KM400 vs Nforce 2 motherboards

[Kenazo]

I'm building a computer for someone, I'm wanting onboard video, purely for cost reasons. And wanting to use a 2500 Barton CPU. I need it to be ultimately stable. They won't be doing any 3dgaming.

Now, would you recommend KM400 or Nforce2 for this bill?

I'm leaning towards KM400, b/c it is cheaper, and b/c they do not have fans on the north bridge, where as most Nforce 2 w/ the IGP have a fan, which is just another part that can go bad.

Any thoughts?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Configured properly either chipset will be stable and reliable and with mATX boards being available for under $60 I'd just pick the particular manufacturer's board&chipset that had the featureset at the price I wanted and get it.

 

[Megatomic]

I agree, either platform will do nicely as this is not going to be a gaming system.

 

[Vette73]

No gaming then I would go with a KM400. Just make sure the board has the newwer southbridge (8237) asthat will get you True SATA and maybe a faster connect between the north and southbridge.

Biostar and a couple others have a decent KM400 board with the newwer southbridge.

 

[11427]

I'll throw in 2 cents,.... I have a system for the wife that uses the MSI K7N2G, onboard GeForce4, a Barton 2500+ w stock HSF, and a 512 stick of Samsung PC2700. The IGP has a couple of aluminum heat sinks as well as an aluminum NB heat sink but no fans.
This machine was an excellent value, and has been a rock solid performer. So I'd say go nForce,... but then thats just cause I've been pleased with this one,... I'm sure the KM400 would be just fine too.

 

[Kenazo]

That no fan thing is the clincher. Don't want a fan buzzing in 3 years. CPU fans are nice and big and seem to last a bit longer, especially in dustier environments. I'll have to check that MSI out.

 

[formulav8]

My Epox 8RDA+ has a heat sink only. No fan. I would get the NForce2 board anyways. It will give you better performance. And It supports the fastest Socket A cpu's. The KM400, I don't think officially supports the 400mhz fsb. The NForce without a doubt. Performs better than the KM400 whether you play games or not. Just IMO though.


Jason

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: formulav8
My Epox 8RDA+ has a heat sink only. No fan. I would get the NForce2 board anyways. It will give you better performance. And It supports the fastest Socket A cpu's. The KM400, I don't think officially supports the 400mhz fsb. The NForce without a doubt. Performs better than the KM400 whether you play games or not. Just IMO though.

KM400A is officially supporting 400FSB/DDR, some vendors haven't offered it yet. MSI's KM4AM-L model is one that does, as well as Gigabyte and ECS. More will come available, I'm sure.

Even so, it cannot compete with nForce2 in 3D gaming, though Unichrome has comparable 2D, hardware video decoding features, and support for multiple monitors and flat panels.

 

[Zepper]

I like the KM400. The new DFI has both the 8237 southbridge and the P4 12V power connector that I consider essential. The P4 connector allows systems to run well from reasonably powered PSUs. Up to now Biostar has failed to include the P4 connector on their Via based mobos, so I've looked to MSI, Abit, Soltek and now DFI for that feature. I won't buy a mobo without it.
. From what I've seen around the forums, the Via Hyperion (4-in-1) drivers are more stable than the nForce drivers. My two systems have been rock solid.
. Most of the KM400 mobos also have an 8x AGP socket if it turns out you need more video power.
. I just looked at the Biostar on Newegg and it has no P4 connector, nor does it deliver the chipset's SATA support to the end user-no connectors. The DFI does both.
.bh.

p.s. It looks like Newegg is OOS on the DFI 'til the weekend. monarchcomputer.com also carries them.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I like the KM400. The new DFI has both the 8237 southbridge and the P4 12V power connector that I consider essential. The P4 connector allows systems to run well from reasonably powered PSUs. Up to now Biostar has failed to include the P4 connector on their Via based mobos, so I've looked to MSI, Abit, Soltek and now DFI for that feature. I won't buy a mobo without it.
. From what I've seen around the forums, the Via Hyperion (4-in-1) drivers are more stable than the nForce drivers. My two systems have been rock solid.
. Most of the KM400 mobos also have an 8x AGP socket if it turns out you need more video power.
. I just looked at the Biostar on Newegg and it has no P4 connector, nor does it deliver the chipset's SATA support to the end user-no connectors. The DFI does both.
.bh.

p.s. It looks like Newegg is OOS on the DFI 'til the weekend. monarchcomputer.com also carries them.

NO, the Biostar KM400 DOES have SATA ports from the 8237 southbridge. The picture they have is old, I know I used the Biostar KM400 board for a customer.

Great board.

 

[Zepper]

Marlin 1975,
. Only PCB v.5.1 supports SATA and still no P4 connector...
.bh.

 

[Qwerty2]

Originally posted by: 11427
I'll throw in 2 cents,.... I have a system for the wife that uses the MSI K7N2G, onboard GeForce4, a Barton 2500+ w stock HSF, and a 512 stick of Samsung PC2700. The IGP has a couple of aluminum heat sinks as well as an aluminum NB heat sink but no fans.
This machine was an excellent value, and has been a rock solid performer. So I'd say go nForce,... but then thats just cause I've been pleased with this one,... I'm sure the KM400 would be just fine too.

1 stick of 512MB PC2700? Isn't 2 sticks of 256MB better? That way, it'll make full use of the dual channels on nForce2 boards. How much better is the performance with dual channels anyway?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Qwerty2

Originally posted by: 11427
I'll throw in 2 cents,.... I have a system for the wife that uses the MSI K7N2G, onboard GeForce4, a Barton 2500+ w stock HSF, and a 512 stick of Samsung PC2700. The IGP has a couple of aluminum heat sinks as well as an aluminum NB heat sink but no fans.
This machine was an excellent value, and has been a rock solid performer. So I'd say go nForce,... but then thats just cause I've been pleased with this one,... I'm sure the KM400 would be just fine too.

1 stick of 512MB PC2700? Isn't 2 sticks of 256MB better? That way, it'll make full use of the dual channels on nForce2 boards. How much better is the performance with dual channels anyway?

For gaming it helps a LOT!!! Ram is the slowwst part of On-Board video, so dual Ch really helps with gaming.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Marlin 1975,
. Only PCB v.5.1 supports SATA and still no P4 connector...
.bh.

I don't want to disrespect your right to your opinion, but why is a ATX12V connector "essential?" I have 36 nForce systems at work ranging from AthlonXP 1800+ to 2400+, and none of them have ATX12V connectors. They give me no reason for complaint, and some of them are going on two years old now.

My A7N8X Deluxe has seen some pretty heavy action as a combo server/workstation, caught in the middle of nasty data-exchange wars between two 15000rpm SCSI drives, two NICs, an AthlonXP 2500+ and 1.5GB of Corsair XMS3200C2, all going at it hammer & tongs. The A7N8X Deluxe has no ATX12V connector either, and the only way to describe its performance and stability is "flawless."

Don't get me wrong, I approve of ATX12V connectors too. But it's not as if a lack of an ATX12V connector automatically spells doom or something... I have empirical proof to the contrary.

 

[colonel]

I always go for Biostar for value, but I will pick a cheap AGP card with a regular board.

 

[Kenazo]

As an update, I used the DFI KM400 solution. Rock solid so far, and 3dmark2001 scores of around 2000, which is about on par w/ Nforce1's onboard video. I went KM400 b/c the price is about 20% lower.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
As an update, I used the DFI KM400 solution. Rock solid so far, and 3dmark2001 scores of around 2000, which is about on par w/ Nforce1's onboard video. I went KM400 b/c the price is about 20% lower.

What are you running for ram and CPU. The faster you run the Ram the better the onboard video does in 3D tests, even though the UniChrome is more of a Mpeg/video player type card

 

[Danime]

I'm looking to build a micro ATX system based on an Antec Aria. I've also decided on the KM400 chipset and was looking at the DFI KM400-MLV. However, I also happened to come across the MSI KM4AM-L which is a KM400A chipset. Has anyone used one of these?

http://www.axiontech.com has the MSI KM4AM-L in stock. Has anyone else ordered from them in the past?

 

[Danime]

I also was just looking at the Gigabyte GA-7VM400AMF, which is a KM400A chipset mobo w/firewire too! Anyone familiar with this board?

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Kenazo
As an update, I used the DFI KM400 solution. Rock solid so far, and 3dmark2001 scores of around 2000, which is about on par w/ Nforce1's onboard video. I went KM400 b/c the price is about 20% lower.

What are you running for ram and CPU. The faster you run the Ram the better the onboard video does in 3D tests, even though the UniChrome is more of a Mpeg/video player type card

RAM = 512 megs PC2700
CPU = 2500

It was in a computer for someone that will use it for nothing but office type applications, so 3d was never a factor.

 

[Jhhnn]

If gaming is a non-issue, then I'd go with the KM400 board. They're not picky about RAM, as many nforce2 boards tend to be. You can also back down the scale on the cpu if it's just surfing and office apps- no serious image or video work.

I just installed an Asus a7v8x-mx se in the wife's box, to replace an older epox board that died. easy driver install, works flawlessly with an xp2400. two 256 sticks of different brand pc2100 ram- no sweat. the sound drivers require 98se or newer, but nforce boards require that for a lot more than the sound... graphics are fine for surfing and office apps...

 

[etee]

check out the free AR soyo K7VME KM400 board from mwave. it has a bunch of integrated stuff and no fan onboard

 

[Copperpipe]

Originally posted by: etee
check out the free AR soyo K7VME KM400 board from mwave. it has a bunch of integrated stuff and no fan onboard

Just got off the phone w/MWAVE - rebate is if you buy the mobo with CPU and not for just mobo alone.

 

[tcsenter]

Just got off the phone w/MWAVE - rebate is if you buy the mobo with CPU and not for just mobo alone.

No mention of a CPU requirement on this page.

Nor on the Rebate Form itself:

Buy one SY-K7VME
Get $50.00 USD Mail-in Rebate

Offer Valid 04/23/2004 to 05/07/2004

I think you encountered an Mave rep who either was misinformed or just wanted to sell more CPUs.

 

[Copperpipe]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Just got off the phone w/MWAVE - rebate is if you buy the mobo with CPU and not for just mobo alone.

No mention of a CPU requirement on this page.

Nor on the Rebate Form itself:

Buy one SY-K7VME
Get $50.00 USD Mail-in Rebate

Offer Valid 04/23/2004 to 05/07/2004

I think you encountered an Mave rep who either was misinformed or just wanted to sell more CPUs.

I saw all that but it seemed to conflict with the info on the rebate page here: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/rebate.hmx?

That's why I called to clarify - the guy said the extender ad only applies to w/ CPU, but might be good to get it in writing to confirm.