MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum stability? Matrox G400 max compatability issues?

[morkys]

Just wondering about the stability of the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard?
Also, I hear there are issues with Matrox G400 max compatability? Bios versions over 1.1 are needed to work with the winchester CPU and yet using that BIOS results in problems with the G400 max?

Of course my system will include the G400 max.

Here is my system (yet to be up and running):

To be setup with Windows XP Pro
MSI K8N Neo 2 Platinum 939 mb
AMD64 3000+ winchester CPU
OCZ Premier 2 x 256 PC3200 DDR
Matrox G400 max dualhead 32MB SGRAM (oldie)
WD 80 GB EIDE 7200 rpm HD
Plextor 24/10/40 CDRW
adaptec 2930u scsi adapter
Pioneer 303S 6x dvd rom drive
Umax 1200S scsi scanner
1.44 floppy
PS2 microsoft keyboard
PS2 logitech wheelmouse

NOT doing any overclocking.

Do you have a G400 max working with your Neo 2 Platinum?
How is your Neo 2 Platinum system stability? Good or bad? Let us know your system config.

Include:

1) Components configuration
2) Motherboard version
3) BIOS version
4) Stable or unstable. Have problems or not.
5) If unstable or have problems, what are they?

thanx

thanx in advance

 

[morkys]

Anybody?

 

[minkyboodle78]

I can confirm that G400 is a no go with the Neo2 with any bios that supports winchesters. I recently sold a neo2 platinum off for this very reason. Would crash in Windows XP SP2 while installing the drivers and wouldn't run in anything other than safe mode with the G400 in the system. Its a shame really but I'm happy as a clam with my Asus A8V deluxe (keeping the matrox due to dvdmax and tv out quality). There are threads about this problem over at the MSI HQ User Community Forum in the AMD64 nVidia Based Board Section. MSI has been contacted about the issue but most aren't really expecting a bios fix anytime soon given that the matrox cards aren't going to have that many users with this setup. Hope this helps.
Scott

Here is the system I'm currently running the matrox on
A64 3200 Winchester
Asus A8V Deluxe 1008 Bios
2x512 Mushkin Blue Line in Dual Channel @2.7v
120GB SATA on the via controller
120GB PATA on the Promise Controller
NEC 3500 DVDRW on Via IDE 1
Aopen 1648AAP DVD-ROM on Via IDE 2
Seasonic Super Tornado PS 400W (120mm quiet fan)
Antec 3700AMB case with 120mm intake and 120mm outake all @5v
Thermalright XP-90 w/nexus quite 92mm @12v

 

[morkys]

I'm over there on the MSI forum too. I would like to get the MSI Neo 2 Platinum going but I don't know if there is any point. The newer versions of the Asus should be problem free so I'm considering grabbing one. I could upgrade my videocard and I've thought about it but haven't bothered. I don't want to be forced to upgrade it now if I don't have to. I like the 3 x 2 = 6 EIDE channels. Kinda handy. I haven't decided whether to RMA the board and go Asus or not. If you can give me a bit of a breakdown with the differences between the two boards. Will the Asus A8V run DDR 400 ok? Any issues with it? How long have you had it? Is the Asus board fairly stable and trouble free by most users accounts? I got sucked into the VIA sucks and nVidia nForce is better. I admit I didn't used to like nVidia, but if the Asus is more troublefree, I may go that route.

thanx

 

[minkyboodle78]

Well I can give my impressions of the asus A8V. Its run like a dream for me haven't had a single problem. I'm running the memory at DDR 400 Dual Channel with my matched pair of mushkin Blue Line memory. I've had the board up and running for about 3 weeks and it has been great so far. My general impression is that the neo2 is a bit faster but I don't think the difference is really noticable for what I do (not a huge gamer ala the g400 vid card). I think on the whole Via chipset thing that the KT800 Pro is one of the best and most stable chipsets that via has offered. I installed Windows XP (sp2 streamlined) and then updated to the newest 4in1s and haven't had any driver related problems. I'd say as a general impression I heard that the Asus A8V rev 2.00 was one of the most stable of the s939 boards (I'm sure some would disagree but that was the impression I got before I purchased). Check out anand's socket 939 roundup he gave the A8V rev 2.00 a silver award. Also there is a great deal of info here in the asus part of the amdmb.com forums here AMDMB and also at the abxzone forums ABXZone. If you are planning to upgrade to a newer non-matrox vid card I'd really consider keeping the neo2 but if you are like me and you want the unique features that the g400 line offers I'd feel pretty confident saying the A8V has served me great as well. Hope this helps.
Scott
PS the 6 full IDE channels is nice as I still have a PATA drive and 2 DVD drives and they can run each on their own seperate channels (thats why I went with the Asus instead of the Abit AV8 initially)

 

[nealh]

you can buy a $20 highpoint adapterto use SATA with a PATA ide HDD..doing so right now on a 160gb Maxtor works like a charm

 

[morkys]

That 6 IDE channel thing is what I like, however, I'd get around that anyways by having one optical drive external USB 2.0 or firewire. I may actually forgo having two optical drives once I get the NEC dual layer burner. I want to also get a SATA drive someday too so some combination of the above would allow me to separate things. Of course, if I had the Asus A8V I could use the Matrox G400 AND run my drives the way I want them RIGHT NOW, and upgrade RW drives, HD's and video cards when I can, not because I have to. I have heard from enough people with NEO2 motherboards that say they are not bad, that I figure I may give it a chance. I lose time and/or money if I try another board. The place I bought this from won't take it back because of my video incompatability so I'd have to try to RMA it for the problem and/or sell it.

I don't use the dual-head feature and the newer ATI AIW cards have that anyways. I'm actually thinking of just getting a used ATI AIW card that is somewhat recent as a fix. I can't afford what I want, which is the ATI AIW 9600XT. Maybe the 9600 alone would be ok. Too bad they don't have DVI!

Which AIW ATI card would be a good card? 9600 and 9600xt are pricy. Would like a much cheaper non-current AIW to use for now as a stop gap. Surely whatever I get would be faster than the G400, even though I don't play loads of games.

Thats if I keep the MSI...although then again sometimes after spending time on the MSI board it feels like enough people have had problems with the MSI like LAN and USB dying and onboard audio and memory, but I suspect most boards have issues of one kind or another. Just have to flip a coin. The Epox board is nice but doesn't have the extra EIDE channels of the Asus or the extra firewire or LAN of the MSI. The Epox is reputable though.

Doesn't a SATA to EIDE adapter reduce performance? Is it worth it?

 

[morkys]

see above

 

[minkyboodle78]

Morkys,
I think you should give the Neo2 a run, many many people love them and as long as you don't need the Matrox unique features (Dual Head on Nvidia and Ati cards doesn't compare to the non-scaled pixel to pixel accurate image that the g400 can output via dvdmax). For me, using this comp as a HTPC paired to an SDTV the matrox is essential (for SDTV output it is tops check www.avsforum.com for more info on this). Now in the future when I can afford an HDTV I'll be going with one of the newer ATI or Nvidia offerings and using the HDTV as a second monitor... droooool I would give the Neo2 a try for sure with another vid card. You can always still sell it if you aren't happy and like nealh suggests there are many options to add another PATA channel or two. Give that neo2 a try lots of people love it and it is tops for performance.
Scott

 

[minkyboodle78]

about the vid card, I don't think it would really matter since anything is pretty much gonna be a big upgrade from the matrox for gaming. Don't know if noise is an issue for you but this page at directron has a great selection of passively cooled cards directron passive cards If noise isn't an issue you could get a great card used here on anandtech possibily, vid cards are not my main are of knowledge but I believe that the geforce4ti series is a great bargain for performance. But once again pretty much anything is gonna be an upgrade from the matrox. I guess it depends on what you want out of the card and the price you want to pay.

 

[morkys]

I'm going to give the MSI K8N Neo2 a try because I've nothing to lose. If anything, for now at least, I'm going to simply put just about any card I can in this PC. Hopefully they'll fix the G400 problem with future BIOS's. I'll keep the G400, maybe even put it in my fathers PC. Eventually I wanted an ATI AIW video card, but I can't afford it now. I haven't a real need for the dual head. If Matrox had an all-in-wonder type of card with dual-head I'd use that.