nFoce Stability

[Prince]

I heared nForce has some stability problems, that weren't ironed out even until release. (although no problems in reference boards of nVidia). Anyhoo, can someone confirm / disprove me?

Also, when is the next versino of nForce coming , with geforce3?

 

[AA0]

you won't find anything a nforce with gf3 anytime soon, there isn't enough bandwidth, you'd have to max out hypertransport for that to happen, and it wouldn't be cheap.

I don't think there are stability issues, just a superstability mode, which, when you put RAM into slotB, will reduce performance by 15% or so. Its a major bug.

 

[BD231]

N-Force still needs time to mature IMO

 

[Funky303]

I don't agree. After releasing BIOS ver. 2.1 a few weeks ago I didn't have ANY stability problems. My computer runs 24/7 since 1,5 weeks, using it for Morpheus, heavy Gaming, also some programming.. still no blue screen. I also have a SB Live & Hauppauge TV cards, which is famous for it's instability...

But for now, I can't complain. Here's a sec. Thread about this MoBo

I know crosslinx suck...

 

[Funky303]

To continue RAM Config.

The MSI Board has a Memory Appendix. Just download the actual Handbook from MSI's webpage for the correct/updated one.

If you want to use this board I would highly recommend you to use 2 DIMMS.

With BIOS ver. 2.0 you should use Memory Slot 1 & 3
with BIOS ver. 2.1 use Slot 1 & 2 instead.

But this one does just is for the MSI nforce Board.

@ AAO the superstability mode is no BUG at all. the only thing that does suck about it is the fact, that one can't disable it. But if one reads the manual, he will never have the superstability problem. Have a look @ Nvidia TechDocs about the Hypertransport & CrossMemory COntroller.

In the actual c't (germanys most read & most professional ComputerMagazine) there was a test of all DDR chipsets for the athlon. The final statement was that the NForce Boards are really good on the hardware side, no hardware bugs like other Chipsets. Just compare the 2 different BIOSes for the MSI board & the new drivers. I think there'll be more 2 come with future BIOSes & drivers.

 

[cyberized]

Yo Funky One,
It is GOOD to hear that you really like your K7N266 Pro board and highly recommend it - I am interested in possibly the same board or paying even more for the new ASUS NForce board.

My question to you is: I see you are using a SB Live in the board which is touted for it's GREAT integrated Sound capabilities (one reason I want one - don't have to buy a new sound card). Could you PLEASE tell us WHY you are not using the NForce Sound chip?

Another question I ask myself when I read over at the MSI Forum what many of the contributors there have in their 'puters - I often see that here they bought and paid more for a board that has integrated Sound and Video - BUT many installed other sound cards and Graohics cards?????

Thanks ----- Michael

 

[Athlon4all]

<< It is GOOD to hear that you really like your K7N266 Pro board and highly recommend it - I am interested in possibly the same board or paying even more for the new ASUS NForce board. >>

I see you're still planning on going nForce. I thought I would share my thoughts on the MSi vs. Asus comparision. Originally, I saw absolutely no reason to go the Asus because the K7N420 Pro but a review I read changed my view. I would suggest reading HardOCP's review of the A7N266-E here and also, GamePC reviewed this AM the A7N266 here. I really think that while the A7N266 is just as cheap now as the K7N420 Pro, I would take the K7N420 Pro because it has LAn, the A7N266 doesn't. And they both overclock the same, however, I would really, if Overclocking is of any concern, take the A7N266-E over all of them. That HardOCp review, they hit 158fsb and that is better than the overclocking GamePC got with the A7N266 and better than the K7N420 Pro. Futher, when running at that speed, the A7N266-E crushed in nearly everything, the A7V266-E and K7N420 Pro for that matter, so I just thought I'd share my thoughts because we're both it seems planning on getting a nForce soon.

<< Another question I ask myself when I read over at the MSI Forum what many of the contributors there have in their 'puters - I often see that here they bought and paid more for a board that has integrated Sound and Video - BUT many installed other sound cards and Graohics cards????? >>

People are getting sick of VIA and are not ready to go SiS because of their past so they're turning to nVidia.

As for SuperStability, I agree funky. It is not a bug. If anything, it's a limitation in the Twinbank architechure. And SuperStability makes it so your system will still run if someone who doesn't know about the memory, that it will still run even if a bit slower. I fully support nVidia with they move to implement SuperStability. What nVidia did wrong was not informing the public (GamePC had to "uncover" it) and the other thing is that they (and board manufacture's) need to do give Enthusaists more control of it that's all.

 

[DarinM]

Athlon,
I just got my A7N266-E up and running. I'm also running at 256fsb and it's solid as a rock. The only problem so far is getting Mech Warrior 4 to run on Windows 2000. It's most likely a driver issue and I've downloaded some Microsoft patches that will hopefully resolve it. Other than that I'm happy as a clam. This thing flies!

 

[cyberized]

Athlon4ALL,
1st - must agree with your "JESUS Loves YOU!" me and ALL!
2nd - down to 'puter stuff! You are right I am still up in the air on which board to purchase, I had been waiting for the price of the MSI board to drop and all of the problems I was reading about on their Forums to be solved and subside - then most likely buy an MSI. BUT then I did read the ASUS A7N266-E review and comparison andm after that, decided that's the ANSWER for me (more money than I wanted to spend BUT sounded like so MUCH more stable and higher performing than the 420 PRO model). I have read until I am "blue in the face". Been using Pricewatch.com every AM to fllow price drops in BOTH boards. The ASUS model is still running abound $200 w shipping BUT the MSI version is now found for just under $160 shipped. I have even been reading all the reviews etc. on the SOYO Dragon +, but after buying a video card for it I am back into the $200+ range and that CMEDIA Sound may be suspect.

I am presently back leaning toward the MSI K7N420 PRO for several reasons - 1) for me BEST ALL in One solution 2) I think alot of the so-called problems I read about at their forum are user and not product related. 3) MSI has provided one BIOS update and NIVIDIA new drivers lately - and many problems solved already 4) ASUS Web Site appears to be NOT as helpful as MSI's - NO Asus run Forums and NO Response to my E Mailed questions. and 5) the PRICE difference now. AND retailers are now shipping the MSI's with the CNR Riser and updated Manuals (I Emailed Access Micro) And the real differences in actual performance between the 2 would never be noticeable by the human eye. Have to had it to MSI for providing a Forum for people to share their + and - experiences and feelings, while can't even get a Hello out of Mighty ASUS!

Good Luck and May God not he NForce be With YOU! Michael

 

[Athlon4all]

Thanks. I've talked to a couple people and they too have hit 158fsb. This board if it just comes down a tad, I'll get it.

 

[Athlon4all]

<< 1st - must agree with your "JESUS Loves YOU!" me and ALL! >>

Amen!

Well, yea the main reason I would not take the K7N420 Pro is not because of problems, but because of the overclocking. Really, that's the only reason I see any reason to take the A7N266-E and well after getting one board that didn't overclock well, I don't want to make that mistake again, so I'm willing to pay the extra $40 for the A7N266-E but for most people, K7N420 pro will be great. Both are good boards, the main thing that the A7N266-E is the overclocking but if that doesn't matter to you, then that's great. K7N420 Pro is a great board. Good luck to ya! And God Bless!

 

[cyberized]

You will like this - saw a post today over on ASUS MB area of amdmb.com and this A7N266-E owner said he has his board stable at 166. Go for it! (I don't think I need to OC that much myself - can't afford to pay the piper IF I burn down da house!)

Laters!

 

[Funky303]

Hihi.

I know that now with the New driver releases of Nvidia they have added EAX 2 support to their nice OnBoard Audio, but I still like my SBLive because I use it's nice Hardware Acceled SondProcesses, especially the Vocoder/sound effects which I can set really nice & fast in the EAX control panel. I use my computer often in a friends Club, he really likes using that (I know it's stipid) feture to connect a micro, just chnage something in the control pannel just to speak like a chipmunk or a Giant. I really like SB Live Mixer which offers me fast switching between recording sources. I have a TV Stereo card, I've conected my PC to a DIgital Reciever & my old analog radio, so I often have to swich the recording source fast. And because of the joy i had with that before I hjust kept the SB Live! I think about buying a SB Audigy in the future, but up to now their drivers are not that good. My cousins Computer always forgets it's volume adhjustment, so the computer always starts with a damn loud volume almost blasting his Speakers away.

The reason I bought the Nvidia was month of triyng to get an averall more or less fast & STABLE board. I don't care about O'Clocking or those 2 or 3 frames more in Quake3 when I have more then 60 frames. Who does really think that it is sooo much important to have 139 frames instead of 136, but takes compatibility & stability problems for that ?? Not me.
So bec. I just had TONS of problems & at least 100 win2k/XP installs, swiching twice my case and power supply, 3 times my Mainboard to different VIA266 boards from different manufacturers, also switching Memory from NoNames to Infineon to Micron to Samsung (this was my only luck that I had some friends which also had DDR Boards so I didn't have to buy it every time). You can imagine, in germany you get your money back just if you bring the purchased item back in 3 days, memory often not at all. So i had always to sell my MoBos to friends & other, so I really spend lots of money to get a stable system.

But that didn't work either. so i decided to buy a nforce board. I had my GTS 2 Pro already before, also the SB Live.

At the time I bought my board, there simply was no ASUS board available.

Now that I'm using 2 MemBanks my board IS faster than most KT266A, I have often proven that in Sandra & Linux MemBenchs. ALso the actual c't (Germanys most spread computer technician magazine,not a PC Gamer mag) hast tested all Athlon DDR solutions, just to say that the Nforce using the correct Memory settings with 2 MemModules placed in the specified slots IS indeed faster than Kt266A, but also has a lot of more potential for the future with new BIOS & drivers.

With the BIOS release 2.1 there are now some good O'Clocking features, but hey, who needs to overclock an XP1700+ or more. My Athlon C 1400 is more than enogh for every game yet. instead of paying my ass of for cooling I sell my CPu & buy a faster one. thats easyer IMO.

What I do not like about the asus is that they do not use the Nvidia Audio & Lan controllers, they have used external ones. this leads IMO to an more expensive board also together with a more electrically (i don't know what to say in english, sorry) overloaded board, this may lead to more possible errors/bugs.

But ASUS delivers with their A7N266-E a ACR or CNR (hell who knows ) card which has a digital SPDIF Output, 3 analog outputs & 2 analog inputs. WOW thats cool. that would solve lots of my switching problems. I have to use a little switcherto select the input source

 

[Funky303]

oh and you can be happy with those prices. I paid approx 240 $ for the MSi board here in germany. thats bec. we're third world Ifrst taiwan, then shipped to USA, then to Germany

 

[cyberized]

Hey again Oh Funky ONE,
Thanks alot for the FULL and INTERESTING response to my question. I now understand and enjoyed hearing about how much FUN you have using the FULL potentials of your SB Live - that's NEAT! Also, nice to hear some good ol' Common Sense too - concerning OC'ing and having to get 3 more FPS's than the next guy - - - now that makes sense to me.
YES that ACR in the ASUS NForce - E board does look nice (did you get a CNR w your MSI?) I see here now for under $160 you can get the MSI model with the CNR - - - - think for the price and my small retirement income - probably BEST for me to go with the MSI version - I don't need those extra FPS BUT do want the STABILITY that you have found with your K7N420 PRO.

Thanks - - - Michael

 

[Leokor]

<< I see you're still planning on going nForce. I thought I would share my thoughts on the MSi vs. Asus comparision. Originally, I saw absolutely no reason to go the Asus because the K7N420 Pro but a review I read changed my view. I would suggest reading HardOCP's review of the A7N266-E here and also, GamePC reviewed this AM the A7N266 here. I really think that while the A7N266 is just as cheap now as the K7N420 Pro, I would take the K7N420 Pro because it has LAn, the A7N266 doesn't. And they both overclock the same, however, I would really, if Overclocking is of any concern, take the A7N266-E over all of them. That HardOCp review, they hit 158fsb and that is better than the overclocking GamePC got with the A7N266 and better than the K7N420 Pro. Futher, when running at that speed, the A7N266-E crushed in nearly everything, the A7V266-E and K7N420 Pro for that matter, so I just thought I'd share my thoughts because we're both it seems planning on getting a nForce soon. >>



The main difference between A7N266 and A7N266-E is not the LAN, people! The GamePC reviewer is totally clueless. The real thing is that A7N266 is based on nForce 420 (without Dolby), and A7N266-E is based on nForce 420D (with Dolby)! A7N266 does not have nForce sound, it uses crappy CMedia instead. I can't believe why anyone would fall for it. Go for A7N266-E!

Leo

 

[Funky303]

Hi Michal, nice you could spend some funny minutes reading my ..... SB Live! funnies I know it's not the reaaaally ear blasting device. but for me it is enough. Does anyone have made some good experience with the onbboard Sound ?? I do not have a digital PA, so I would not be able to connect the rear speakers. I also read that is is impossible to get real 4 point sound. when using digital Speakers with the port on that slot, it would just be a copy of the front speakers.

Ofr that CNR/ACR thinggie.. i don't have a clue what is on my board & since I'm too lazy at the moment I don't wanna search my handbook..oh.. lucky you, just found it:



<< Slots: One CNR Slot >>



but hey why the f*ck did MSI NOT provide that card with the extra Audio Jacks. A friend of mine bought one of the first boards, he had it included...

but hey.. there's something important.. why not leaving our computer alone & having a nice Saturday night walkout...