Choosing.. I hate it!

don · 13-July-03, 02:41 PM

I'm stuck on what type of motherboard to get. I'm going to use 2600XP, and I wish to have atleast 4 PCI slots, nForce2 Ultra400, and mounting holes around the processor slot for water cooling (later on). I'm expecting to choose between $80-$120.

A few that I've put my eye on:

$94 Soltek - SL-75FRN2-L
$87 Gigabyte - GA-7N400-L1 87
$85 Biostar - M7NCD Pro Retail
$93 Chaintech - Deluxe 7VJL-Apogee*
$99 Chaintech - 7NJL1-Apogee - NFORCE2*
$120 EPoX - 8RDA3+120
$136 Chaintech - 7NJS-Zenith*
(* denotes which I highly express interest in)

Express your thoughts, suggestions, etc etc. I've got the whole week to decide. And please only suggest ones that you have personally tested/intalled. Thanks

Don

BigAkita · 13-July-03, 02:45 PM

I've got a Gigabyte 7N400 Pro board and it is excellent, but wouldn't work for you since there are no holes around the socket.

KayinStorm · 13-July-03, 02:46 PM

Well, I use Chaintechs in almost everything that leaves my testbench, and even though I'm running an MSI now, I can wholeheartedly recommend them-I have a nine-year great history with them...

Banana Boy · 13-July-03, 02:54 PM

Whynot try an MSI KT4? Otherwise I recommend the Gigabyte, my brother recently got one, and its even faster than my KT4 with 2500+ Barton, and he's only running a 2200+ T-Bred B. BASTARD!

BigAkita · 13-July-03, 03:39 PM

B-Boy, he said he wanted mounting holes. Gigabyte boards don't have them anymore.

AntiM · 13-July-03, 05:09 PM

Think about the Abit NF7-S. 4 hole mounts. More multi options and overclocks better than any board in your list. With the possible exception of the Gigabyte. And one of the few Sound Storm certified boards.

And you don't have to eliminate the Gigabyte if you want to water cool. There are several good options for tab mounted water blocks.

flounder405 · 13-July-03, 05:12 PM

im pretty happy with my epox board dunno if it will help but here is something that you can look at
http://www.8rdafaq.com/Epox_nForce2/index.php

infinix · 13-July-03, 07:03 PM

i had to look twice at your list so make sure you didnt have NS7-F on your list which i cant belive its got everything you want holes for watercooling or a really big heatsink and its got 5 not 4 pci slots for all your pci needs

and its well within you price range

Evileagle · 13-July-03, 08:22 PM

If it was me, it would be a toss up between the gigabyte and the abit. The only reason i would choose the gigabyte over the abit though is it has four ram slots but no holes in it for water cooling.

don · 13-July-03, 10:06 PM

Thanks guys for all the responses. You guys are great.

I've finally decided upon the ($99) Chaintech 7NJL1-Apogee - NFORCE2, so go ahead and say what you wish about that certain mobo (whether I should buy it, why I shouldn't, what you dont like about it, etc etc). Comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cow · 13-July-03, 10:13 PM

ive got the abit NF7-S rev 2 board and its nice, would recomend it
i have yet to OC though but everythying ive read says it does great (im unsure about my cooler, going to wait till i get a new one to try OCing)

BigAkita · 13-July-03, 10:31 PM

That's a good choice. I gave Chaintech some serious thought when I was looking for a new AMD mobo.

G Money · 13-July-03, 11:50 PM

Don't most CPU water blocks have clips for the AMD CPUs? Tom's Hardware has good in-depth reviews on motherboards, but I don't think he talks about holes in the MB.

AntiM · 14-July-03, 12:38 AM

Most? Hard to say. But several do. Innovatek has a couple of excellent tab mount designs, Danger-Den makes a tab mount for an additional $15, they just added one for the Maze4. So does Swiftech. D-tek, Gemini and many others however do not.

Iateronmly · 14-July-03, 02:06 AM

I have the chaintech Apogee w/ Nforce 2 - You'll love it. You might even want to marry it- lord knows I did when I got it.

infinix · 14-July-03, 12:39 PM

ooookay too much info later lol

Iateronmly · 14-July-03, 07:27 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by infinix ooookay too much info later lol

In that case I won't tell you about how much I love my XP 1700 chip I got overclocked to 2.2 on air.

don · 14-July-03, 07:35 PM

I hope to get my 2600 to atleast 3000

Buzz_4_20 · 14-July-03, 07:46 PM

lateronmly hasn't been using thermal grease for it's intended purpose me thinks....

don · 14-July-03, 07:57 PM

Now that's too much information.

13-July-03, 02:41 PM		#1 (permalink)
don Apex Techie Lite	Choosing.. I hate it! I'm stuck on what type of motherboard to get. I'm going to use 2600XP, and I wish to have atleast 4 PCI slots, nForce2 Ultra400, and mounting holes around the processor slot for water cooling (later on). I'm expecting to choose between $80-$120. A few that I've put my eye on: $94 Soltek - SL-75FRN2-L $87 Gigabyte - GA-7N400-L1 87 $85 Biostar - M7NCD Pro Retail $93 Chaintech - Deluxe 7VJL-Apogee* $99 Chaintech - 7NJL1-Apogee - NFORCE2* $120 EPoX - 8RDA3+120 $136 Chaintech - 7NJS-Zenith* ( denotes which I highly express interest in)* Express your thoughts, suggestions, etc etc. I've got the whole week to decide. And please only suggest ones that you have personally tested/intalled. Thanks Don

13-July-03, 07:03 PM		#8 (permalink)
infinix Apex Techie II	i had to look twice at your list so make sure you didnt have NS7-F on your list which i cant belive its got everything you want holes for watercooling or a really big heatsink and its got 5 not 4 pci slots for all your pci needsand its well within you price range Last edited by infinix; 14-July-03 at 12:38 PM..

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13-July-03, 02:45 PM		#2 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	I've got a Gigabyte 7N400 Pro board and it is excellent, but wouldn't work for you since there are no holes around the socket.

13-July-03, 02:46 PM		#3 (permalink)
KayinStorm Apex Tech God	Well, I use Chaintechs in almost everything that leaves my testbench, and even though I'm running an MSI now, I can wholeheartedly recommend them-I have a nine-year great history with them...

13-July-03, 02:54 PM		#4 (permalink)
Banana Boy Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	Whynot try an MSI KT4? Otherwise I recommend the Gigabyte, my brother recently got one, and its even faster than my KT4 with 2500+ Barton, and he's only running a 2200+ T-Bred B. BASTARD!

13-July-03, 03:39 PM		#5 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	B-Boy, he said he wanted mounting holes. Gigabyte boards don't have them anymore.

13-July-03, 05:09 PM		#6 (permalink)
AntiM Aqua Pimp	Think about the Abit NF7-S. 4 hole mounts. More multi options and overclocks better than any board in your list. With the possible exception of the Gigabyte. And one of the few Sound Storm certified boards. And you don't have to eliminate the Gigabyte if you want to water cool. There are several good options for tab mounted water blocks.

13-July-03, 05:12 PM		#7 (permalink)
flounder405 The Mack Daddy	im pretty happy with my epox board dunno if it will help but here is something that you can look at http://www.8rdafaq.com/Epox_nForce2/index.php

13-July-03, 08:22 PM		#9 (permalink)
Evileagle Apex Master Tech Apprentice	If it was me, it would be a toss up between the gigabyte and the abit. The only reason i would choose the gigabyte over the abit though is it has four ram slots but no holes in it for water cooling.

13-July-03, 10:06 PM		#10 (permalink)
don Apex Techie Lite	Thanks guys for all the responses. You guys are great. I've finally decided upon the ($99) Chaintech 7NJL1-Apogee - NFORCE2, so go ahead and say what you wish about that certain mobo (whether I should buy it, why I shouldn't, what you dont like about it, etc etc). Comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

13-July-03, 10:13 PM		#11 (permalink)
Cow Apex Master Tech Apprentice	ive got the abit NF7-S rev 2 board and its nice, would recomend it i have yet to OC though but everythying ive read says it does great (im unsure about my cooler, going to wait till i get a new one to try OCing)

13-July-03, 10:31 PM		#12 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	That's a good choice. I gave Chaintech some serious thought when I was looking for a new AMD mobo.

13-July-03, 11:50 PM		#13 (permalink)
G Money Fuel Hoe-lio	Don't most CPU water blocks have clips for the AMD CPUs? Tom's Hardware has good in-depth reviews on motherboards, but I don't think he talks about holes in the MB.

14-July-03, 12:38 AM		#14 (permalink)
AntiM Aqua Pimp	Most? Hard to say. But several do. Innovatek has a couple of excellent tab mount designs, Danger-Den makes a tab mount for an additional $15, they just added one for the Maze4. So does Swiftech. D-tek, Gemini and many others however do not.

14-July-03, 02:06 AM		#15 (permalink)
Iateronmly Smooth Operator	I have the chaintech Apogee w/ Nforce 2 - You'll love it. You might even want to marry it- lord knows I did when I got it.

14-July-03, 12:39 PM		#16 (permalink)
infinix Apex Techie II	ooookay too much info later lol

14-July-03, 07:35 PM		#18 (permalink)
don Apex Techie Lite	I hope to get my 2600 to atleast 3000

14-July-03, 07:46 PM		#19 (permalink)
Buzz_4_20 Apex Elite Tech	lateronmly hasn't been using thermal grease for it's intended purpose me thinks....

14-July-03, 07:57 PM		#20 (permalink)
don Apex Techie Lite	Now that's too much information.