dithering - abit kv8 pro vs. msi k8n

[yensid]

I want to get a new system put together soon, but I'm not sure what to get. Do I buy the ABit KV8 Pro right now, and hope they come out with a BIOS flash that will take care of the PCI/AGP speed lock? Or do I wait until the MSI K8N is available in the U.S.? Or I could just get the Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro right now. Opinions?

Or maybe I don't need to wait.
My criteria:
I don't care at all about the hardware firewall. Gigabit LAN may be nice some day, but I've got a 10/100 router right now, so I don't care too much about it. I'd like something that will last me a while, with decent overclocking capabilities (I'd be pretty happy with 225mhz). A decent six-channel minimum sound card built in with all of the standard 3d capabilities (EAX 2, etc), as I only have 4.1 speakers right now, though I may move to 5.1.

I'll be using SATA hard drives and an Athlon 64 3200+ with this.

Any advice would be appreciated. It's been a while since I've been motherboard/CPU shopping, and thing have changed quite a bit in the last couple of years....

 

[CraigRT]

My vote is wait for the new socket, and get an Opteron

(also the current mainstream chipsets aren't so hot)

what you ideally want is a K8T800 PRO or NFORCE3 250... neither of which are readily available yet..

if i HAD to buy right now, I'd get the Soltek NForce3 150 board (just cause I am an ignorant Soltek freak) and an A64 3000+..

 

[yensid]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
My vote is wait for the new socket, and get an Opteron

I agree, that's what I should do, but I'm really itching to get something soon.

what you ideally want is a K8T800 PRO

That's why I was thinking the ABit KV8 Pro, as that seems to be the only K8T800 board out so far, and it seems almost perfect, aside from the lack of a PCI/AGP speed lock. I'd think they'd have a BIOS fix for that, but....

or NFORCE3 250... neither of which are readily available yet..

c'mon MSI, get the K8N out!

The Gigabyte is tempting. The only thing I don't like about it is that the LAN is on the PCI bus, but really, I don't think I'll notice a difference.

 

[djm68]

yensid,


I am in the same boat as you -- I am ever-so-patiently waiting upgrade from my old athlon 1333 to an AMD64 3200+ and one of the newer boards -- I am more apt to go with nvidia nf3-250. I have been waiting for a proper nf3-250 board for a long time and I am loosing patience...the MSI k8n looks like a perfect board, but when will it come out?!?!!?

If the nf3-250s take too long to show up I might just take the plunge and go with this -- have you seen the anandtech review? Working PCI/AGP lock and it bench marks nearly identical or better than other boards.

Aopen AK89 Max

Another option I am considering is:

Chaintech vnf3-250

nf3-250 chipset, working pci/agp lock, sata on the chipset (not pci bus), lan is 10/100 on pci bus, but as you point out Gb ethernet is not really a benefit in the home. This board can be had for rougly $80 at zipzoomfly...leave you enough cash to get a decent sound card, if you like.

Cheers,
Dominic

 

[BlindBartimaeus]

I have the chaintech and am quite happy

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

what you ideally want is a K8T800 PRO or NFORCE3 250... neither of which are readily available yet..

Abit KV8 Pro based on the K8T800 Pro chipset is available @ NewEgg now.

 

[yensid]

Originally posted by: Algere

Abit KV8 Pro based on the K8T800 Pro chipset is available @ NewEgg now.

Yep, that was in my original post. I actually decided to bite the bullet and bought it. I have my fingers crossed the next BIOS update will include a PCI/AGP lock, as it seems word has come down that they are actually working on it.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: yensid

Originally posted by: Algere

Abit KV8 Pro based on the K8T800 Pro chipset is available @ NewEgg now.

Yep, that was in my original post. I actually decided to bite the bullet and bought it. I have my fingers crossed the next BIOS update will include a PCI/AGP lock, as it seems word has come down that they are actually working on it.

I was actually considering buying this board when I saw that it was out also.
I haven't ever personally used an Abit for my system, but I am willing to give anything a try.
I might wait til the MAX version of it comes out though (assuming it WILL)