best socket 939 nf3 board?

[The Runner]

currently i have a msi k8n neo2 platinum, but i need a new one for another rig, i'm after stability more than overclockability and i've been out of the game for a while, so any recomendations?

[cupra]

currently i have a msi k8n neo2 platinum, but i need a new one for another rig, i'm after stability more than overclockability and i've been out of the game for a while, so any recomendations?

you should try the new dfi nf3 ultra, its supposed to be one of the best nf3 board ever.

[purefun65]

Stay away from the dfi board its very problematic

[cupra]

Stay away from the dfi board its very problematic

and why so ? (nf3 ultra)

[purefun65]

There are some hard ware design problems
with the board. The board needs to be re-worked, furthermore it is also
required updating BIOS to sort the bug out. One resistor must be taken
away, please refer to the picture. Again, I apologize for the
inconvenience may cause you.
Sincerely Yours truly,
Tech Support nuff said http://www.lejabeach.com/sisubb/dfipic6ye.jpg

[The Runner]

so other than this board, what one? I'm on a pretty tight budget

epox 9nda3+ nf3 board perhaps?

[kiwi]

The Runner:

I think you already own the best board if DFI NF3 ultra has the problems mentioned.

[Turok]

This seems to be the best motherboard Socket 939 AGP 8x
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum

If its not that, then you will have to change to PCI-E and a DFI nF4 Ultra-D/SLI

[cupra]

There are some hard ware design problems
with the board. The board needs to be re-worked, furthermore it is also
required updating BIOS to sort the bug out. One resistor must be taken
away, please refer to the picture. Again, I apologize for the
inconvenience may cause you.
Sincerely Yours truly,
Tech Support nuff said http://www.lejabeach.com/sisubb/dfipic6ye.jpg

thanks for the explanation puredun, that is a big issue.


so the mai noe2 is the best choice.

[hansbroken]

I have been doing a lot of research on this subject over the past few days at various places. Trying to find general trends, rather than the concentrate on the highs and lows of the MB’s. I need one for a 3000+ Venice. And I have narrowed down to three MB's. Please note that the DFI UT was at the top. But, until they fix the BIOS problems & “re-work” the MB (direct quote there from DFI, so I think that means a board revision), I had to eliminate it.

I am not done on this though, so your input is appreciated.

1) Epox 9NDA3J / 9NDA3+ (Basically the same, but one has extra RAID and Firewire & I think the ‘J’ has Vcor up in 0.25v increments vs. the ‘+’ is in 0.5v increments)

Pros:

- Good price
- BIOS is OC friendly
-Good rep for a no frills & stabile OC'ing MB
-FSB/ HTT looks to be 270 to 280 max 1:1 w/ good TCCD mem. (if anyone can verify this further, please do). A few people did do better, but I am looking more at general trends to see what expectations should be for any given MB.

Cons:

- layout leaves some problems (i.e. PS socket & 4 pin 12 volt socket location means you need to route these large wire bundles around your HSF.. and a few other layout issues remain)
- RAM mem voltage only 2.8v max, but droops to 2.6 under load (that's low even for TCCD RAM).
-The FF code problem -- see this post for an extreme, but very possible, problem with this MB: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ht=Epox+9NDa3J
I had heard of others with FF code and sudden increases of heat in the capacitors & Mosfets around the CPU socket causing problems and thus the dreaded RMA. (which, RMA is bad since most will want to do a volt mod for mem, and that will kill your warranty)
- Many reported trouble with using two DS 512 MB RAM Modules
- The Chipset fan get noisy and needs to be replaced after like 1 mo or so.


2) Abit AV8 / Abit AV8 3rd eye: (Yeah, I know it’s K8T800 Pro. But, as long as you get a rev 1.1, the PCI locks will work – at least up to 260 HTT)

Pros

-Good rep for stability
-BIOS is well done & OC options are great (typical Abit & uGuru)
- board layout is well done
- Pretty much solid performer up to 260 HTT 1:1
- not too pricey

Cons:

-Via K8T800 chipset pretty much limits HTT to 260 – for the most part
- possible AGP issues with certain cards (like 9800 Pro) and other compatibility issues concerning Via chipset (remember though, NF3 has it share of issues too)
- Mem voltage still only at 2.8v (but appears to hold that under load)


3) MSI K8N Neo 2 Platinum (I preface this with the fact that I have done the least amount of research on this MB compared to the others thus far, so any extra input would be great. One thing I noticed so far that seems to be the general feel every ware: people either totally love or totally hate this MB)

Pros

- Looks like a good OC’ing MB consistent with the NF3 chipset
- MSI seems to have upped their quality and MB layout looks good
- good features (extra SATA controller etc..)
- Seems like those who like these state it’s not for a high HTT OC (so like keep it under 240 – 250), but it’s a good stable MB under no OC to mild OC conditions w/ tweaked memory.

Cons

- BIOS seems to lack many OC options. Could have better BIOS support & updates according to most
- I have not seen this as a major OC MB for the most part. Most who hate this MB seem to not like the BIOS OC options and it’s instability to get at higher HTT speeds (like 250+) with good mem timings.



Well, that’s it for now. I need to make up my mind very soon though. Therefore, any constructive input is greatly appreciated. I know this forum is a wealth of reliable information.. and people really know thier stuff.

Thanks in advance

[Fission]

I have only heard of all the problems with the DFI board, but I have one and it is a drem. I have never had a problem with it that was specific to this board or didn't have an easy workaround. There is no reason to have that resistor removed, unless you need more than 2.1v core. I recommend the DFI, it gets my vote for best 939 NF3. The MSI has some experience over it, but is so limited on voltages and BIOS options so far. The DFI has almost every RAM setting that is in A64 tweaker, and is a decent price too. I have not heard a lot of success stories, but they are mostly all on support forums, so you have to consider the source.

Get the NF3 Ultra-D, it won't dissapoint. Like any good board, it will take some love to get it where you want, but that's the best part. Had mine for 3.5 weeks, no complaints at all, have run it at 345HTT on the 8x multiplier, definitley a good overclocker.

The MSI has also had it's problems, it is splitting hairs to say which is best. Epox is top quality as always, but they are a rebranded DFI, just get the DFI if you aren't getting the Neo2.

[GMX]

The Epox cannot be vdimm modded above 2.8v, otherwise it will blow a mosfet.

[Absolute_0]

I agree with Fission, i have the DFI nF3 board and it's great. I haven't experienced any of the "problems" that this board is supposed to be having. Good OC, stable, lots of bios options.

I had a Neo2 and it bugged out after 2 weeks of standard use, had to RMA. It's a good board but i like my DFI a hell of a lot more; it obviously gets my vote.

[IntheWilderness]

Managed this on my Epox 9NDA3+ and sandiego 3700+ 2x512mb G.skill 4400LE.I reckon the 9NDA3+ is a great overclocking board and is also very stable,trying a Neo 2 at the moment which is also proving to be impressive,still not quite sure which I'll stick with but I don't think you can go wrong with either tbh.

[highoctane]

I would stay away from the nf3 ultra-d until its had more time to mature, I ended up rma'ing mine, sorriest mb I've ever owned to date!

I was expecting it to be similar to my nf4 ultra-d but it's not even close to the same board.

Anyways thats just my experience and my opinion, even with the later bios's it just didn't come close to living up to the hype, others may actually have good boards but mine was a basket case.

[hansbroken]

Thanks for the info thus far.

[Rob94hawk]

I like my Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 nforce3 Ultra.

[The Runner]

the av8 sounds right up my street, how does it handle double sided dims, in particular 512mb and 1gb ones?

[The Runner]

i heard the av8 doesnt come with a bios that can run a winchester or venice chip? I'm thinking of putting a venice 3000+ in it.

[hansbroken]

Abit AV8 BIOS can run Winny, Venice and X2 (BIOS 20 for Rev E and 21 for X2 is the breakdown -- BIOS 20 may support X2 also, but ABit's site is not showing any prior BIOS revisions since last night for some reason... server problems? So, I annot check which one supports which). Just make sure it's a rev 1.1 MB -- or higher if they make one. The rev 1.0 have PCI/ AGP lock problems. But they fixed it on the rev 1.1.

Actually, this is the one I'm settling for. The person who I am getting it from has a Winny in it now and he's going to flash the BIOS for my Venice.

Also, I don't know about 1 gb modules. But, from what I have read, it does not have any issues w/ DS 512 memory. I'd suggest TCCD, as only 2.8v on tap. I have a s 754 NF3 250GB version of the Epox MB. And that is very particular about DS memory -- it only likes my Patriot TCCD DS memory and it has to be in slot #3 and #1 only.

BTW: I plan to put a 3000+ Venice in this also.

[Flak Monkey]

I like my Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 nforce3 Ultra.

The K8NS Ultra 939 is the same board but way cheaper and without active mosfet cooling. I like mine, it's good till 310HTT and my 3500+ Clawhammer will run at 2.8ghz all day long no problem. I did have trouble with my first one though, I had it installed and running for 3 day's and then it just suddenly died on boot-up. I got that one replaced a couple days later and my new board has been good ever since.

[hdnet]

humm lets see via chipset uuum no
get the dfi lanparty ultra-d skt 939
best overclocking board i have evver had

[hansbroken]

I have noticed in my research that a lot of people immediately poo poo anything that Via makes without any logical basis other than some blanket statement that boils down to: "Via sucks". Yes. They did have PCI lock trouble in the beginning, but so did Nvidia. Also, the K8T800 Pro's -- in general -- do not clock quit as high on HTT. But, the ones with proper implementation & good BIOS (like the AV8, where they addressed and fixed the problem with a revision and have excellent BIOS options), they are reported as good & stabile MB's up to 260 (and a few were getting in the 280 stabile).

I don't mean to knock DFI either -- as their NF3 UT was my initial 1st choice. I just think that -- in general -- their UT NF3 MB is too new and they have not had the chance to address and fix all the issues yet (I think it's only around 1 mo old). Therefore, the likelihood of getting a problematic MB is higher than average. It does not mean that every MB is buggy (That would be another ridiculous blanket statement for which I have no basis for making). Most likely within another month or so when DFI is able to make the appropriate corrections, I am sure this will be a top choice for an aggressive OC MB.

But for now, if one wants a good s 939 MB with AGP, then it's a small list. And the Abit AV8 rev 1.1 is definite a viable option and therefore, one of the top three.

[_Sledgehammer_]

DFI or MSI nForce3 is the best motherboard you can get.

[SET]

I vote by MSI k8n NEO2 Platinum.