Stable 200FSB NForce2 mobos for 2500+

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niall

Member
Mar 12, 2004
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I wouldn't ask this here without doing a lot of checking, but I still can't find an answer; apologies for what may be the same question for the Nth time.

I plan on buying a non-mobile Barton 2500+, and would like to do the simplest of overclocks, 11x200 from 11x166 by using a motherboard with 200FSB (with memory to match, natch).

Some boards seem consistently unable to achieve this, even if they claim to support 200 FSB. I can't figure out if it's the board which can't, or if it's the chip that can't get that high - yet some put the same chip in another board and suddenly get 220FSB easily.

So my question: would any of the following boards actually and verifiably be able to do this little FSB switch? Or is this only available in higher-end and newer boards? Here's my limited choice (all around Cdn$100), all dating from early 2003 it seems:

- Asus A7N8X-X (seems very difficult to o/c with FSB)
- Biostar M7NCD-A02 (not the pro)
- ASRock K7S8XE
- Gigabyte 7N400E-L (not the ultra 400 board)
- MSI K7N2 Delta-L (I read it's very fussy about which ram and psu it'll work with)

I'm looking at getting a single stick of OEM (from PMI) 512k PC3200 memory, so single or dual channel is not important. My planned case is an Antec 3700AMB with its native psu.

From what I hear, could the current steppings of retail 2500+ (KQYHA) be unable to really overclock well at all? I can't afford the $60+ more a mobile would cost around here, on top of the $115 for the regular chip...
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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IMO, none of those boards you listed are the best choices, but most of them should be able to change the FSB from 166mhz to 200mhz. If your budget is tight, the best overclockable, no frills nForce 2 board is the Shuttle AN35N Ultra. Here in the states, it's only about $55 shipped, not sure about in Canada.

Another nice board with more features, and also excellent o/cing is the Abit NF7-S, but that will probably be about $30 or so more than the Shuttle.

Good luck! :)
 
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niall

Member
Mar 12, 2004
153
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Thanks Insane3D. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the AN35N is available to me - no local store carries any Shuttle boards (only cube systems), and even NCIX.com doesn't have it listed. So I can't even check if it'd be in my price range! Though it should, considering newegg has the K7N2 delta-l as $62... I take it the AN35N is older? That might explain its lack of local availability - everything older but of excellent value is sold out.

The NF7-S is around Cdn$175, rather more than the ~$100 my budget can afford. Even the plain NF7 is around $120. There's one DFI NFII Ultra-AL, not the Ultra Infinity, at $115 (the Infinity is at $145)...

Hmm, reviewing specs for Nf2 400 vs 400 Ultra, the latter is said to have "official 400FSB support"... shoudl I then concentrate on those boards only?
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Nope..the Shuttle uses the same chipset as the NF7. It's the nForce2 Ultra400 chipset.

What other online vendors are there in Canada?

Also, both the nForce 2 400, and the Ultra 400 chipsets support 400mhz FSB. The only difference is the non Ultra is single channel only, while the Ultra 400 runs DDR in Dual Channel (2 sticks), or single channel (1 stick).

The NF7-S is an awesome board, and you get more for the price difference, but if it's too far out of your budget, it's too far.
 
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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
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I'd go for the Soltek SL-75FRN2-L from NCIX.com. last promo special they had, they had it for $79 CANADIAN dollars... can't be beaten by any other boards at that price.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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That is a hell of a price CraigRT...I can't argue the Soltek...great boards from all I've heard. Is that "dangeo.com" place any good? I got them off Canada.com's directory of hardware vendors. They looked fairly major, and had good ratings? Any experience with them if I need to suggest boards to people in your beautiful country?

I may have to move there someday. There can't be anything wrong with a country that lives and breathes hockey... :)

Oh how I would love to move to Vancouver someday...

:)
 
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someone16

Senior member
Dec 18, 2003
522
9
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Yikes, those prices are rediculous...just order everything on ncix.com when they have a sale =). Just wait until they have the mobile on sale for 125.99. Btw, right now DFI infinity 113.98 =)
 
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niall

Member
Mar 12, 2004
153
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Thanks everyone! And thanks for the links to Dangeo, Insane3D. I'm a little leery, as shipping from Alberta to Ontario is not cheap and they use UPS, who once managed to deliver me a 3.5" disquette bent 40 degrees. (I wish I'd kept it.) I usually avoid sending/receiving anything fragile through OOPS, as I call them. Depending on which shipping, it might take a week to receive it, and if it's broken, another week to send it back, another week to get another one... It might end up costing me more than anything local (as of course I have to pay shipping back to them).

CraigRT, NCIX is in Vancouver - even further away, though shipping is by Purolator and only $20 for a mobo, so it's a consideration.

Both options would end up costing at least $125. In that price range, I could pick up a NF-7 (non-S)...

Usually, I try to go and check this advertisers' site from the local computer zine, going for the computer stores listed. (RB, PC and DealsDirect are usually the best.) There's over a dozen to choose from, which is usually good enough, but I'm going for slightly older tech that's fairly popular, so availability is scarce. Though none have a Soltek anywhere...
 
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Finnkc

Senior member
Jul 9, 2003
422
0
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DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity ...

using this mobo atm and aside one issue I had with flashing the BIOS (more my fault) this board is nice, and you get lots of options for 120ish CND.
 
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niall

Member
Mar 12, 2004
153
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Budman: nice to see another Ottawan here. I did look at the Biostar and downloaded the manual, but all the boards with only 2 DIMM sockets that I've looked at did not look quite good. They seem to always lack something somewhere, and the manual itself is lacking in details and does not inspire much confidence in me, when compared with simple solid information in other manuals. But maybe I shouldn't completely overlook it.
 
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Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
0
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Originally posted by: niall
Budman: nice to see another Ottawan here. I did look at the Biostar and downloaded the manual, but all the boards with only 2 DIMM sockets that I've looked at did not look quite good. They seem to always lack something somewhere, and the manual itself is lacking in details and does not inspire much confidence in me, when compared with simple solid information in other manuals. But maybe I shouldn't completely overlook it.
Click to expand...

Yup there's a few people from Ottawa on this board. :)

If you want to get the Abit board then have a look here http://www.oemexpress.com , they have the Abit NF7 for 109.99 & the NF7-S for 139.99,so you can buy locally & not pay shipping charges.

As for the shuttle AN35N-Ultra I was told that http://www.dealsdirect.ca/ here in Ottawa can get it but it's a special order item.



Good luck.
 
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niall

Member
Mar 12, 2004
153
0
0
OEM Express needs to advertise in Monitor... I keep forgetting they exist. :) Their prices are comparable to other shops where I got my stuff so far, but I'll keep an eye on their boards section. And they're walking distance from my place, too...

Deals Direct is where I got half my system, and their used section is always worth a look at. I'll have to check about the Shuttle and how much they'd charge to order it.

I'll check the official NF-7/S thread on my current questions on this board...

Thanks!
 
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