Not happy with nforce2. well sort of...... Anybody else have these problems (various, see inside) ?

[Markfw]

I had all sorts of stability problems with my new setup: XP2700 CPU, Radeon 9700pro, Maxtor 8meg cache 80 gig, Geil PC3500 C2 memory, ASUS A7V8X (KT400) motherboard under 98SE, a little problems under 2000 even, and a couple under XP. So, I got a MSI K7N2 (nforce2) motherboard to see it it would be better. Well, first, it sometimes boots, and sometimes I have to power on/off several times or it just beeps at me, but once booted, it's fine for as long as it is on. Then, so sound didn't work, at all (only a SCSI card in PCI#2, NOT next to AGP, nothing else) and no conflicts ??? And there was no joystick port, so I said screw it, and put in my SBlive card, no sound problems now at all. THEN, I could ping everything on my network, go out past the router to the web, BUT I COULDN'T EVEN PING MY $3000 NETWORK PRINTER !!!!!! So, I put in my $12 dlink DE-530, and now all of that is fine.

Now the thing is, it is now VERY stable once it is booted (not one single problem since), but first I have to boot 2-3 times (power on/off), and I had to use aftermarket sound and network. It this just because MSI sucks ???? Are the other Nforce2 boards OK ? I am stuck with this for now, since I have to use 98SE, 2000 and XP to do the various games and software I have (98SE for older games, 2000 for backup, and XP for the hell of it, and Movie Maker 2 maybe in the future) and I want STABILITY first, but at what price ? I don't want to buy a third MOBO.

And if you see my rig specs, this happened at stock speeds. I didn't OC until it was stable. Any feedback ? Anybody else have any of these issues ?

 

[mechBgon]

Have you tried it with any other brands of (quality) memory? Also, what power supply are you using?

Frankly, after reading some of Evan Lieb's experiences with non-functioning sample boards from MSI, I would have to pass on them. At any rate, my EPoX is working fine, no complaints. I'm using Crucial RAM and an Antec TruePower430 here. Wish I could say I had a 2700+ in there too but that will have to wait.

edit: doh, misspelled "Lieb"

 

[First]

Yeah, you probably picked the worst nForce2 motherboard out there. It's not that MSI's nForce2 board is terrible, it's just that there are a ton of better options to choose from, like the ASUS A7N8X/Deluxe, Epox 8RDA/+...I could go on and on. What compelled you to choose MSI's nForce2 board? Heck, what compelled you choose GEIL memory?

MSI's K7N2G-ILSR is a much better board though. But I'd stick with the A7N8X or 8RDA myself.

 

[Markfw]

My case is a Antec 1080awg SOHO with an Antec true power 430 watt, no problem there, and it IS stable now (once booted). I chose the MSI at a local store after I realized that I spent over $100 on a board I couldn't return to newegg (didn't want to spend a lot the second time around), and it wasn't really defective, just didn't like my hardware I guess. the Geil memory looked good, and was rated good, and I have pushed it at CAS2 up to as high as 189 mhz (by the way I think it is PC3200, not 3500) and stable, so I am not disappointed there. Thanks for the info on the MSI. The main reason I did that was on a site they rated problems with boards, and the A7V8X rated BAD, adn the MSI K7N2 rated good. (where was that site??....)

Well, live and learn....

More input ?? Thanks for all the input so far.

 

[mechBgon]

You're running the RAM synchronously with the FSB though, right? That's the ticket to performance from everything I've read, and it seems logical that it would also tend to be the most stable arrangement too. Sorry to hear of your troubles, I hope it works out

 

[chizow]

I chose the MSI at a local store after I realized that I spent over $100 on a board I couldn't return to newegg

So does that mean the local store will let you return it? B/c if they did you could always return it.

Don't know much about the MSI board, I've come across a few problems with them, but no where near the volume involved with the A7N8X's or 8RDA's. The difference is that after the initial hiccups, both are rock solid performers that dominate these forums for a reason. Most issues are easily resolved b/c others have "paved the way" and done the troubleshooting. Unfortunately, like any other part that doesn't get as much exposure, the task of trail blazing a troubleshooting path is left to you. A large user base is the best tech support you'll find, which is why its sometimes best to just go with the flow.

Chiz

 

[Markfw]

Yup, I could probably return it, and say ?? I might do that, and then spend another 5 hours re-installing everything, and then what if it wasn't good ?

Before this experience, it was just "when in doubt, buy ASUS", but now it is "check everybody, and then ??". And Nforce ?? I don't know if I can blame it all on MSI, but this is bad !!

 

[Whitedog]

You're running the RAM synchronously with the FSB though, right?

Running memory at a different Clock than the FBS does NOT do anything to stability... It's crappy board design if there are stability problems, NOT because your running different clock speeds...

Just get a damn descent board... as suggested (A7N8x)

 

[Dug]

The problems you have with sound and nic would come from how you installed the nvidia drivers.
If you are using WinXP- Do a fresh install of XP, Install SP1, latest Nvidia drivers.

Two things-
If you are not using any USB 2.0 devices, disable this in the bios before installing OS.
When installing the Nvidia drivers- don't opt to use their ATA drivers. Just click cancel when this comes up.

I have found that these two things will solve many problems on Nforce2 boards.

Also look at your version of ATI card. Version 1's have some problems with 8xagp boards. Although I don't think you have this problem.

 

[Markfw]

Dug, the most stability problems I have are for the 98SE install, I have a triple boot, 98SE, 2000 and XP. XP is the best, but I do that one after I have mastered 98 and then I start on 2000, XP is last. When I want stability, it is on ALL platforms, and I have that now, just not on-board sound and nic. And the "not pinging my printer" problem is a incompatability with other nics, and since the other 10 nics on my lan (including the $3000 printer) all talk fine, just not the on-board nic from the nforce2, then I call that crap hardware.

I am just not impressed, and I hope it is not inherant to all nforce2 boards, that is why I posted. Maybe I will trade it in on an ASUS A7N8X after reading all the replies here.

 

[Markfw]

OK, I just trashed my K7N2, and got an ASUS A7N8X. This board is MUCH better than the MSI board. So far the only problem is that the Nforce nic, STILL won't talk to my printer, and I have to use a cheap D-line 530 card. (I was going to get the deluxe, but everyone local was out of stock, and I can't be without my games for more than a day). I am at 177 FSB (sync) right now. I think I will go a couple of days at each setting before going higher. I wan STABLILITY !! (I am running at 2-3-3-6 with my Geil PC3200, exactly as rated)

 

[NesuD]

I have the same powerup or warm boot fails that you do although they don't seem to be as frequent with the 3.3 bios but they are still there. Msi tech support tried blaming The PS so i spent 75 bucks on a supply i don't need which wasn't the problem. Also tried to say i had something causing the motherboard to short. I laughed at him when he said that then told him i had it running out of the case to make sure that wasn't happening. He then told me to contact my vendor for an RMA so i guess i gotta call newegg. don't know how they will handle it since i have had it for 2 months now. Thats how long it took msi's tech support to get around to responding to my several emails on the problem.

 

[Viper96720]

Why all the operating systems? Is having XP and 2000 almost redundant? Can't anything that runs on 2000 also use XP?

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
Why all the operating systems? Is having XP and 2000 almost redundant? Can't anything that runs on 2000 also use XP?

I said it in an earlier post I think, but I need 98SE to run some of my games, and I need 2000 to do my backups. I only installed XP becuase Windows Movie Maker will only run under XP, and I kind of liked it. Now that I have Pinnacle Studio 8 (which also sucks, exits program, and won't do everything I need, and burns DVD frisbees), I don't have to have it, but I still like to stay current on the OS'es to help my friends.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

I had problems where I had to use the power button to make the PC boot. Turns out I was OCing too much, turned it down some and its been booting fine since.

Using A7N8X Deluxe.

 

[yhelothar]

i think it may even be your particular board is bad and not all MSIs

 

[Snoop]

I will bet this is a problem with the GEIL memory. If you go to the Nforce HQ forums and search Geil 3500. This memory is a crap shoot and from everthing I have read says it is garbage.