Biostar M7NCD at NewEgg for $58 shipped (after rebate) - Is this board any good?

[Herkulese]

NewEgg has the M7NCD for $58 shipped (after $15 rebate).
This looks like a decent board. It has the nForce2 400 Ultra chipset, and the few reviews give it a good report.
Does anyone out there have any info on this board?
All comments appreciated,
Herkulese

 

[mudboy]

I have an M7NCG and it's a nice board. For $58, that's a killer deal for nForce2.

Pete

 

[Corsairpro]

im thinking about pairing this board with a barton 2500+/sk7/512MB corsair xms 3500(already have) and a 9800(non pro)

good deal me thinks? opinions?

 

[Herkulese]

What is the difference between the M7NCG and the M7NCD?
Still looking for opinions on this board.

 

[Corsairpro]

first has integrated graphics.... the other don't

might want to go to nforcershq or whatever is linked by Lieb in any of the official Nforce mobo threads and go to the biostar forum.

 

[Aenslead]

I thought it used the nForce 2 400 (non ultra).

Biostar makes good products. Stability is prime concern, due to their OEM priorities. Speed and feature wise, they may be lacking the same level as the rest of the manufacturers.

 

[Bleep]

i have not used this board but have built many many machines with Biostar boards and they are not only cheap they are very stable.
I recommend them all the time.

Bleep

 

[dxpaap]

So the M7NCG has integrated graphics (card) and the NCD you have to add a video card.

Anyone know what level of video the NCG has ?

I'm looking to upgrade the kids systems for homework and gaming (as cheaply as possiable). Was thinking of getting a radeon 9000 pro or 8500 video card for about $60,

but if the M&NCG is about $87 (pricewatch), the diff between Newegg's M7NCD and a NCG is only $30 (about $30 savings on the integrated video - If the onboard video is comprable to the Radeon 9000 pro or 8500.

thanks

 

[Corsairpro]

the integrated graphics in the nForce 2 boards is comparable to Geforce 4 MX 420 DDR ~= Geforce 2 Ti 200 ~= Radeon 8500VE/LE

If you plan on using nForce2 integrated graphics.... running in dual channel mode is a MUST. So take into account getting 2 Ram sticks. (If you hadn't planned on doing that already)

 

[dxpaap]

thxs

 

[Killrose]

The on-board graphics on the IGP nForce2 NB is about qual to GF4 MX420, which is not even close to a Radeon 8500le or Ti 200. A GF4 MX440se is a little faster than the Radeon 7500 and Gf2 Ultra, the MX420 falls way short of either of those two.

You have to run in Dual-channel mode (2 ram slots utilised) to take full advantage of the on-board graphics. And you have to limmit your FSB overclocking to 166MHz or so because the reports are that the on-board graphic won't function at high FSB speeds.

 

[Watson]

There is a difference between the M7NCD and the Pro version (the Pro has a slightly different layout and has active Northbridge cooling, among other things). The Pro version is $66.25 at Compgeeks, and it is not a special so you can easily get 10% off by using the code available at a major "tech bargains" website.

Specs on the pro available here: Biostar M7NCD Pro

The board has gotten average reviews, but it is a great bargain at $60 + shipping. I have one on the way to replace my 266a.

 

[will889]

Gotta bump here. Firstly the M7NCD is "nforce2 400" chipset, it single channel, just like the Soltek NV400 L64. It's a plain jane board - however, the nforce2400 chipset is faster than the nforce2, or nforce2 ultra. However..the M7NCD has only 2 ram slots, and no IGP, no soundstorm, no raid, passive cooling, also in the biostar version, unlike the Soltek version, as of yet there are no multipliers A bios fix will soon fix this, along with having voltages, my biostar rep tells me.

Now- the M7NCDP (or M7NCD Pro) is nforce2 Ultra 400, dual channel, no IGP, no soundstorm (no MCP-T, only MCP), and has ALC650 realtek (AC97) codec, and it does have all the tweaking options of the big boys (abit -asus) in the bios. This board has only passive cooling, but does have paste under the heat sink on the northbridge.

The M7NCG is nforce2 regular chipset w/MCP-T, IGP, and soundstorm, small form factor, dual channel, soundstorm, active cooling on the northbridge,

The New M7NCG Pro is just a copy of the M7NCG, but in regular ATX form factor, and dual VGA on the IGP. Both the M7NCG, and M7NCG Pro are 333 fsb rated, non ultra chipsets, but aree capable for good overclocking (with multipliers and voltages).This one also has active cool on the NB.

 

[Herkulese]

Hoot,

Thank you very much for the clarifications.

Herkulese

 

[will889]

Biostar now has a new board. It's called M7NCG 400, it's a small form factor ultra 400. Same size as the M7NCG. But it does not have MCP-T sound (soundstorm) like the M7NCG, it's ACL650. But it does have IGP. See it here- Biostar.TW/M7NCG 400

 

[will889]

Hopefully it will come with a heat sink on the chipset ROFL.