Help me Pick a AMD64 Motherboard Please... [Archive]

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 08:34 PM

I been looking around the net and I honestly can't find anything to give me any info on specific boards, just about the MSI one and a Shuttle one, other then that-Zilch. Nada...

for not I will be using a Air Cooled AMD64-3200.
don't wanna do Volt mods till I can get some better cooling arranged for it....

would perfer NF3 board cause of the lock, but the hypertransport issue worries me, so I can't make up my mind in that sense.
at first I was leaning to the Shuttle-AN50R simply cause it's different, and has some nice options...

but it has no cas latency control.
so no thanks.

other then that, theres not much to choose...
asus K8V-No info at all.
Gigabyte NF3-No info at all...

HELLLLLLLLLP.........:D

links to reviews, person reviews, links to places selling other boards that newegg doesn't offer... anything....

I plan on ordering later tonight.

Soulburner

10-15-2003, 08:49 PM

I'd wait for the upcoming nForce3 250 chipset that will run the HT full speed and (should be) faster than the Via. But, that's me.

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 09:03 PM

takes too long...
need something now.

:)

taco

10-15-2003, 09:09 PM

id go with the asus K8V, thats what macci and opp are using..

im not a via fan myself, but it seems to be the best there is right now.

shortcircuit

10-15-2003, 09:11 PM

I just switched to an Asus K8V Deluxe after quickly killing my MSI K8T... While I have only had a few hours to play with it, I was able to bring my max stable speed from 2310mhz up to 2370mhz, and 2400mhz is bootable. This is with totally stock cooling and 1.7v. This board smokes the MSI in my opinion.

Major

10-15-2003, 09:15 PM

Kunaak,

I think the Asus K8V is the best choice out right now. It has two issues, one is the bios is limited to 260mhz fsb right now until new bios revision is finished. This shouldn't be too big of a deal since your going to be using air cooling at first. Second it has no agp/pci lock BUT the dividers DO change based on your FSB so its manageable.

A second choice would be the Gigabyte, Quad did real well with his and that is what Opp is currently using. But just like all the NF3 boards around it has its share of glitches too. This was my first choice when I bought, but I changed my mind after learning about the dividers on the Asus.

Jason loves his Chaintech, and it looks like a good choice too. All of the Vmods are easy on this one too.

The only board that you should clearly stay away from is the MSI, I've heard it has several bios issues.

I think whatever you buy right now you will end up replacing in 6 weeks anyway once an OC leader emerges.

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 09:18 PM

Opp is using a gigabyte NF3, and the K8V looks like theres some dipswitch mod for the PCI frequency right?

between PCI slots 1 and 2 I think...

Major

10-15-2003, 09:26 PM

No its incorporated into the bios, right now there are no options to physically change the dividers, its determined by the bios. But future bios revisions may allow you to change the divider.

So you don't have to do the dip switch mod

charlie

10-15-2003, 09:29 PM

My opinions exactly...
K8V and K8 Giga-Byte

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 09:42 PM

unmodded-what are the voltages available to the K8V?

chipset, LPT?, Vdimm, Vcore...

Major

10-15-2003, 09:50 PM

K8V, the Vcore is default 1.5v and .150mv offset, not sure if there will be more options in future bios or not. Vdimm is up to 2.8v, Vlink 2.5v and 2.7v, Agp is 1.5v and 1.7v

The first two Bios had selections of .100v .200v and .300v offsets for Vcore, but only default and .150v would work. so I'm not sure whats up with that. the current bios only has default and .150v

Jason that says alot !!!!

I think the K8V being limited to 260mhz and STILL being on the top of the list is a good indication of just how fast this mb is. Just wait until the full 300mhz is availabe to play with. ;)

charlie

10-15-2003, 09:53 PM

Major

10-15-2003, 10:04 PM

I'm continually amazed about how a BIOS can't work...these guys do it as a job. It's all they do, they write code for BIOS, that's it. So when a BIOS comes out that simply doesn't freekin work, I don't understand it!
C

When I used to work in an OEM manufaturing plant making mb's and video cards we where allways under the gun, new revisions and changes came in daily !! that was almost 10 years ago ! lol I can't imagine what its like today with such a fast paced development to final product time.

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 10:26 PM

I know this is gonna sound harsh, but mickey, why do you go so concervative on the ram OC? I know it takes upwards of 3.9 volts and some fine heatsinks to take it, but it's just weird that you go so far to get such insane OC's but the Mem OC is always low.
cause you have everything to break 27K and more :)

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 10:32 PM

anyone have any information on this board?

Gigabyte GA-K8NPRO

I saw the bios to the FX51 and it looked OK, but the one thing that just annoyed me was looking the temp/voltage screen.
instead of saying 11.91 volts, vcore 1.47 volts...

it just says "OK"

that would definatly drive me nuts, if that board has the same feature, that would definatly ruin it for me.

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 10:36 PM

yeah, tahts the one, it's another 80 something for that board, and I hear I think on T-break that the power thing makes it unstable...

Major

10-15-2003, 10:36 PM

yes, it comes without the extra 6 phase card (which I heard only caused instability ! lol) and doesn't have dual gigabyte lan like the K8NNXP does. plus it cost $75 less !lol

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 10:46 PM

haha, jesus how many cards do you have?
I mean 9800's and all ;)

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 11:03 PM

well, I got the K8V- it had a $15 saving when bought with the 3200 at the same time, which brought the cost to the exact same price as getting the gigabyte.
so its like a free upgrade kinda...
hopefully the board proves to be worth it, just worried about the lack of a AGP lock, I haven't corrupted a HD in quite a long time, and am not looking forward to doing more repair installs, hopefully it's alot better then my paranoia is, haha.

the heatsink is just a Zalman 7000 copper thing.
its the gnarliest heatsink I could find for it, so it will have to do till I can get some watercooling or Chipcon makes a bracket or something for the prometeia...
but my prometeia is on my P4 stuff, so it's gonna be interesting to see how a air cooled A64-3200 does against a 4.1 ghz P4.
I am not expecting miracles, but I am still curious :)

Major

10-15-2003, 11:13 PM

It's FAST !!!!! you won't be disapointed ;)

Kunaak

10-15-2003, 11:34 PM

you guys think it would be worth it to get some dangerden waterblocks for it?

Northbridge and CPU.
I am very partial to dangerden, I love thier stuff, and I am about to spend a few weeks without my Prometiea (friend is redoing it sometime) so I will have air cooling, waterchiller, a super grungy R404 vapochill (no CPU kit for it yet, but great unloaded temps of -45C) and almost enough spare watercooling parts from my chiller to use it on the A64.

Major

10-15-2003, 11:36 PM

no need for nothbridge cooling !!!

Use the vapochill on it ! its easy to make a hold down for it ! here is a guide

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=gethowto&howtoID=41

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 05:26 AM

Guys, you really got me confused now :D

From what I've read here, the Chaintech nf³ is the best for me, due to it's voltage offsets and easy vmods

For the ASUS however, it's only 1.65Vcore (and will it fluctuates like all other ASUS'es?) and I have seen no vmods for it yet :(

I'm going to order, anyone who really can help me? :( I don't have one yet but I hate the A64 already :D

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 05:57 AM

And I found something more apart :D

http://www.mips-computer.de/images/KV8MAX3.jpg
ABIT's KV8MAX3 - VIA

Crowdy CPU scene, but I think I can squeeze a Prommi in there, what would you think?

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 06:02 AM

I think it's not in stock :( crap :mad:

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 06:02 AM

So can the ASUS Vcore mod be done?

zakelwe

10-16-2003, 09:05 AM

The Abit KV8 page says that it has multiplier adjustments :)
However it also says it supports up to 4GB of memory ..not bad for 3 slots !

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17051&cat=313

in stock in UK tomorrow.

Regards

Andy

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 10:21 AM

No offence, but I'll go with the ASUS then, that store is SO expensive :eek:

LardArse

10-16-2003, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by shortcircuit
I just switched to an Asus K8V Deluxe after quickly killing my MSI K8T... While I have only had a few hours to play with it, I was able to bring my max stable speed from 2310mhz up to 2370mhz, and 2400mhz is bootable. This is with totally stock cooling and 1.7v. This board smokes the MSI in my opinion.

How did you kill it?? Goddamn it I just killed mine too. I forgot to turn off the chiller pump, had the CPU/board chilled to its bones without any fans in a humid enclosed room. Came back after 6 hours or so, plugged in my Radeon which I just mounted the Prommie on, turned her on and got a bios check sum error. After that it wouldn't power up anymore, even after a thorough drying and for some reason, a trace on the motherboard blew off, even tried connecting the trace manually but still no go. :mad:
And to think I just did the OFS mod to bypass the OVP! :mad:
With right Vlink voltage, the MSI board does 280FSB easy but its just not meant to be I guess!

Now I've only got the Shuttle left, but 250 FSB cap + no ram timings, I think I'll pass on it till I get a board like the Asus K8V or the Abit KV8. I can actually go out to buy the KV8 Max right now, it just arrived, but its expensive as hell!

And Jason, now that I know the VIA boards go up the FSB ladder very easily, I dunno if I still prefer the Chaintech. I like it for its easy volt mods for almost all voltages. Actually I don't really find a significant performance difference between the VIA and the NF3.

zakelwe

10-16-2003, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by ctgilles
No offence, but I'll go with the ASUS then, that store is SO expensive :eek:

Everything is so expensive in the UK . that store is one of the cheapest !

Regards

Rip off Britain

charlie

10-16-2003, 01:16 PM

Kunaak,
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the Zalman 7000 cooler, I had it for my A64 FX-51 for a week and now it's on my P4, it's quiet, moves quite a bit of air...that's a 92mm fan on it! And if you use a fan to move more air around the mobo, it seems to do a good job. I found it to be "close" to my Swiftech MCX4000 with an 80mm Tornado.
C

Major

10-16-2003, 01:38 PM

I think the Abit is going to be the OCer's choice once it hits the stores, but until then I really think you should stick with either the Gigabyte or Chaintech for NF3, and your only good choice right now with the VIA is the Asus. All three perform about the same and all three have vmods available. I'm sure I'll end up getting the Abit myself to play around with, but I'm going to wait until things have settled down with it and I don't wont to get stuck with a revision 1.1 board only to have a revision 1.2, 1.3 and 2.0 come out only weeks after getting it ! lol ( ya know like the NF7 ! hehe)

With the memory controller on the cpu, there probably isn't going to be a whole lot of performace difference between the A64 mb's, certainly not like we've seen in the past with dfferent mb's for the same processor.

MrIcee

10-16-2003, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by ctgilles
And I found something more apart :D

http://www.mips-computer.de/images/KV8MAX3.jpg
ABIT's KV8MAX3 - VIA

Crowdy CPU scene, but I think I can squeeze a Prommi in there, what would you think?

A man after my own heart:D

I'm with Major on it being the OCer's choice when it hits the shelves and the price gouging ceases.

Randi:D

Stang_Man

10-16-2003, 05:36 PM

i'm going to wait and see what Abit and Epox has to offer for both nforce3 and VIA chipsets before i decide..

mdzcpa

10-16-2003, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by MrIcee
I'm with Major on it being the OCer's choice when it hits the shelves and the price gouging ceases.

This will likely be my choice too if I just cannot hold out for the 939 pin FX:)

EDIT- BTW Randi, nice to see you around again my friend:)

ctgilles

10-16-2003, 11:01 PM

Think I'll get the ASUS for now and wait for the v2.0 of it :D

Major

10-16-2003, 11:06 PM

Originally posted by ctgilles
Think I'll get the ASUS for now and wait for the v2.0 of it :D

Precisely my plans !

I beleive that both Asus and Abit may offer a NF3-250 socket 754 mb too in a couple of months.

QuadDamage

10-16-2003, 11:19 PM

Lardass,

i think i could help you out with the bios for shuttle:) , with timings.

and Lard,

how the heck did you get this MSI to run at 280fsb?! i mean i just bought it for my 24/7 machine but it won't do anything over 10x209 stable... no, it's not ram psu etc, as i'm using top notch stuff here but heck how could this mobo be so bad? it should do at least 220fsb 24/7 even without HSF on cpu me thinks.

Major

10-16-2003, 11:42 PM

Quad, try a different combination of Dimm slots. My K8V is very picky about the dimm arangements. perhaps the MSI is the same way ?

LardArse

10-17-2003, 12:33 AM

Quad, it all boils down to Vlink or is it VLDT? Thats the LM358 chip beside the NB, pin 2. Default 2.5v gives me only 218. 2.6v gives me around 230. 2.7+v 240. And then 2.8+v 260+. 2.9v to 3v up to 280 ceiling. Without this voltage, either BSOD or some error detecting IDE message. Try it, its easy as hell, I just put ceramique on the default HS, added a fan cos its hot, and a HS on SB which is hot as well. I would have expected NB chilling necessary for 280, but it was very simple with just normal cooling and rock stable at that. But I do have my CPU chilled so it might have some influence.
Oh yeah forgot to mention, dimm slot 1, the rest sux for overclock!
Regarding Shuttle timings, pls pass me the bios or WPcredit tweaks or whatever you have in that hat :) Any added ability to set above 250 FSB is welcomed as well :)

Trooper_GR

12-30-2003, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by Major Slaughter
Kunaak,

I think the Asus K8V is the best choice out right now. It has two issues, one is the bios is limited to 260mhz fsb right now until new bios revision is finished. This shouldn't be too big of a deal since your going to be using air cooling at first. Second it has no agp/pci lock BUT the dividers DO change based on your FSB so its manageable.

A second choice would be the Gigabyte, Quad did real well with his and that is what Opp is currently using. But just like all the NF3 boards around it has its share of glitches too. This was my first choice when I bought, but I changed my mind after learning about the dividers on the Asus.

Jason loves his Chaintech, and it looks like a good choice too. All of the Vmods are easy on this one too.

The only board that you should clearly stay away from is the MSI, I've heard it has several bios issues.

I think whatever you buy right now you will end up replacing in 6 weeks anyway once an OC leader emerges.

Major are u sure that the dividers kick in after 233 ? Is that only on the ASUS or goes for all VIA boards? Is it something that ASUS has implelemented?

xgman

12-30-2003, 12:38 PM

just be warned that their have been numerous problems with some of the K8V's. but I don't think there is one really great board that doesn't have some drawback, so your probably just as well to pcik one tha is modable and hope for the best.

StormPC

12-30-2003, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by xgman
just be warned that their have been numerous problems with some of the K8V's. but I don't think there is one really great board that doesn't have some drawback, so your probably just as well to pcik one tha is modable and hope for the best.

This is an old thread so I think he's already purchased a board.

I have built many (36) computers based on the K8V. I have had zero problems with them. What problems have you had?