Best SKT939, AGP MB

[FalcX]

I am doing a small upgrade from a P4 2.6C to an Amd 3700 San Diego. I want to keep AGP as I am quite happy with my 6800GT for awhile yet. System is in Sig.........

I am not going to be overclocking, and if I do, it wont be extreme. I also want to add a Thermalright XP-90C hs and panaflo fan. I also may want to upgrade the chipset hsf. What are my options for a board and what would the best choice be for my needs. I am going for gaming mostly.

I have looked at MSI Neo 2, DFI, Asus A8V D, Gigabyte, Epox.

Any help would be appreciated and thx in advance.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Welcome to the forums.

I'm going to recommend this board yet again, especially since you're not interested in extreme overclocking. (It overclocks well, but it could definitely stand to have better voltage options.)

Basically, it has full-performance AGP 8x, PCI-E x16 and x1 slots (plus a 'future CPU port' slot for M2, but that's not important at the current time obviously). Anandtech has done a review of it (linked to in the thread), and performance is every bit as good as Nforce3/4 boards. The people who have it already are reporting that it works very well, no problems with stability or anything.

And possibly the best part, it can be had for under $70.

 

[FalcX]

I have read quite abit on this board as well. My ram is 4x512 and hope that wont cause a problem.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: FalcX
I have read quite abit on this board as well. My ram is 4x512 and hope that wont cause a problem.

That will make you drop down to a 2T Command Rate timing, but that's the case on any motherboard. It's a function of the memory controller on the CPU.

 

[FalcX]

After more research and reading, i haver narrowed my decision down to the following 2 boards:

Epox EP-9NDA3+
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2

Im not going to overclock alot if any. Only thing I read negative so far about the Epox was the vdimm tops out at 2.8, my current ram is running at 2.7.

Im also looking at basic stability and board layout because I want to add either a SP-90C, or SP 120, and possibly a Swiftech Chipset cooler MCX159-CU:

 

[SynthDude2001]

I believe the ASRock board tops out at 2.8V Vdimm as well.

As for the board layout and heatsink fit...I'm really not sure. I would be inclined to say that the SP-90(C) should fit with no trouble but the 120 would be a gamble, but I don't have any first hand experience to tell you for sure. I'll try to see if I can find any info on that in the threads on other forums about this board.

 

[MDE]

I have the Epox and it's been relatively trouble free for me and overclocks well.

 

[FalcX]

Do you have any alternative cpu or chipset cooling on this board, also what are you running for Ram.........I have 4x512 OCZ I want to run.

 

[FalcX]

I will also add that I am stuck, every board available for what I want has some sort of flaw. Whether it be layout, memory, or what not. Very tough to choose from to go with AGP. I was really looking forward to having this ordered and installed by Wed.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: FalcX
Do you have any alternative cpu or chipset cooling on this board, also what are you running for Ram.........I have 4x512 OCZ I want to run.

I have a Zalman 7000A AlCu on the CPU and the stock chipset heatsink which is more than adequate. For RAM I'm using 2x512MB Mushkin PC3200.

 

[kirbymixmasta]

Originally posted by: FalcX
After more research and reading, i haver narrowed my decision down to the following 2 boards:

Epox EP-9NDA3+
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2

Im not going to overclock alot if any. Only thing I read negative so far about the Epox was the vdimm tops out at 2.8, my current ram is running at 2.7.

Im also looking at basic stability and board layout because I want to add either a SP-90C, or SP 120, and possibly a Swiftech Chipset cooler MCX159-CU:

Do you mean XP or SI? The si's should fit on most boards, especially since the si-120 was made because of compatability problems with the xp-120's.

 

[theMan]

asus a8v deluxe rev. 2 or msi neo2 platinum. i would chose the a8v deluxe. well, actually i did. thats what i have.

 

[FalcX]

Originally posted by: kirbymixmasta

Originally posted by: FalcX
After more research and reading, i haver narrowed my decision down to the following 2 boards:

Epox EP-9NDA3+
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2

Im not going to overclock alot if any. Only thing I read negative so far about the Epox was the vdimm tops out at 2.8, my current ram is running at 2.7.

Im also looking at basic stability and board layout because I want to add either a SP-90C, or SP 120, and possibly a Swiftech Chipset cooler MCX159-CU:

Do you mean XP or SI? The si's should fit on most boards, especially since the si-120 was made because of compatability problems with the xp-120's.

XP..........srry

 

[FalcX]

Will this setup work,(sounds good on paper) with no problems.......
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 , X2 4400, 4x512 OCZ Pl rev2, XP90C HS

My other concern is the onboard lan. Will it be good enough for online gaming?? If it isnt I have a nic and Audigy 2 ZS PCI cards that will be a tight fit with my 6800GT that has a zalman VF700 cooler on it.

 

[SolMiester]

My board probably has the most features and is very stable, though the ASRock does give you a better upgrade path.