Is this a good motherboard?

DodgerDodger
edited November 2003 in Hardware
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=22&manufactory=1314&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1

It's the 5th motherboard down... what does that ''1.5v display card only'' thing mean?
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Comments

  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited November 2003
    I believe it means that the AGP slot doesn't support old AGP cards that ran on a higher voltage than the more recent ones. I would imagine that any vid card that is AGP 4X or better should do just fine in that board.

    As far as the mobo goes, I have no experience with Gigabyte's nforce2 mobos. Some of the people here don't have too high an opinion of Gigabyte's AMD mobos though.
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    This is a rather striped down NF mobo.
    The 7NNXP is the full blown version, with a full blown cost. The latter has gotten good reviews. I haven't seen the 7N400L reviewed anywhere.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    I would imagine that the motherboard in question would do just fine for all-around usage. It probably is not the best purchase for benchmarking, hyper-gaming, or overclocking.
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    Anyone care to name specifics because I am just not seeing what's wrong with it...
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Simply put, the board is not for a "hard core" PC user. If you're not a heavy user then there's no problem with the boad although I would choose the Abit NF7 which is on the same level as the 7N400-L.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    <ol>What's wrong with it:
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>It has no serial ATA
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>It has no firewire
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>It's got no mounting holes around the socket
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>The northbridge cooling sucks
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>It'll overclock like crap
    <li>It's a gigabyte board
    <li>It'll probably be dead within a month
    <li>Did I mention the board is made by gigabyte?

    Get an ASUS A7N8X, A7N8X-X, or A7N8X-Deluxe if you want a good, stable, reliable board.
    Get an ABIT NF7, NF7-M, or NF7-S if you want a good, stable, reliable, highly overclockable board.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    You always seem to forget that the Abit boards are <b>also</b> good, stable, and reliable.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Who, me? I said:
    Get an ASUS A7N8X, A7N8X-X, or A7N8X-Deluxe if you want a good, stable, reliable board.
    Get an ABIT NF7, NF7-M, or NF7-S if you want a good, stable, reliable, highly overclockable board.
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    I'll try out this board and see what happens. If I don't like it i'll simply return it.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but I'll simply note that Gigabyte boards have a strong tendency to make it just past the time wherein it could be returned.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Since every reply has been basically neutral or that the board is crap, but you decided to go with it anyhow, it would appear that you'd made up your mind before you posted.

    If so, why ask the question in the first place? :confused:

    I'm not flaming you or anything... just curious.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited November 2003
    You'd be happier with an Asus or ABIT NF2 board guaranteed.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited November 2003
    Gigabyte = Fine for stock, non-overclocking systems.

    If you are overclocking, choose an NForce 2-based motherboard from Asus or ABIT. Either will serve you well.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    MSI and Asus are FAR better choices for stock, non-overclocked systems.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Somehow I forgot MSI.

    I'd recommend them over a gigabyte any day. I've got two, love mine, and I've never had a problem with them, or any of the ones I've put in other people's systems.

    Gigabyte has a lousy reputation. I have no experience with them, but until I do, and my experience proves otherwise, I refuse to recommend them. You really should go with an ASUS, MSI, or ABIT board instead.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    From NewEgg, try this one-- until you get more bucks for a very fast modern video card, this will do:

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=NF7%2DS

    Top one of the two, second is not what you want as it is an older Media bridge. The one I said will run right around the Gigabyte you have in mind. Eventually, you WILL want a better video card, though, but for now this one will be fine.

    The 1.5 V thing is handled by most video cards made/introduced in last two years or so, those are almost ALL voltage compliant or will natively want the lower voltage.

    John.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    wtf?

    They both have two different versions of the same media bridge. Both were created upon the same date. Both released to motherboard manufacturers on the same date.

    They are different, but where you were dead wrong was in HOW they were different, and it has nothing to do with age of the southbridge. Let's correct it - TOP one (NF7-M) has an <b>INFERIOR</b> media bridge to the NF7-S. The NF7-M features the MCP which DOES NOT HAVE the onboard APU which the MCP-T features. The MCP-T being on the NF7-S. The absence of the -T denotes a significant decrease in overall system performance as the processor must handle signal processing functions.

    Stop talking out of your ass.
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    Geeky1 had this to say
    Since every reply has been basically neutral or that the board is crap, but you decided to go with it anyhow, it would appear that you'd made up your mind before you posted.

    If so, why ask the question in the first place? :confused:

    I'm not flaming you or anything... just curious.

    Your detective skills are impeckable. It is true I ordered the motherboard I made this thread, I just wanted some people's opinions on it. Now that I know it's next to crud i'll probably return saying I wasn't satisfied
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Dodger,

    We are good, helpful people here (usually) who really enjoy helping people out. No need to be disingeneous. You could have just started the thread with something like this: "Hey guys, I've ordered this motherboard...This is my intended use for...What do you think".

    Stick around for sure, just be a little more up-front, OK?

    LEO
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    Ok.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    giga-byte = Shiat!
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited November 2003
    I work a lot with Gigabyte boards. The only one that has truly crapped out on me was the KT400A chipset...probably because the 400A is crap.

    Anyway...Gigabyte is big on the PROMISE raid controller which I never really liked. It's not a Gigabyte issue...it's a PROMISE onboard RAID issue. My PROMISE RAID controller on my duallie just packed it in and went south. Don't know why...just gave up.

    If you do decide to return the board...before you do...define as best you can what you want from the product. Audio for MP3, DVD, GAMING...which is the priority? How many devices? Overclocking or not? Stability or speed? Be as explicit as you can and then you'll find these forum full of damn good people who will steer you in the right direction.

    I'm sure I have that motherboard you ordered somewhere around here. And never mind those "blunt" comments...they may be blunt but they have your best outcome at heart.

    /me goes off searching under rocks and such.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Hey! Just who are you calling blunt?

    :D;D
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited November 2003
    You blunt? NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    Gaming and overclocking. I want to be able to push my computer to its limits. Now, if anyone might remember I was looking to buy a 200 video card and I ended up spending well over 250 of a BBA ATi Radeon 9800 non-pro (I am going to flash the bios when I get it). Why do you think I had a 200 dollar limit? I ended buying this cheap 80 dollar motherboard because I didn't have any money left... now that I know it's next to crud i'll return it and put my hard earned pennies to something else..

    EDIT: I am thinking about buying this motherboard. (9th one down)
  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Yup, good choice.

    Unfortunately, you're probably going to have to pay a restocking fee when you send the Gigabyte board back so don't forget to calculate that into your budget. Don't know where you got it from but go to their website and check their return policies for $$ amount or %.
  • DodgerDodger
    edited November 2003
    I got the Gigabyte from newegg.

    EDIT: Nice, Newegg does infact charge a restocking fee. 15% of the price of whatever you're sending back. Shipping costs aren't refundable either. So i'm looking at spending around 20ish dollars sending this thing back. Not to shaby, could have been worse.

    EDIT EDIT: Found out my order is in step 4 of 5 and I might be able to cancel the order! But I can't find their number anywhere! HELP!

    EDIT EDIT EDIT: Found the number but apparently no one wants to pick up the phone... i'll try again in a few minutes.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    I think the A7N8X-Deluxe you've chosen there is an excellent choice. I love mine. Then again, I've also got a GigaByte board, and while I don't love it, it has worked just fine in stock applications for about 2 years now. Strangely enough, the GigaByte that I have is a board that I won from AMD!
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    The A7N8X-Deluxe is a great board- I have no problem with mine.

    However, one caveat:
    It does not overclock as well as the ABIT NF7 series.

    It's fairly close, but if you want the most extreme overclock possible, ABIT is the only way to go.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    And for the MOST extreme overclock possible, LN2 is also the only way to go. Not that I do more than modest aircooling, so my A7N8X-DLX is perfectly sufficient.
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