Unofficial Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR thread

[Ertaz]

I just ordered a Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR. It was the least expensive nf3 250 board newegg had with built in Gigabit. Does anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks.


EDIT: Due to a suggestion by DAPUNISHER, The thread title has been edited.

 

[CraigRT]

Soltek is my favorite motherboard manufacturer... always reliable, stable, no frills but work perfect... and they are very inexpensive. A brand I always recommend.

I have owned 3 Solteks and 2 of which I still own and run perfectly day in, day out.

 

[Odeen]

Cool color scheme, nice layout, passive chipset cooling are all pluses.

However, it doesn't implement all the nF3 250GB features, much like EVERY other motherboard that's not an MSI. Sigh..

 

[Ertaz]

Originally posted by: Odeen
Cool color scheme, nice layout, passive chipset cooling are all pluses.

However, it doesn't implement all the nF3 250GB features, much like EVERY other motherboard that's not an MSI. Sigh..

Which features does it leave out (If you don't mind me asking.)?

 

[Zebo]

Ertaz after you get it I'd like to know what kind of options are available in the bios... IE..HTT levels, Vcore and Vdimm thanks.

If you overclock I have a few more questions but they can wait until you reply.

I starting to like Soltek.. they are nice looking, have great accesories in the package, three phase power it looks like and thier manuals are the best (I just read it from thier site)...I guess all that's left is performance and bios features before I order one too.

 

[Odeen]

Originally posted by: Ertaz

Originally posted by: Odeen
Cool color scheme, nice layout, passive chipset cooling are all pluses.

However, it doesn't implement all the nF3 250GB features, much like EVERY other motherboard that's not an MSI. Sigh..

Which features does it leave out (If you don't mind me asking.)?

The extra 2 nVidia SATA ports.

On the MSI nF3 250GB boards, all 4 SATA ports are run by the chipset. One driver is needed, and all 4 can be made into a RAID array, if you're into that sort of thing.

On most other boards, only 2 SATA ports are controlled by the chipset, the other 2 use a Promise or Silicon Image chip, which should raise the cost of the board (third party components), decreases performance, and adds an extra layer of driver complexity (since you need a separate driver for those SATA ports)

Incidentally, I was under the impression that Soltek USA closed up shop. Unless your vendor will do RMA's for the entire warranty period, good luck getting support.

 

[Macro2]

Apparently Newegg buys direct fron Soltek.

gone

 

[Ertaz]

Hmm.... I was unaware that support might be an issue. It appears that I am "Grandfathered" in because I purchased through newegg. Oh well I have always been a gambler.....

 

[Macro2]

I wouldn't worry about it. They will open a new distributor soon or make newegg their distributor.

 

[Ertaz]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Ertaz after you get it I'd like to know what kind of options are available in the bios... IE..HTT levels, Vcore and Vdimm thanks.

If you overclock I have a few more questions but they can wait until you reply.

I starting to like Soltek.. they are nice looking, have great accesories in the package, three phase power it looks like and thier manuals are the best (I just read it from thier site)...I guess all that's left is performance and bios features before I order one too.

I will probably have it together Wednesday night. I will try to post my findings either thursday morning or thursday afternoon.

 

[Ertaz]

The thing runs like a top. Very responsive. I will get your vcore/vdimm settings to you this afternoon.


[Side rant] I could not imagine being on dialup internet now! It took around 2 hours to get all the windows updates download over dsl (with SP1 slipstreamed on the install disk). [/Side rant]

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Ertaz
The thing runs like a top. Very responsive. I will get your vcore/vdimm settings to you this afternoon.


[Side rant] I could not imagine being on dialup internet now! It took around 2 hours to get all the windows updates download over dsl (with SP1 slipstreamed on the install disk). [/Side rant]

Thanks, and please hurry with the overclocking data. I have deployed dozens of the Soltek Golden Flames series and have been disappointed in their nF3 150 offerings. If this model has been given the same redstorm overclocking as the nF2 thanks to the AGP/pci lock I will be picking this board up.

 

[Ertaz]

Vcore Adjustments: 1.55v down to .800 selectable in .025 increments. Vdimm selectable between 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 . Chipset vcore 1.6 to 1.9 in .10 increments. didn't see anything in the bios that mentioned htt.

 

[Ertaz]

Running @ 220 fsb ~ 2.42ghz. With Stock cooling and stock voltagesSANDRA I will loop 3dmark01 and see how that runs.

 

[CraigRT]

I am going to try and order a K8AN2E before I can't get it at all

 

[imported_Salvatore]

I think I'm going for it too. Saves $25 bucks on the MSI.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I need to e-mail them and see if they have an ES power user's BIOS for this model as they did with the Golden Flames. 1.55 Vcore doesn't cut it for me.

 

[Zebo]

Ertaz,

Mucho gracias for repling...happy you're happy As noted by DP, 1.55 simply does'nt cut it for most overclockers With that said, nothing wrong with a mild OC 1.55 will give you...probably a computer lifetime of safe overclcoking....just max the chip out at that Vcore....

At least the Vdimm is decent enough to run BH-5 at 2-2-2 ~210 mhz.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I need to e-mail them and see if they have an ES power user's BIOS for this model as they did with the Golden Flames. 1.55 Vcore doesn't cut it for me.

whats the stock voltage on an A64? I don't even know.
I think that will be sufficient for me.. I am not into crazy OCing like I used to be.... as long as that is above the default voltage it's all good

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I need to e-mail them and see if they have an ES power user's BIOS for this model as they did with the Golden Flames. 1.55 Vcore doesn't cut it for me.

whats the stock voltage on an A64? I don't even know.
I think that will be sufficient for me.. I am not into crazy OCing like I used to be.... as long as that is above the default voltage it's all good

The default vCore on my 3000+ is 1.5v so that's not much headroom. Soltek usually has an ES bios they will send to those of us who are persistant though. The DFI is looking awesome though, and never having used one of their products for a build I will probably get it if a model without all the case mod stuff, bells&whistles is available as it is with the nF2 series.

 

[Zebo]

Haha wuts wrong DP, don't like all those snazy colors, tote bag and fucia green glitter embetted IDE cables lanparties have? I fiqure if you have another one, just throw it in the crib a couple hours cause babies love bright sprakly thingys.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Haha wuts wrong DP, don't like all those snazy colors, tote bag and fucia green glitter embetted IDE cables lanparties have? I fiqure if you have another one, just throw it in the crib a couple hours cause babies love bright sprakly thingys.

:laugh:

 

[CraigRT]

hey dude, DFI boards are awesome, but you are right.. the LAN party series is kinda retarded... I just buy the infinity series like the NF2 line

they just WORK.... very stable, and reliable... I have been a fan of DFI for a little while now.

 

[Ertaz]

My son wants his own PC. Maybe when the DFI comes out I will pass the soltek down, and buy some gear that's OC friendly. For right now 2.42 scoots in everything but Doom 3, but that will be rectified when the new video card arrives tommorow.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Thanks for providing valuable hands on data about this board Ertaz :beer: