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Building an X2 in spite of C2D superiority

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imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Assume I already have an AM2 cpu, not a plus, just an X2 4800, for example, and past decent luck with eBay sellers, and would be interested in a reasonably good mid-level system based upon an AMD dual-core from a year or two ago. How did the Asus M2N32 mainboards work out? Particularly the Nforce 590 chipset parts, such as the "Crosshair" and the "Vista Edition" (there was a "Professional" something also).

Was there anything else from 18 months to two years ago (typical overstocks / surplus ages on eBay) any better than Asus' Nforce motherboards?
 
They ran hotter than firecrackers. Just make sure you have good cooling. An alternative would be a MSI-K9 SLI Platinum. The Crosshair will have a lot of O/C options but be a little pricey still especially if you don't overclock.
 
Offhand, what was left off with the 570 Chipset versus the 590? AFAIK, MSI didn't choose to support the top level NF5** (my mistake, it seems they are doing the same as Gigabyte, just pulled any mention at all of a 590 off their web site), and Gigabyte had dropped their 590 rather early on . . the proposed case is the Centurion 590 from Cooler Master, which looks to have loads of ventilation.
 
why the NF590 mobos in particular for a mid-level system (which kind of exludes high end SLI gfx cards)?
why not go with a 770 or 790X/FX?
 
Because the reviews from the matching period concentrated on the 590s, is why (plus, it's the fancier ones that are reduced the most by pressure from whatever else is newer, so you get the extra features for a lot less price difference from the mid-level stuff). For all I really know, the 560s/ 570s include everything that is really needed (I do have a SLI board from DFI for s939, and a single core A64 4000, with only a single VGA installed, an NF4).

AFAIK, the NF 7** Chipset is still new enough that it won't have moved out of the main channels into the overstocks and surplus sellers' discounted area yet, so the pricing won't be as comparatively good. If I'm missing a bet, like something really nice from Biostar that started out very reasonable, and is really a super bargain now, point me to it!
 
I am running a 570 Sli chipset and happy as anything, even though i have the MCP 55 architecture, it runs very well, i dont know bout the temp of my chipset(s) at all, but my mobo sits at around 30 during normal day, but like now its borderline winter i have got it down to 23 or 24, even seen 21 before with certain fan config, so dunno what heat issue there is but maybe im just not picking up the heat issue on my chips, but like im running the Asus m2n sli dlx and have no regrets, it comes under the crosshair and has some OC options, nothing INTENSE, but the msn32 sli dlx is what you will want your paws on, thats sickeningly BRILLIANT, and im talking from my personal views here, as im completely happy with my mobo
 
Check Newegg for open box boards. There are usually some really good deals and they are usually full retail boxes but you can't 100% count on it.
 
Originally posted by: Kiwi


AFAIK, the NF 7** Chipset is still new enough that it won't have moved out of the main channels into the overstocks and surplus sellers' discounted area yet, so the pricing won't be as comparatively good. If I'm missing a bet, like something really nice from Biostar that started out very reasonable, and is really a super bargain now, point me to it!
Click to expand...
they aren't nF7xx but current AMD/ATi AM2+ chipsets (so more future proof).
Nothing that you have mentioned so far as far as I can see says that you need an nVidia chipset?

A 770 chipset mobo usually runs ~$75 plus or minus, a 790X probably ~$100 & 790FX ~$150.
 
i have used 3D Studio Max on a C2D E6700, also on an Opteron 175 (2 x 1 MB cache).
(i migrated from the Opteron to the E6700 about a year ago.)

the Opteron seems just as fast. i haven't done any informal benchmarks.
it's not apples-to-apples - the Opteron has a Raptor for a boot drive.

it did seem also like the Opteron recovered better from a "too big" rendering,
where it locks up and you have to kill the process using task manager.

so, nothing wrong with an AMD x2.
 
(Regarding the Open Box Specials suggestion) Newegg's once highly touted good service was terrible for three of my orders in a row last year, and I no longer use them, nor do I suggest them to anyone else.

It was my opinion from the review that the NF chipsets in the "Upper 500s" were good for OC-ing, and I have been watching eBay auctions. An M2N SLI Deluxe went for $65 plus $10 for shipping just now (Newegg had the same MB, Open Box, for $60, with shipping).

The only AMD chipset that I've paid much attention to, because more of the people I know do not play the high intensity games I do, has been the 780, since it has the full guts out of an HD 2400 Pro in it.
 
Originally posted by: Kiwi
... An M2N SLI Deluxe went for $65 plus $10 for shipping just now (Newegg had the same MB, Open Box, for $60, with shipping).
Click to expand...

Although I won't be using the Wireless option, I did get an Asus M2N32 SLI Deluxe WiFi MB, and I've been looking at the very odd small squirrel cage fan that doesn't seem to fit where logic suggests (and isn't shown in the manual, nor is attaching it discussed there). It's got a too- narrow opening for the larger set of radiator fins behind the CPU socket, and a too-wide opening for the smaller set of fins below the CPU socket.

Where the heck ELSE would the silly thing go?



 
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