Need help choosing a motherboard

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JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
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I post a few days ago that I was going to get a AMD 3200+ with a MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM.

Well things have changed. Since then I screwed up my ATI 9800 pro by trying to overclock it. I tried to find the max core speed using ATI Tool and i'm pretty sure it cooked my card since I can't play a game for more than 10 mins without it locking up and restarting my system. So now i'm going to buy a ATI X800 XL PCI-E so i'm trying to figure out which board to get. I was going to get the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum but then I started looking around and came across these board. EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra , ABIT AN8. I'm leaning twards the EPoX because it has the nfUltra chipset and i've read that its a great overclocker so I just wanted to get some options. I'm not planning to OC my card at all, but i'd like to OC the CPU to a 3800+. Any sugguestion or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
V

Viditor

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
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Originally posted by: JE78
I post a few days ago that I was going to get a AMD 3200+ with a MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM.

Well things have changed. Since then I screwed up my ATI 9800 pro by trying to overclock it. I tried to find the max core speed using ATI Tool and i'm pretty sure it cooked my card since I can't play a game for more than 10 mins without it locking up and restarting my system. So now i'm going to buy a ATI X800 XL PCI-E so i'm trying to figure out which board to get. I was going to get the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum but then I started looking around and came across these board. EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra , ABIT AN8. I'm leaning twards the EPoX because it has the nfUltra chipset and i've read that its a great overclocker so I just wanted to get some options. I'm not planning to OC my card at all, but i'd like to OC the CPU to a 3800+. Any sugguestion or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

A couple of things...
1. It may have changed, but it used to be that the Geforce cards run better with the Nforce chipsets.
2. If you have experience with overclocking, the DFI mobo would probably be better...
3. The Asus A8N-E probably has better components (capacitors, etc...) than the Epox, but I don't know how well it overclocks...
 
n7

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
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81
Great choice considering the Epox.

It got AT's praise in the nForce4 review...it's basically the ultimate budget mobo.

OCs like a mofo, & for cheaper than the DFI.

Frankly, if i was buying a mobo now with PCI-e, it's likely the one i'd go for.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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EPOX is kinda cheapish. DFI NF4 ultra or ABIT AN8 Ultra
 
J

JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
1,418
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71
you guys don't make things easy lol. I am on a budget but at the same time I don't want to screwed down the road. If I get the DFI I'd be good to go for a while it seems. But the Epox doesn't seem to be a bad board and has alot of the same features as the DFI. n7, what about the MSI K8N Neo4? You have the Neo2 and the Neo4 is pretty much the same board but with PCI-E and i'm planning on getting a Venice 3200+ that I'd like to OC to a 3800+.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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81
You want to keep computer more than a year get a board with jap caps eg. asus/dfi/gigabyte/abit. EPOX is fine for a few months use.
 
n7

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
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81
Honestly, i knew when i bought my Neo2 that it would be finicky, but now that i've had to deal with it, i'd likely stay away from MSI.
Granted, the Neo4 isn't a bad mobo by any means...heck, it's likely in my top 5 choices. Still though, it's certainly not my top pick.

But for pure OCing ability, i'd get the DFI Lanparty.
If money's a concern, then i'd go with Epox.

 
J

JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
1,418
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71
Thanks guys. If anyone has any other sugguestions please let me know. I'm going to be placing an order next week for the DFI NF4 ultra, A64 Venice 3200+ and another 512mb 3200 stick of Crucial RAM.
 
V

Viditor

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
3,290
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Originally posted by: furballi
Epox should come with United Chemicon caps.
Click to expand...

Not as good as the Rubycon caps IMHO...I believe Asus uses a mix of United Chem and Rubycon, Abit uses all Rubycon (or used to), MSI uses OS-CON capacitors...
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
AN8 ultra. Quiet and much more freindly board. DFI is really wasting some slots, has chipset fan, and has a BIOS which is hell to navigate w/o hours of research.

PS: if you're heavy OCing I say DFI but you're not.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: JE78
Thanks Zebo. Hows the overclocking abilitys of that board?
Click to expand...

Big time, like DFI.. but memory will get hot if heavily overvolting due to proximity of RAM slots and unstaggered. Therefore if using over 3.1 volts to memory I'd opt for DFI.
 
J

JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
1,418
0
71
well as I said, I don't plan on doing any extreem overclocking if any at all. I'm sure once I learn how to do it i'll want to try it out but I can't adjust the volts on my current mobo so i'm not sure how extreem 3.1 volts is. I'd like to beable to get a 3800+ out of the 3200+, will that be possible?
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
3800+ is Trivial with any of these board.

I was talking about memory overclocking though, in other-words if running more than 3.1V to memory get DFI. I doubt you will ever, what memory are you getting?

Also why are you buying the 3200+? Seems highly wasteful when 3000 is $50-$70 cheaper.
 
P

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,986
1
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Since you are planning to overclock, I'd drop that 3200+ and get the cheaper 3000+. It is the best P/P chip out there right now (IMHO).

That EPoX board is real nice.
 
J

JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
1,418
0
71
I have 1 stick of 512 3200mhz Crucial, and 1 stick 512 2700 generic. I plan on getting another stick of 512 3200 crucial when I order the CPU and mobo. The reason for the 3200+ is i've read alot of good things about it. So that the one I decided on. Still could change my mind though.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
There all the same chips. You could save $ by getting 3000 make it 3800 and mem runs at 215Mhz. Crucial is the best IMO. Thier budget ram is same ICs as expensive ballistix.. just not guaranteed to run like them..but every stick I've had (over 40) runs 2-2-2
 
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