8RGA+ - NF7 v2 -- I jUsT cAn'T dEcIdE

[Sprocket]

i've got to get,
I'VE JUST GOT TO GET!!!


but... but.. GET WHAT???!!!


I've already posted about this whole mobo thing like 15 times in two other threads. But it's just such a hard decision! I need more details, more experience, more comments, more advantages/disadvantages, more knowledge... I have to KNOW what I should get. The 8RGA+ is a GREAT buy at newegg, but do I need higher FSB with the NF7 v2 (non -S) for the sAmE price (from Excaliber)??? And what is the real advantage of the higher vdd ability of the 8RGA+? I mean it'll probably top out at 200fsb with a 2500+ Barton, right? Would the vdd help with that? Will the northbridge get TOO hot with it's passive heatsink? Will I have to change that??? Is there some way to acheive comparable FSB's on the 8RGA+ with a 2500+ that's eAsY? Is having built in video, great sound, and other great features woth it? is it, IS IT??? (btw I promise I'm not foaming at the mouth or anything).

See, I need the built in video because otherwise I'd basically have to get another vid card right now, and I just don't have the money right now... oh well... I'll prob get it.. I'll prob get the 8RGA+... but I still need answers to all the above questions! I need, umm... uh... aNSwErS! :p

and another question... how much better does the 8RDA do at FSB's than the 8RGA? and, and, and... well, who know's maybe my NF7-S v2 isn't dead anyway, but it could be! or it could be that my 1700+ is dead, or it could still be alive... I really don't know.. ohhh... I hope I don't fret about this for like the next month.. it'll just ruin the beginning of summer. :( that stupid 900u!!!!! it's caused me problems! a buncha good for nothin. GRR! oh well, sorry for this lame thread, but I do want answers to those questions. I just can't pass up this 8RGA+... I'll buy it tomorrow unless there's sunstantial signifact evidence, reasons, that I should not.

I gotta sleep, I'm tired. I can't think. what else is new. 'night.

[GVCryan]

If you want video, the choice is clear.

The Abit is capable of higher overclocks, though both should get you to 200 fine.

[BrainStorm]

SProcket, not to mention that donny_paycheck is getting 220 fsb with his 2500+ Barton on his 8RGA+ (after we figured out he needed to remove the 100/133/166 jumper).

Just buy the 8RGA+ and be done with it. Or hurry up and try to figure out which of your components are dead so you don't buy something you don't need.

[RichBa5tard]

Maybe this will help you: nForce2 pushed to the Max: NF7 rev 1.2 vs Epox 8r(g/d)a+ (http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=56)

[Christian18]

I've got an Epox 8RDA rev. 1.1 and an abit nf7 rev 2.

The Epox i've never bring up to 200 FSB without VDD-Mod. This Board has died last week without any Ocing.

Than I have got an Abit rev2 an bring it up to 225FSB 2-2-2-5 with Twinmos BH5 and VDD 1,7V. I don't know if the memory can't get higher or if the Board can't get higher :(

Mfg
Christian

[adamginz15]

My 8RGA+ is great
i am running 215 FSB with only 1.8 VDD
Iam afraid to go higher to burn the small chip
so 1.8 vdd is fine

[EdgarBaba]

what about rda3+???

[Sprocket]

finally, I get to post! the server seems to have been unreachable... yesterday, actually.

I think it's the mobo that's dead. I took some pics of what appears to be physical damage to the board. I'll post them later in a new thread.

I guess I'll prob get the 8RGA+. 20mhz fsb increase won't make all the world of difference will it? What kind of active heatsink could I get for the northbridge other than the passive one it comes with--and would it be difficult to install?

I'm not considering the 8rda cause I heard you had to do some kind of volt mods or something to it. don't want to take the chance on breaking anything else.

thanks everyone! I gotta get some sleep. 4am. man.

[TheDude]

I have both boards..Abit is rev2.0 and does 225 fsb with tight memory on 3200 Twinmos/BH-5 Winbond ram...no mods other than active cooling on both bridges. CPU cooled by Prommie
The Epox 8RGA+ does 225FSB with Kingston 3500 hyperX..tight timings...not using mods yet, other than phasechange cooling on both bridges (chilled water) CPU direct die Phasechange cooling. A small hs on the Vreg and a fan blowing over that entire area.

The Abit gives me a higher overall OC so far, but I am not done tweaking the Epox. Having used Abit excusively for the last year or more, I am much more comfortable working with it. But that's just me. If the onboard video is a desirable feature for you, then go with the Epox...it's decent video, although I use a Chaintech Ti4600 in mine which I think is better than the onboard. I got the Epox simply because I wanted ti try something different, I still prefer Abit as my mobo of choice.

:D Thanks to Brainstorm and the other guys who helped with the Epox.

[JeffPH]

The Dude,

hope you dont mind posting the settings for the epox am really interested thanks in advance

[Sprocket]

I'll get the calculator out and add up some things and hopefully come to a decision today.

I need video until I can get something better, and getting the 8RGA+ is the most cost effective way to do that. I know the GeForce4 mx graphics aren't that great, but I really don't play games like at all, but I may would if I had a great rig... and some games! :D

[twiztdskatr]

The 8RDA3+ looks very promising with 2.0vdd. You might want to consider looking into those....:)

[Sprocket]

the 8RDA3+ has 2.0vdd no mods? cool... does anyone have this board? how's FSB with twinmos ram? ...I've got bh-5 ddr 400.

I'll look into it! thanks

only... where can I get one??? newegg.com doesn't have them, just the 8RDA+. :(

[TheDude]

Originally posted by JeffPH
The Dude,

hope you dont mind posting the settings for the epox am really interested thanks in advance

Which settings do you need?

[TheDude]

Originally posted by twiztdskatr
The 8RDA3+ looks very promising with 2.0vdd. You might want to consider looking into those....:)

The 8GRA+ also has 2.0 vdd

[JeffPH]

Originally posted by TheDude
Which settings do you need?

ALL :) Multiplier, FSB, MEMORY Mulitiplier, Mem Settings, Vcore, Vdd, Vmem.

Thanks

Jeff

[Sprocket]

hey... now I've also heard the Asus A7N8X Deluxe 2.0 mobo was good for OCing. There's one of these at newegg refurbished--would it be 2.0?? Do you have to physically mod it in any way? and what kind of FSB could I expect with it? if all looks good, I might get it! ;)

[JeffPH]

you wont know what rev it is unless you get it, good news is asus released a new bios for all 1.06 rev and below to accomodate the 400FSB bartons.

[Sprocket]

sooo, how do the non-2.0 revisions do with OCing? and like I said, is there any physical modding to be done with it, or on the cpu? does it unlock all multipliers, etc?

[TheDude]

Originally posted by JeffPH
ALL :) Multiplier, FSB, MEMORY Mulitiplier, Mem Settings, Vcore, Vdd, Vmem.

Thanks

Jeff

All of mine are set to the maximum....except vcore and fsb...you will have to experiment with them...not the same for everyone...my vcore is 1.7 and max fsb is 225

[Sprocket]

well, I think I've just about come to the decision now. :banana:

I'm going to go with this idea:
Get another NF7-s 2.0
Use my GeForce3 in the new rig
Sell this pc with the GeForce2 from the old t-bird rig
Get a $19 Rage mobility card for the t-bird rig.

that will take care of the video card problem which was the reason why I was looking at the 8RGA+. And now I won't have to worry about not being able to access all the multi's and not being able to achieve as high FSB with the 8RGA+.

I'm going to get a Barton 2500+ too just in case my 1700+ is all shorted out too. And by the way... are you sure scrubbing it with a toothbrush with liquid dish soap was a good idea? oh well... it looks ok, I think--except for that still jagged edge... and I hope it was that I just noticed this other little jaggy on the other edge, and one close to a corner... I either noticed them or chipped them away with a q-tip--that's not possible is it? it's just not sounding good to me. I don't know if you can see it in one of the pics below or not.

Anyway, just in case I'm getting a 2500+ Barton. :D

I'm still mad at that 900u. but, I still gotta stick with thermalright, the best heatsinks and all. so I'm getting a goog ole retention clip slk-800. I hope it works. :bounce: I don't want to :bsod: anything else. oh well. so much for that.

thanks everyone for all your help!!! ;) Maybe one day I'll be one of the ones helping someone else! :p

http://www.cyberplacetn.com/images/think.to.be.cpu.fried.3.jpg
http://www.cyberplacetn.com/images/think.to.be.cpu.fried.4.jpg

nah, I don't think you can really see the other jaggies I'm talking about... it's a little too blurry and not close enough... you can see it on the top edge though in the 2nd picture, but ya'll've already seen that. :rolleyes: