Which one would you pick

[superflymx6]

I ma trying to build a decent gaming computer to play some racing simulation games and use it for school and such. I want it to be very stable and be upgradeable down the road.

DFI

MSI

EPoX

I have read alot of reviews about both boards and they seem to be the most popular boards in use. What kind of sound quality can I expect from either. Also, i know there are other boards out there and if you want to suggest a board for around $100 please feel free to do so. Also, i have never OCed anything before so I know that the DFI board is well known for this too. And all the other information that you have will be helpful, thanks for your time.

Leadtek 6600GT 128MB will be used or ATI 800XL
AMD64 3000+ will be used

If you need to know the other hardware that I have picked please let me know.

 

[imported_Kensai]

DFI for overclocking, MSI for normal usage and mild overclocking.

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Just watch out how many add-on cards you'll be using, since the Dfi only has two pci slots, while the msi has twice that.

 

[jose]

DFI, check my sig.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Since you're not concentrating on overclocking, you should go with the MSI. It's got the best known onboard sound with an integrade Soundblaster Live! 7.1 from Creative Labs. I believe some of Asus' boards have them too.

If you can squish the x800XL, by all means go for it. It'll over superior performance compared to the 6600GT.

 

[superflymx6]

Would anybody put Value RAM on this board?? OR do I need to look for a better quality???

Whats the big difference between the Value RAM and the others, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[superflymx6]

I did read that the MSI had the best on board sound just about anyboard so that was one of the deal makers for me.

I dont take anything away from the DFI board at all, I know its one of the best board out there but I am not worried about over clocking and just want a really good board that is stable with great sound on board.

 

[keeleysam]

MSI

 

[superflymx6]

I think this ram here will be just fine because I dont plan to OC anything.

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400

And the RAM from CORSAIR has a lifetime warranty

 

[superflymx6]

Sorry, I keep posting to my thread but I just read that this board here Epox 9NPA+ won the AnandTech Gold Editors Choice, in a review that I just read. I didnot see the MSI board in there so that has me thinking now about this board, I need to read up on Epox more though before I change my mind about anything. So what about this board and the MSI board??

 

[The Pentium Guy]

EPox wil be a better value though, but between the two I would pick the DFI. Not sure if the bugs in the MSI board have been resolved yet - I heard the MSI doesn't play well with 90nm cpus (Anand said something about this in his review), that's why.

 

[superflymx6]

The EPoX seems to get great reviews on other sites I have just read as well. I am not that worried about OCing much. Just want a really nice stable board, for a great price.

The EPoX is now $111 from newegg.com so thats will save me some money. It does not seem to a lost in quality though which is a plus.

 

[Fallengod]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Since you're not concentrating on overclocking, you should go with the MSI. It's got the best known onboard sound with an integrade Soundblaster Live! 7.1 from Creative Labs. I believe some of Asus' boards have them too.

If you can squish the x800XL, by all means go for it. It'll over superior performance compared to the 6600GT.

Only the MSI SLI-platinum has Creative SB 24bit sound. The ultra has realtek.

 

[MadScientist]

Very pleased with my Epox 9NPA+ board. Great bang for your buck and very stable. The Anandtech review is right about the power cables placement. A real pain in the ass getting them on after mounting my Thermalright XP-90. The floppy drive (if you have one) connector was no problem, a 10" round cable fit perfectly.

 

[superflymx6]

What about the ram for the EPoX board does it have any type of RAM that it does not like?

Also I read up on the differenece between Value RAM and the other RAM. And what I read was that if you dont want to OC get the Value RAM, in some cases it might be the same chips as the higher price RAM but most of the time it is not. But most of the reviews I read and maybe some information from the forums is that is works just fine. What do you guys thing??

 

[imported_Spilson]

Originally posted by: superflymx6
What about the ram for the EPoX board does it have any type of RAM that it does not like?

Also I read up on the differenece between Value RAM and the other RAM. And what I read was that if you dont want to OC get the Value RAM, in some cases it might be the same chips as the higher price RAM but most of the time it is not. But most of the reviews I read and maybe some information from the forums is that is works just fine. What do you guys thing??

I built my new system with an Epox 9npa+ and 1Gb Corsair Value RAM (check my sig) last week and so far im loving it. Rock stable, and very fast (still running at stock speeds).

Like MadScientist, i also used a XP90 and found a little bit of trouble the get the power connectors in place after it was mounted in the motherboard. Besides that, everything was very straight forward.

I believe that for the value it offers you cant beat this Epox board.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: superflymx6
What about the ram for the EPoX board does it have any type of RAM that it does not like?

Also I read up on the differenece between Value RAM and the other RAM. And what I read was that if you dont want to OC get the Value RAM, in some cases it might be the same chips as the higher price RAM but most of the time it is not. But most of the reviews I read and maybe some information from the forums is that is works just fine. What do you guys thing??

I'm using 1Gb of older (2003) Kingston HyperX PC3500 that I thieved from my son's Asus P4C800-E Deluxe board. The Asus board hated it, crashes and reboots even at SPD settings. It's rated to run at 2-2-2-5 but it will only run stable (Memtest86) at 2-3-3-8-1T on the Epox board. My son is now running 2 Gb of Corsair Value ram PC3200 on his Asus board, rock stable at cas 2.5. He got 2 matched kits at Chiefvalue for $80. each shipped.

From the Anandtech review:
"The Epox 9NPA+ is the fastest board in the roundup at stock speeds. It was also the highest overclocker at stock speeds, and the second highest overclocker when the bus was overclocked. The Epox is an incredible value whether you are looking for a board that will run fast with stability at stock speeds or a board that will satisfy almost any Athlon 64 enthusiast. The range of overclocking options and the overclocked performance are among the best that we have seen, falling short only in the memory voltage area, which tops out at 3.1V. The feature set is more or less average for Ultra boards, but the overall performance is clearly standout. Based on the standout performance and solid overclocking that we achieved with the Athlon 64, we are pleased to award the AnandTech Gold Editors Choice to the Epox 9NPA+ motherboard".

 

[imported_Husky55]

I second the Epox 9NPA+. DFI is too fussy with RAM, MSI does not play nice with Venice.

 

[superflymx6]

How is the sound on the EPoX board?? I need to do a search for realtek...

I will be hooking up probaly 2 speakers and a sub, that I already have.

 

[coomar]

just boot the ram at 2.5-4-4-7 with the bank interleave off and loop test 5 5 times and see if you pass, after a bios flash you can probably get any ram to run on the dfi, it just requires looking at the memory guide and the intial setting guide

 

[Fallengod]

Originally posted by: superflymx6
How is the sound on the EPoX board?? I need to do a search for realtek...

I will be hooking up probaly 2 speakers and a sub, that I already have.

Prolly sounds fine, its nothing special. Just realtek. Realtek has the highest cpu usage unfortunatly. I dont think too many people use onboard sound on their boards anyways do they? Most people have audigys. I sure do.

 

[superflymx6]

ok, just asking about the sound part of the board. Thanks, I will look into audigys

 

[Fallengod]

Dont get me wrong, audigys cost some money but, Circuitcity seems to keep having at least 3 times a year, deals on the audigy 2 zs platinum. The deals are usually like $200 - $100 rebate minus a 10% off coupon if you have it. I have bought 4 times now and resold so.

It depends what you are doing with sound also. I watch movies and game so I wanted an audigy2. Onboard sound might be just fine for some. Personaly, if you were going to use onboard sound, id find a mobo that has something other than realtek. It has much higher cpu useage than like msi sli board(which has creative labs) or dfi's board. .Ebay has decent prices on audigy cards also. But so far the circuitcity deals which seem to happen about 3 times a year are the cheapest ive seen.

 

[superflymx6]

Well I am not looking for the best of the best but I will look into a sound card and see how it compares to just getting a board with on board sound. I think the MSI SLI board is the only one that comes with SoundBlaster 24

DFI UT ultra board in this thread has

# Karajan audio module
- Realtek ALC850 8-channel audio CODEC
- 6 audio jacks
- 1 CD-in connector
- 1 front audio connector
# S/PDIF-in/out interface

the MSI Ultra board in this thread has

Audio

? 7.1 channel audio codec RealTek ALC850
- Compliance with AC97 v2.3 Spec.
- Meet PC2001 audio performance requirement.

 

[superflymx6]

OK, i have found the best rated 800XL card for the best price.

H.I.S. Radeon X800XL IceQ $299

I might be able to find it cheaper some where else but it seems to cool very well and OC well.

Should i have anyproblems putting this card on the EPoX mother board??