Well im interested in the msi, cause of the 7.1 DD audio, extra pci slot but a lot of people are wonting the DFI, any major differences such as performance between the two?
The only major difference is that DFI allows a wider range of voltage adjustments for the memory and CPU. If you're just running stock or mildy OCing (10-20%) the MSI is just as good as the DFI.
The only major difference is that DFI allows a wider range of voltage adjustments for the memory and CPU. If you're just running stock or mildy OCing (10-20%) the MSI is just as good as the DFI.
Yes both the DFI NF3 and NF4 S939 do. Most other NF3 AGP mobos Dont. The Abit AV8 (K8T800 Pro) does though (BIOS 20 & up).
From what I been reading (about the EPox mainly) the BIOS code changes for X2 support are too large to fit on the BIOS chip. The MSI Neo2 BIOS is being rewritten from scratch. Supposedly the EPoX BIOS is in alpha/beta test.
Bit late to chime in, but if you're willing to go to the ~$160 range, ASUS A8N-SLI Premium.
Nice, built for overclocking more than any other ASUS board I've touched, I've already gotten one core stable at 2.7GHz on it, need to try and see what the other core is stable at though.
The features I like most, seperate PCI clock, if desired, adjustable HT-bus, adjustable voltages on... everything, CPU in 1/8th of a volt changes, wide array of RAM voltages, I think you can do a divider on the RAM, haven't tried yet.
It's a solid board, has headroom like mad, dual gigbit ethernet, up to 8 channel audio (I'm saving cycles and speaker cash by running it in 6 channel (5.1), up to 8 SATAs total, 4 SATA-II.
I'm very happy with it, if you can spare the cash for it, you would be too (then again, a lan party board really can't do you wrong)
Good god the cpu's are expensive though. I guess I could sell off my msi k8d dual opteron 246 and upgrade my dfi Ultra NF4 that currently has a 3400+ in it. Somehow I keep thinking prices are going to dip a bit in the next 90 days.
How are those suckers doing temps wise? Man I do NOT want another HSF setup that sounds like I am running a friggin blow dryer.
In a case with superb airflow (Silverstone TJ-06), using the stock AMD heatsink, I get up to 46*C load, from 28*C idle.
I'd say very nicely. They're good overclocking chips, but if you bump the vCore from the stock 1.3 up to 1.5 or 1.55 for overclocking, they'll turn into AMD furnaces at 70*C pretty easily.
I normally do not overclock either, and I bought a 4400+ for it's rated specs. The fact that my chip will gladly and happily perform like a 4800+ with a bit of tweaking it just a fun bonus from an otherwise pointless hobby : )
Good god the cpu's are expensive though. I guess I could sell off my msi k8d dual opteron 246 and upgrade my dfi Ultra NF4 that currently has a 3400+ in it. Somehow I keep thinking prices are going to dip a bit in the next 90 days.
How are those suckers doing temps wise? Man I do NOT want another HSF setup that sounds like I am running a friggin blow dryer.
Tex
The Athlon X2 3800+ (Dual 2.0ghz 512K Cores) launched today for ~$400. Think of it as Dual Opteron 246. I would also expect to see an Dual Core 1.8ghz 512K (3400+ ?) in 3-5 months. AMD has been keeping its CPU clock speeds in the 1.8-2.4ghz range for 4 yrs and have just been adding features to increase the model # & price.
Another thing that some people (2-3) at the overclockers.com forums have been doing with their X2 procs is removing the IHS off them and getting way better overlocks and temps. They have a thread over there about it with some pics and that hatless core is honking big too, looks bigger than the core on a mobile clawhammer. So if you feel brave enough to do it, it looks like removing the hat off your X2 might bring worthwhile improvements in both speed and cooling.
As far as the EPoX 9NDA3+ bios goes, last I read on it at the AOA forums is that they are testing it, like Omega posted. When they have it out I just might decide to upgrade to the X2 3800+ and see how it goes.
How are those suckers doing temps wise? Man I do NOT want another HSF setup that sounds like I am running a friggin blow dryer.
Tex
Tex I have a Stock AMD 64 Heatsink with an all copper bottoma and very thin AL fins that ran my Prime95 24/7 3200+ @ 2.5ghz test here. It's very Quiet!
As far as the EPoX 9NDA3+ bios goes, last I read on it at the AOA forums is that they are testing it, like Omega posted. When they have it out I just might decide to upgrade to the X2 3800+ and see how it goes.
Mudd there is new 9NDA3+ Bios out. 09-15-2005 I updated my mobo and while it STILL wont boot with a Vencie CPU it booted no problem with a X2 4400+ (FINALLY!)
Another vote for the Asus Premium here with the passive chipset heatsink. I just opened it up and it does 300 right out of the box with an old pair of Rev 2 sticks. No 1T issues anymore which is a gigantic step forward for Asus.
Comments
AGP
1) DFI NF3 Ultra D (supported by stock bios)
2) EPoX 9NDA3+ (with 09-15-2005 BIOS)
3) Abit AV8 (BIOS 20 & higher - K8T800 Pro chipset)
4) MSI K8N Neo2 (with BIOS v1.9 or hihger)
5) Asus A8V (Bios 2008 - K8T800 Pro chipset)
PCIe
1) DFI NF4 Lanparty UT (Ultra-D, SLI, SLI-D, SLI-DR)
2) ABit AN8 (Ultra, SLI, Fatality SLI)
3) Epox 9NPA (+, Ultra, & SLI)
4) MSI K8N Neo4 (& SLI)
5) Asus A8N (& SLI)
I'm interested in the DFI Ultra-D UT NF3 right now, so hopefully it is a good one.
Omega does the DFI support dual cores?
Tex
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2457&p=5
From what I been reading (about the EPox mainly) the BIOS code changes for X2 support are too large to fit on the BIOS chip. The MSI Neo2 BIOS is being rewritten from scratch. Supposedly the EPoX BIOS is in alpha/beta test.
UPDATE: the EPoX BIOS 09-15-2005 add X2 support.
Nice, built for overclocking more than any other ASUS board I've touched, I've already gotten one core stable at 2.7GHz on it, need to try and see what the other core is stable at though.
The features I like most, seperate PCI clock, if desired, adjustable HT-bus, adjustable voltages on... everything, CPU in 1/8th of a volt changes, wide array of RAM voltages, I think you can do a divider on the RAM, haven't tried yet.
It's a solid board, has headroom like mad, dual gigbit ethernet, up to 8 channel audio (I'm saving cycles and speaker cash by running it in 6 channel (5.1), up to 8 SATAs total, 4 SATA-II.
I'm very happy with it, if you can spare the cash for it, you would be too (then again, a lan party board really can't do you wrong)
How are those suckers doing temps wise? Man I do NOT want another HSF setup that sounds like I am running a friggin blow dryer.
Tex
I'd say very nicely. They're good overclocking chips, but if you bump the vCore from the stock 1.3 up to 1.5 or 1.55 for overclocking, they'll turn into AMD furnaces at 70*C pretty easily.
Tex
As far as the EPoX 9NDA3+ bios goes, last I read on it at the AOA forums is that they are testing it, like Omega posted. When they have it out I just might decide to upgrade to the X2 3800+ and see how it goes.
Hard to find though.....
Sorry out of context but I just got myself a AMD Athlon 64 3000+, any idea how much that is in terms of Ghz....?
Jave
3000+ ( 9x) 1.8ghz 512K
3200+ (10x) 2.0ghz 512K
3500+ (11x) 2.2ghz 512K
3700+ (11x) 2.2ghz 1024K
3800+ X2 (10x) 2.0ghz 512K
3800+ (12x) 2.4ghz 512K
4000+ (12x) 2.4ghz 1024K
4200+ X2 (11x) 2.2ghz 512K (each core)
4400+ X2 (11x) 2.2ghz 1024K (each core)
4600+ X2 (12x) 2.4ghz 512K (each core)
4800+ X2 (12x) 2.4ghz 1024K (each core)
Tex
BIOS is below if you dont already have it.
ABIT AN8
Update AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939
ABIT RX700pro-128PCIE Radeon X700PRO 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
1GB Corsair PC3200 (2x 512MB)
Maxtor 300GB 7200 RPM SATA150 Hard Drive
Maxtor 60GB 7200RPM ATA133 Hard Drive
Or should I buy the ENERMAX EG425P-VE SFMA 2.0 ATX12V 420W Power Supply?
The 350watter is Insufficient! The Enermax with Dual 12v/18A rails looks fine.
If you get a ATI X700Pro it's goiing to be the weak spot in your system. They suck compared to the Nv 6600GT or ATI X800GT.
X700Pro < 6600GT < X800GT