MSI K7N420 Pro Vs Asus A7N266-E nforce mobos

[Devistater]

I'm looking to get an nforce motherboard, so far it looks like its down to either an MSI K7N420 Pro or a Asus A7N266-E. Anyone have any thoughts on which one might be better? I know that the asus one apparently has more audio features (i.e. plugs) since it includes a audio riser card. Thanks

 

[Athlon4all]

I am going to be purchasing a nForce mobo in the coming weeks and I have been contemplating this very comparision. First of all I'm gonna say that you it seems need to use 2 identical sticks of DDR on nForce mobo's, So, you would have to use for example 2 sticks of 128MB of Crucial PC2100 DDR for Twinbank (I've purchased 2 sticks of 256Megs of Crucial PC2100). You must use identical sizes and makes. Now on to the 2 mobo's.

I will start by saying that the Non-E version of the A7N266 should be avoided. It does not overclock any better than the K7N420 Pro, and does not have the 5.1 DD nForce Audio (It uses a C-Media Sound Chip) and does not use the on-board Ethernet. The K7N420 Pro is a solid board, and a great value at $150 and really, I would have to take it over the A7N266-E if you aren't going to be overclocking. If you have any intention of Overclocking, then the A7N266-E is well worth the price. Also if u need the extra sound ports than the A7n266-E is better as well. It really comes down to are you going to overclock? Here's the overclocking results on the 2 boards (K7N420 Pro's results are from Ace's Hardware review, and the A7N266-E's are from [ H ]ardOCP's review of it)

K7N420 Pro while using Integrated Video: 154MHz fsb/mem clock
K7N420 Pro while using a GF2 GTS in the AGP slot: 145MHz fsb/mem clock
K7N420 Pro while using a GF3 Ti500 in the AGP slot: 140MHz fsb/mem clock
A7N266-E while using a GF3 Ti500 in the aGP slot: 158MHz fsb/mem clock

So if you plan on overclocking, then take the A7N266-E, but otherwise (except for if u need the audio jacks) the K7N420 Pro is a fine board and well worth the $152. Good luck!

 

[cyberized]

I MUST agree with everything Athlon4all has stated BUT I must add anoter thing to the MIX - - - I believe all retail boxes of the MSI K7N420 Pro are coming with the CNR Riser Card included (basically the same as the ACR Card that comes with the Asus Model). I like him have read I think every review etc. that has been published on both boards.
I made my mind up several days ago and went with the MSI NForce board - for several reasons, not into overclocking that much, the price for the MSI is now great, got mine for $150 and will use all integrated goodies at least for awhile (so that is a GREAT deal), and MSI appears to me to be more "customer friendly", at least they have a Special Forum set up for their NForce people to discuss "the weather"(heehee). I EMailed a couple questions to Asus and they seem to have never got there - go to their Web Site and just compare and you will see what I mean.

May the NForce B with YOU!

Michael

 

[shawnman]

I just went with the K7n420 (after my K7S5A burnt up -literally) and am very satisfied with it. The is the first MSI board I have owned I am very pleased with the little extras like including brackets so I can use all 6 USB ports out of the box and the diagnostic LEDs. I will definitely look at MSI again when I purchase my next board. I tried taking the 'cheap way out' and got what I paid for.

I dont know what Asus was smoking when they didn't use the NForce audio and LAN ???

Go with the MSI - you'll be happy.

Oh yeah - the PCB is a very cool red color

 

[IntelConvert]

Good points, but even though I'm sure that nVidia will ultimately succeed big-time with the nForce, there are some issues that need to be corrected, such as the '3 DIMM problem'.

Anyway, IMHO, here's a pretty good review which includes both boards.

 

[Devistater]

Yep, I'm aware of the memory issues... I'll probably get 1 or 2 sticks of 256, depends what the price comes out to. I already have 2 sticks of 2100 DDR 256 megs crucial from the $35 sale that BB had a few weeks ago, if I have to I can play around with those. Hardocp has a review on the MSI nforce also. I knew that the non E version of the asus was something to be avoided. As for the MSI one, cyberised said that the msi retail comes with an audio riser... this is not correct, I think the MSI comes with the CNR slot while the ASUS comes with the ACR slot. If you go to newegg, you can see pics of everything in the retail box, 1 regular 2 port USB plate, 1 2 port USB (i.e. 4 total USB ports out of box) plate with LED diag lights on it (i.e. no need to open the box to see LED diags), and 1 riser plate with a SPDIF plug on it. Here's a link to the newegg pics, the contents of the box are like the 4th pic or so.
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-130-312-01.JPG/13-130-312-02.JPG/13-130-312-03.JPG/13-130-312-04.JPG

As for overclocking... well I'm currently looking at this as an upgrade for my Grandma, but I may be purchasing one for a home upgrade also. Either way its probably not going to be my personal gaming box, so I doubt I will overclock them. As for the 3 dimm thing, that just slows down the speed a bit if you put in 3 dimms, I'll be happy with 512 megs in 2 256 meg chunks, besides win 95/98 doesn't like more than 512.

 

[Devistater]

Oops, made a mistake. Forgot to count the 2 USB ports on mobo backplane. So it has 6 usable USB out of box Any other thoughts on the one vs the other?

 

[Link]

I've recently had 2 not so good experience with MSI mobo, epsecially when it comes to overclocking. So last weekend I went ahead and bought ASUS A&N266-E. It's been smooth sailing so far, and very stable when overclocked. Only my cpu can't go any higher than the currently setting.

 

[cyberized]

Just a Note: The LINK above to the MSI K7N420 Pro photos at New Egg should be updated - because I know that the CNR Riser Card is NOW included in New Egg's Retail Box - it goes inth at little black slot on the side next to the PCI Slots. I see on the MSI Forum that people are getting them included from New Egg - as I have done the same from Access Micro.
I just EMail their sales dept and inquire - "does your retail version include the CNR Riser Card?"
And the CNR Riser Card is essentially the same thing as the ACR Riser Card on the Asus board.

May the NForce B w U!

 

[Devistater]

Really? Well thats good news. I'll have to look around and see if I can verify that, because from what I see that's about the only advantage asus has over the MSI one... aside from a little extra speed. And I like the idea of the diagnostic LEDs that the MSI comes with, and it seems to have some decent software included also. Anyone have any links about a riser card in retail MSI boxes?

 

[Funky303]

whoo if they DO release that card... i'd go crazy. I got my board without it. but maybe someone sells it @ ebay ..



<< And the CNR Riser Card is essentially the same thing as the ACR Riser Card on the Asus board. >>



Do you think i just could insert the ASUS card in my MSI board ?? I wouldn't do that.. or what do you meen with essentially ??
Or just same function ??

 

[Funky303]

found this article about the nForce Chipset, along with some nice pictures. Also one of the nforce Riser Card

The article over @ HotHardware

and the picture of the riser card

here's the baby we all wanna have.. not in our hands, but in our rig ;O)

have Phun

 

[Funky303]

note the NVIDIA Logo onthe lover - right of the card, together with the text which seems to be something like

ACR All-in-one-Card

but the MSI board does use a CNR slot.

does anyone know the difference between ACR & CNR ???

next minute, next post

 

[Funky303]

uups.. not lover - right, lower - right sorry

 

[Devistater]

I just got a reply to the Email that I sent to newegg:

Here's what I said:
I was thinking abour purchasing the:MSI K7N420 PRO (MS-6373 6373-020)
nForce MCP 200/266MHz FSB DDR ATX SOCKET A MOTHERBOARD -
RETAIL
from your website. Someone told me that the retail box of this
motherboard is now coming with a CNR riser card with extra audio
ports, however when I look at the pictures on your website of this
motherboard I dont see that. Can you tell me if it does come with a
CNR riser card now? And perhaps update your photos? Thank you
very much.

Here's the reply:


<< Im sorry, the motherboard we have in stock doesnt come with the optional
cnr
riser if we recieve a new shipment, with said item, the picture will be
updated.

Dennis
Newegg.com Customer Service
800 390-1119
Ext: 398 >>



So, apparently it does NOT come with a riser card.

 

[IntelConvert]

<< ....does anyone know the difference between ACR & CNR ??? >>

Well first off, CNR is proprietary to Intel, whereas ACR is an open standard that's more powerful and capable than CNR.

ACR's spec provides for a greater variety of cards in the future, and unlike CNR, 2 Ethernet PHYs can be directly accessed on an ACR card, enabling a robust gateway (e.g., 'home intranet') without taking up any PCI slots or precious PCI bandwidth.

 

[Funky303]

ThanX honey

 

[IntelConvert]

You're welcome, but please don't call me 'honey'.

 

[Devistater]

Any other thoughts? Anyone else know anything about that rumored CNR card for MSI?

 

[Bimmer318i]

what do you want to know about the CNR card?..
it provides rear, center, subwoofer and composite SPDIF output on the card

one thing, in the nVidia drivers the surround and stereo labels are mixed up for surround output...
other than that, great boards, reliable, fast. Love the MSI support forums, actually useful.

Anyways, any other questions I can answer, i'll try.. ..

 

[Devistater]

Well does the MSI board come with a CNR card? Some people say yes, some people say no... could it depend on if you get it from the USA or not?

I got an email from someone who said that the asus board offers some thermal protection (as in shutting down if it exceeds a certain temperature). He mentioned that the asus mobo uses the on die thermal diode. I don't think this is quite correct, I think the asus board just has an in socket diode that it monitors and can shut down the computer if it exceeds a certain temperature. I'll have to go and see if I can find out for certain one way or the other.

 

[shawnman]

Last week I ordered 2 K7N420 boards [seperate orders] from Mark One Computers they both came with the CNR audio riser with SPIDF etc...

I was very pleased with the service too, although the packaging could be a little better

 

[Devistater]

Not bad, $154 and $10.57 ground shipping to me. Newegg has it for $146.00 and $8 shipping (fedex saver) so its a little more expensive, but if it comes with the riser card... hmm...

 

[jfunk]

I ordered the MSI from newegg this week. Should be at my house tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what it comes with.


j

 

[Devistater]

So, what did it come with?