Help me choose! :) [Poll]

[Ardan]

I have read through the NF7-S and A7N8X/Deluxe threads at the top but I still can't make a good choice.
I plan to get 2x256Mb sticks of Corsair XMS PC2700 memory to go along with either one too. What I really want is stability, speed and overclockability. I know I would want to experiment with overclocking the CPU at some point in time. Oh yea, the CPU i'm getting is a 2500+ Barton as well. I've done my research, but i'm still undecided on the choice for me. My main worry is the troubles i've heard people having on here and nForcersHQ and if someone could tell me which one will give me the least bit of trouble, that would be great.

As far as the HSF goes, I am going to use the Coolermaster Aero7+ because my buddy has it and it keeps his 2600+ at 112 F under load @ 3400rpms and it isn't too loud either. I also use Linux a lot, and often times build programs that take hours. I hope I provided enough details!

What about these revisions? I would shoot for a Rev 2.00 ASUS board, but what about recent revisions to that Abit board?

 

[MARMADUKE]

8RDA+,TwinMOS or Buffalo CH-5 PC3200, SLK800 CPU cooler
Get these 3 parts and you will have the fastest and coolest nforce2 on the market with soundstorm!

 

[Schadenfroh]

a7n8x deluxe here, running fine

 

[Ardan]

Originally posted by: MARMADUKE
8RDA+,TwinMOS or Buffalo CH-5 PC3200, SLK800 CPU cooler
Get these 3 parts and you will have the fastest and coolest nforce2 on the market with soundstorm!

8RDA+, eh? I guess I shouldn't have left EPoX out! I should look at that one. Also, literally look at it--layout is important to me 🙂

 

[Vette73]

If you want fast and cheap without the extra's then get the Epox. If you want the extras then get the Abit.

I have the Abit but if I built a computer for a general user or someone that would not use the raid ports then I would go epox.

 

[Ardan]

Well i'm pretty sure I won't be using RAID so thats why I figured I should take a serious look at EPoX.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Ardan
Well i'm pretty sure I won't be using RAID so thats why I figured I should take a serious look at EPoX.

Well I don't use RAID in that sense. The Abit comes with a SATA to IDE adapter, so I have my one hard drive on a SATA port with adapter and a DVD rom on ide1 and a CD-RW on ide 2.

 

[Ardan]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Ardan
Well i'm pretty sure I won't be using RAID so thats why I figured I should take a serious look at EPoX.

Well I don't use RAID in that sense. The Abit comes with a SATA to IDE adapter, so I have my one hard drive on a SATA port with adapter and a DVD rom on ide1 and a CD-RW on ide 2.

I noticed that Abit comes with that and has good overclocking features like they have always been known for. Would you recommend the Abit over the A7N8X? I'm not a mainstream user...I do a lot and love to get the most out of my BIOS options. I haven't heard anything bad about the NF7-S so I was initially considering that motherboard instead of the A7N8X. My insurance company, however, is swamped with claims after a huge storm so I guess I have a while to think about it.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Ardan

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Ardan
Well i'm pretty sure I won't be using RAID so thats why I figured I should take a serious look at EPoX.

Well I don't use RAID in that sense. The Abit comes with a SATA to IDE adapter, so I have my one hard drive on a SATA port with adapter and a DVD rom on ide1 and a CD-RW on ide 2.

I noticed that Abit comes with that and has good overclocking features like they have always been known for. Would you recommend the Abit over the A7N8X? I'm not a mainstream user...I do a lot and love to get the most out of my BIOS options. I haven't heard anything bad about the NF7-S so I was initially considering that motherboard instead of the A7N8X. My insurance company, however, is swamped with claims after a huge storm so I guess I have a while to think about it.

I got the Abit as it was cheaper and came with the adapter as the SATA ports are worthless without the adapter. That and I have always had good use out of Abit boards.

 

[Ardan]

I think I might want to choose between Abit and ASUS. I have had good use with MSI, but this board I had gave me problems before lightning annihilated it 😛. I am leaning towards the ASUS because it does have very good placement of things. Though I lean more towards Abit because I don't see people having issues with Abit boards. I noticed a sticky on nForcersHQ regarding BIOS faults in the A7N8X and listed a few...WOW was that discouraging. I have an nvidia geforce4 ti4200--do you think it is short enough to not have a problem on the Abit NF7-S? I don't take my memory out often...I never do...i'm just worried about it being too close to capacitors or something.

 

[Ardan]

I would really like the NF7-S, so I have a question about layout. Has anyone had any trouble with its layout to where it was very frustrating getting things in place?