A7n8x or 8rda?

[Flee]

I got some cash to bun not a whole lot but enough for a new mboard, memory and proc. I haven't spent enough time with overclocking to make a good choice but I wouldn't mind if I get a rig so I can overclock. Still trying to decide but maybe you can help?
Was thinking of A7N8X (non deluxe) or the 8RDA for Mboard.
Either the 2400 xp or 2600. Still trying to decide if I should go 333 or not. What are the advantages if any and how big of a difference is it to go 333 Bus.
Definitely going with XMS 3200 but need to know if I should go with 1 stick of 512 or 2 x256 chips to run in Dual.
Any comments would help. If you think i should get a better board. Shoot.
Thanks,

 

[killer7]

A7N8X, I love it. Overclocking, BIOS, stability, everything...just rocks the casbah.

 

[Lawsy]

Get 2 sticks, make sure they are identicle, otherwise you will have my problem and get a stick that has identicle chip numbers and codes, but is a different colour and is most likely a revision.

Get 2 stick at exactly the same time with serial numbers with the first 5 numbers the same (usually the batch numbers are the first 5) and your garanteed identicle chips.

That = duel channel = more efficient = about 200 mb/s more bandwidth (with an amd CPU, more gains with p4) which i dont have yet and am really anoyed.....

 

[OCn00b]

If it were me I'd get the 8rda and given the choice of cpu's I'd get the 266mhz 2400+ and oc the devil out of it. Personally I'd get a 2100+ and get pc3500 instead of pc3200. Just my 2 cents though

 

[timmyqwest]

most a78nx's i've seen top out at 205'ish

most nf7's i see are getting 215-ish

could be that 12v line

 

[EspElement]

or even get a 1700 with JIUHB:0310WPMW stepping so you can clock it to around 2.4 and yes 3500 memoory would help. but for all this iw ould get a 8rda or a 8rda3 which should be at newegg soon. yo dude 220x10 on a barton? **** i could only get mine to 180 but even there was unstable do you got the new 3200 stepping? ele

 

[OC-Master]

Not one of the two in your list but the NF7-S 2.0 is truly amazing. Does 217MHz right out of the box


OC-Master

 

[OC Detective]

Not one of the two in your list but the NF7-S 2.0 is truly amazing. Does 217MHz right out of the box


OC-Master

Yup that would get my vote as well.

 

[breadman]

I'm partial to my A7N8X. Very stable at 213 with more room to go for sure.

 

[Methusela]

I am going to HIGHLY recommend the following:

ABIT NF7-S rev2.0
Kingston Hyper-X pc3500 (2x256meg sticks)
Thermalright SLK 900 with a Thermaltake 80mm SmartFan II
AMD Athlon XP 1700+ Tbred "B" 0310 JUIHB DLT3C WPMW or XPMW from www.excaliberpc.com

With that setup, you've got a nearly guaranteed 2.3ghz, rock-solid system... probably more! The ABIT board is pretty much the best out there for overclocking, bar none. It's also a very stable and well-manufactured board... better than the A7N8X by most accounts (many fewer problems on most forums from the Abit board as compared with the Asus board).

However, go with what ya like... but heed our recommendations... you asked, and we know! =)

Methusela

 

[-=TriX-R4-KidS=]

Yup that would get my vote as well.

nf7 gets my vote....great board.

 

[Flee]

Thanks for the input guys. Means alot. I have pretty much settled to go with the NF7 (hopefully Rev 2.0). My reasons, affordable, seems solid and it has what I need on it. I was leaning towards the A7n8x which is a good board no doubt but with the extra few $ I can buy a Nudie Mag or sumthing. j/k
So the next question is.. am I guaranteed by now a REV 2 board?Was thinking of getting it from Newegg. If not where can I get one from?Gonna give the 2400 Tbred a go. As for memory; Corsair 3200 or Kingston Hyper-X pc3500? I want to wrap it up and place my order so I can get it by this Friday so I can start building.
Thanks,

 

[-=TriX-R4-KidS=]

newegg is selling the rev 2.0 boards. i purchased mine there last week and it was rev 2.0...and it only cost 125 USD.

 

[-=TriX-R4-KidS=]

excaliberpc is also selling rev2.0 boards

 

[gogadgetman]

NF7-S gets my vote aswell see signature

 

[oops]

A7N8X....it has the best BIOS features I've never seen

always heard ppl said Intel's mobos are better made compare to AMD's, I start to doubt that after I see A7N8X....

 

[tutrinh]

I would say Epox hands down. It doesn't have lots of feature like Asus, but overclock better and asus known as sudden death symptoms. So beware

 

[spacey]

GO WITH EPOX.

PERIOD! (caps lock means screaming by the way)

I owned an asus a7n8x and rma'd it a week later. the ASUS is NOT a good motherboard in my opinion. Asus has sound issues, and requires alot of tweaking to get your drivers straight..

I have had ZERO problems with my epox. I'm running 8rda with a barton 2500 @ 2.1 (12.5 x 166).

get the epox dude. its what the elite use.

for an example goto http://www.nforcershq.com
click on the ASUS forums, and just READ the problems...

-spacey