Budget A64 Mobo

[sisooktom]

I'm looking to build an A64 system with a budget motherboard. Meaning stability is priority 1. I won't use RAID, and won't overclock initially (might play with it later). What do you guys think about the ASRock vs the Chaintech VNF? I should note that I'm a first time builder (though skilled with computer hardware).

 

[Bar81]

Well, give me until Monday and I'll let you know with a direct comparison of the two. I can tell you though for stability and perfromance at stock nothing beats the K8S8X. I would advise you just purchase the K8S8X as based upon your criteria it is the perfect motherboard.

And if the VNF3 turns out to not be crap and I decide to keep it to overclock my DTR I'll sell you my ASRock for a good price or maybe I'll be selling the VNF3; don't know yet.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Funny... I was about to ask the same question.

What is so great about the SiS solution? Woudn't the nF3-250 board be better since it is second generation?

 

[Bar81]

What is so great about the SiS 755/964 combo is that it's rock stable and has the best performance across the board AGP, SATA, and NIC. All peripherals directly off of the southbridge so no PCI bus congestion. Also, its IDE drivers actually work and don't fubar you're entire system as the nvidia ones are apt to do.

The nForce3 250 is actually first generation+ as the nForce3 150 wasn't even 1st generation, it was more like half generation (600mhz HTT and no integrated SATA) Also remember that the Chaintech isn't using the GB chipset but rather they're using a cheap POS Realtek NIC chip on the PCI bus. And even with all the improvements in the 250 chip, the Chaintech still has nothing on the K8S8X performance wise, it's at best a draw. Add to that the more mature state of the ASRock BIOS and it's really tough to recommend the Chaintech unless you're going for a 240mhz or above overclock.

 

[Diogenes2]

Definitely the VNF3 at this price..

At ZipZoomFly - $77 while supplies last ..

 

[Agamar]

I have the latest bios on my VNF3-250. Performance is good. Nice and stable. I plan on ordering another for a light file server.

 

[CraigRT]

for low budget, Chaintech's look fine!

for a good enthusiast board, the MSI K8N Neo!

 

[Bar81]

Just got done with a hellish VNF3 install. This board is straight amateur hour. First, the BIOS is HORRIBLE. No recognition for the DTR cpus, and problems abound even with the latest beta BIOS. I'm using a 3200+ desktop CG stepping CPU. Problems include: improper temp readings for the CPU (reads 70C+ so that I can't do anything but surf the web and light windows work without the system auto shutting down), VDIMM will not go past 2.50v no matter what I set it to, no go at DDR200 (which could be related to the whole vcore issue), cannot use usb header as it won't boot. Driver CD has no utility for making a SATA boot disk for a Win2k install on a SATA drive.

Just for reference, I had no problems with any of the above with the ASRock K8S8X (although I did have to snag the SATA boot disk maker from Asus)

ASRock K8S8X hands down.

 

[dimasukr]

Can't you disable CPU temp auto shutdown?
So you could not boot it with DTR CPU ? What a bad news I was planing to get mobile AMN CPU.
Latest BIOS on VNF3 does have some strange DDR 200Mhz issue - I don't see 200Mhz in there - it used to be an option with 04/30 BIOS.
I got it to work with 1 stick of mem with auto for frequency, auto for 1T/2T and then manual timings for CAS, and the rest of options.
Then it will boot with memory 1:1 to FSB. I got my OCZ PC4400 to 275 Mhz stable just like Anand in his review.
With 2 sticks no matter what I choose I get 5:6 memory with latest BIOS.

 

[dimasukr]

Also as I mentioned in another thread - somebody suggested not to use auto voltage and auto multiplier on DTR CPU - it might help.

 

[Bar81]

Back to Asus/ASRock for me.