KT400 or nForce2?

[magnux]

Sure, the nForce2 is nice.. but is it really *that* much better than a KT400? I'm weighing my options of either the ABIT KD7 KT400, or the Epox (or Asus?) nForce2.

I'd really like to hold out for the Abit nForce2 (hey, I'm loyal..) but I don't know if I can wait. I do overclock, so that is important. Raid, however, is not important. I'll be using the following components:

XP 2400+ (possibly 2600+)
Corsair 512 XMS3200
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
WD 120GB
IBM 120GB

Ideas?

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

well biggest thing with nforce 2 is dual channel ddr

http://www.anandtech.com/chipsets/showdoc.html?i=1719&p=2
http://www.amdmb.com/article-display.php?ArticleID=211

 

[AbRASiON]

Originally posted by: magnux
Sure, the nForce2 is nice.. but is it really *that* much better than a KT400? I'm weighing my options of either the ABIT KD7 KT400, or the Epox (or Asus?) nForce2.

I'd really like to hold out for the Abit nForce2 (hey, I'm loyal..) but I don't know if I can wait. I do overclock, so that is important. Raid, however, is not important. I'll be using the following components:

XP 2400+ (possibly 2600+)
Corsair 512 XMS3200
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
WD 120GB
IBM 120GB

Ideas?

Considering that ABIT's name got tarnished over the last few years, I'd recommend MSI / Epox / Leadtek / Asus (bit pricey).

(and before you claim I'm FUD'ing you)

BH6 = great board, everyone loved it - started abit's big name.

but then KT7A "We have 3'phase power!!!! no one else has 3'phase power - our's is THE most likely to support the athlon XP - buy us, not ASUS" (that was basically their marketing campaign) what happened?? - all the other little board manufacturers which DIDN'T support 3 phase got the Athlon XP working with a bios flash, but anyone with les than 1.3 revision KT7A was "$hi7 outta luck!"

Plus the issue with a lot of faulty USB ports/ Parrallel ports etc on BH6's (I certainly had one) AND the rumours (I don't know for certain) of the low quality caps causing stability problems later in the life of the boardS (I also had one which seemed unstable, but I can't be certain it was caps)

In general I've decided against ABIT for the near future - I'd much rather the ASUS nforce 2 - 139$ US for the Delux and it's a very classy board.

 

[vicvon]

I opted for the Asus A7N8X. Got my 1700+ tbred running at 9 x 200 (1.8ghz) using a 256mb stick of Corsair xms 3500c2 at the most agressive timings.


gotta love this board

 

[TourGuide]

Did you have any trouble getting that board to post using the 3500 vic?

 

[magnux]

Hrm. Currently, I'm using a KX7-333 Rev. 1.1, and I'm loving it. Also, I heard with the Asus nForce2, that there was some sort of issue with my specific RAM (XMS3200). So, basically, the nForce2 is worth the couple bucks over a KT400?

 

[compudog]

I went and ordered the Asus nForce2 A7N8X board. I have been a long time user of Abit products starting with the fantastic Abit BX-6 rev2, I built allot of machines using the KT-7 motherboard. I don't see it is jumping ship, I see it as getting what fits my needs.

 

[wicktron]

IMO, Abit > Asus

But lets not get into that debate, for the purpose of this thread, nForce2 > KT400

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: magnux
Sure, the nForce2 is nice.. but is it really *that* much better than a KT400? I'm weighing my options of either the ABIT KD7 KT400, or the Epox (or Asus?) nForce2.

I'd really like to hold out for the Abit nForce2 (hey, I'm loyal..) but I don't know if I can wait. I do overclock, so that is important. Raid, however, is not important. I'll be using the following components:

XP 2400+ (possibly 2600+)
Corsair 512 XMS3200
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
WD 120GB
IBM 120GB

Ideas?

Ummm KT400 only supports 166 FSB and DDR2700 MAX.. it overclocks bad and does not support the newer "NEWER" Athlon XP Barton with 200 FSB. The KT400A will though. But why wait for that when the Nforce 2 supports it now, supports DDR3200 NOW and has GREAT AUDIO and Dual LAN.

Athlon XP Barton will start with FSB 166 then it will become FSB 200 before Clawhammer comes out. I'd recommend the LeadTek or Epox versions of the Nforce2. Asus can take it up their hole, I have Asus boards myself, they are not worth it, and put in stuff you dont need lately. I like my motherboards cleanly laid out and nothing integrated, which Asus presumes its customers want. I'm not a big fan of Gigabyte.

Personally I'm waiting if Iwill makes a Nforce 2 board.

 

[vicvon]

tourguide,


no problems getting it to post. actually running it at 211 x8 (1.8ghz) now.

I do have the cold boot issue and hope that the next bios will fix it. Running at that speed though I'm not complaining.

 

[magnux]

I just placed my order for the Epox 8RDA+ ($118.00). Reviews seem to be nothing short of ecstatic. We'll see.

 

[TourGuide]

Vic,

HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL!! 211?! Drool!!

I am unfamiliar with the cold boot issue, what is it?

 

[SFang]

I opted for the Asus A7N8X. Got my 1700+ tbred running at 9 x 200 (1.8ghz) using a 256mb stick of Corsair xms 3500c2 at the most agressive timings.

Yep, Asus Rocks! Got this board, and sold my old NIC and Sound Blaster Live for $30 total. Just don't need them anymore.

 

[DoubleL]

Well I think they are to close to call, If you have a KT400 no it is not worth the change, In all the test they were very close, In the real world you won't be able to tell any diff. in one or the other, The KT400's don't over clock that good???, One word Epox 8K9A2+