcha. no need to overclock for me though, I guess it's just not my hobby. I just want it to be stable. My PSU has 28A on the 12v rail I believe, and that's juicy enough for me

Thanks.

No problem. And yes, you'll be fine with that juicy 12v rail.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Doesn't it have that 1T issue and lots of bugs?

I had a 1T issue but I upgraded the BIOS yesterday to the june 23rd (I think) revision and now my memory issues are non existant.

2-3-2-5-1T @ 210 MHz I believe. Was only getting 2-3-3-5-2T @ 190 before, and only could get 1T with a 1/2 memory divider (like 130 MHz speed).

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Doesn't it have that 1T issue and lots of bugs?

Nope, the 1T issue was fixed with the premium as well as a move to a passive heatpipe cooler for the chipset

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Doesn't it have that 1T issue and lots of bugs?

I think you're talking about the A8N-SLI Deluxe. The 1T issue on the Deluxe has been fixed w/ the latest bios update.

Tell me its true or better yet show me some conformation. I gave up trying after 1011-01, which one fixes the 1T problem

 

[Zim]

Originally posted by: Capt CavemanMy apologizes. I meant that all nF4 motherboards have a 24pin power connection. You may be able to get away with a 20pin psu with an adapter. But based on number of components, video card power requirements and overclocking, you may need a 24pin psu to maintain stability.

I'm reading the manual for the MSI K8N Neo4 mboard and it tells you that you can connect a 20-pin plug to the 24-pin mboard socket (leaving 4 pins at one end unfilled). The socket is keyed in such as way as it's "fool proof".