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Motherboard opinions please

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  • 09-06-2006 12:05pm
    #1
    savemejebus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,558 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Am finally jumping to PCI ex due to the untimely (arctic cooling assisted*) demise of my X800 XT PE. So I need to get a new mobo to replace my trusty MSI K8N neo 2 platinum.

    It's going to be running an opteron 146 which is currently running happily at 2.9 so it's gotta be a good overclocking board. I know that DFI is the obvious choice but I hear the fan is a bugger and i can't afford the expert. So anyhow I'm thinking about any of these
    Abit AN8 SLi nForce4 SLi
    ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
    DFI LanParty UT NF4 SLI-D

    I'm leaning towards the abit due to cost and also reviews. Any thoughts, or other suggesions?

    *arctic cooler killed the fan header on the x800 and i don't think i'll get an agp rma from asus


Comments

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    #2
    Inquitus
    Registered Users Posts: 13,762 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    beg, borrow, steal and buy the Expert!


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    #3
    conzy
    Subscribers Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭conzy


    DFI DFI DFI DFI DFI DFI:D

    Well the board depends on what GFX card you are getting.......

    If you hope to get an equivelant PCI-Express ATI card from the RMA then get the DFI lanparty Ultra-d......

    If you are getting a Nvidia card and want the option of SLI, get the SLI-d

    If they give you a X1800XT or X1900XT (unlikely :p ) Then get a LanParty UT CFX3200-DR, its an amzing overclocker and it gives you the option of going Crossfire...........

    If you want to overclock get a DFI, If you got 2.9ghz with the MSI, The DFI should easily get you to the 3ghz mark..........


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    #4
    savemejebus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,558 ✭✭✭savemejebus


    I knew that DFI would be the popular choice :). Was thinking the sli-d as i've just got an nvidia card. Thing is I'm wary about laying down a significantly higher amout of money on what will be in a few months (weeks if conroe hits as hard as it should!) a defunct platform. The DFI would cost more than the opteron and i don't know is .1 ghz and a ton of options that i might not use worth that. aargh decisions decisions...

    still on a related note, is it true that the chipset fan a noisy bugger.


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    #5
    conzy
    Subscribers Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭conzy


    Its not bad at 4000rpm, but it is still audible.......

    All chipset fans are noisy..........

    Its a tough decision.......

    Maybe you shoulkd sell the 146 on fleabay or boards.

    And get a conroe setup in a few weeks........

    Because if the $250 E6600 conroe beats a FX-62, It would put a 2.9ghz OPteron 146 to shame........

    And The E6600 is clocked at 2.4ghz and they do 3ghz easily enough from what i have seen.....


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    #6
    Dooom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,808 ✭✭✭Dooom


    The Asus Premium board has a passive heat pipe..no noise...


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    #7
    savemejebus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,558 ✭✭✭savemejebus


    the abit also, and from the reviews i've read the abit seems a very good clocker too...


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    #8
    conzy
    Subscribers Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭conzy


    I dunno.....

    Im crap at making decisions:D

    I wouldnt invest in S939 with AM2 released and conroe so close......

    I would go AM2 and get a €105 athlon 64 to last you until K8L.

    Or I would go 775 and get a €140 805 to last you the few weeks until COnroe is released.

    Either way you will need DDR2....


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    #9
    DirkVoodoo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,504 ✭✭✭✭DirkVoodoo


    I think you need toi be careful about what intel boards you buy now for conroe, as not all revisions will support it...there was a good post over on overclockers about which boards are currently available.

    Come on Conroe, plz be as good as intel say!


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    #10
    savemejebus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,558 ✭✭✭savemejebus


    ok so made a few decisions:

    1) conroes not in the equation yet, wanna see what amd come up with to counter it so i won't be doing a full upgrade till xmas at least

    2) the abit is out of the picture, seems it doesn't like the ram I have (gskill 4000hz)

    That leaves the asus or dfi (unless anyone else has suggesions). The asus is about 20 euro cheaper than the dfi (if i find a place that has them in stock - apart from ocuk who want to charge 22 sterling for delivery:rolleyes: ) though the dfi is definitely more tempting.

    anyone else got words of wisdom for me on this?


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    #11
    Richard Dower
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,634 ✭✭✭✭Richard Dower


    I'd go with the Asus Premium, DFI are very fussy with bios and RAM, they can be a b*tch to get stable.


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    #12
    conzy
    Subscribers Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭conzy


    DFI are rock stable out of the box, They can be as easy or as complicated to use as you choose.........

    I have never had problems with my lanparty other than it not booting after a case change which was fixed with by clearing th bios........

    The DFI also has CMOS reloaded, so you can save 4 whole BIOS configurations :)

    I have a stock configuration and a overclocked configuration, and either can be loaded at startup with the press of a button :)

    The DFI will also hold it value a lot better, You will get good money for a DFI lanparty Ultra-d in a few months.......

    Good luck getting more than €60 for a ASUS a8n-E......


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