Best Socket A motherboard out?

[ap673]

Ok these are the 4 motherboars I'm looking at:

DFI "NFII ULTRA INFINITY" nForce2 Ultra 400 $95

ABIT "NF7-S" nForce2 SPP $85

ABIT "AN7" nForce2 Ultra 400 $100

ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 $100

I want a good well-rounded, stable board. I want to be able to achieve 430-450FSB. So far I heard the best board for overclocking FSB is the DFI, but I've also heard that you hafta do a lot of modding, and theres some bugs. I don't really wanna hafta mod anything. A7N8X-E Deluxe has Gigabit Ethernet, but I don't know if it can go up to 430-450FSB. Is there anything real difference between nforce2 SPP and Ultra400?

 

[speed bump]

I don't know but for me I am ordering the DFI tonight. I hear the Abit is very stable but I don't know since at the moment I don't own any of them

 

[Sentential]

I would look at Abit personally. Especially when we find out how the NF7-S2 and SG look.

From what it seems it is Abit's anwser to DFI. 3.2vdimm and all the bells and whisles. It may be a damn good mobo

 

[elec999]

Stay away from Asus, its got bad Rma support. Go to Abit.

 

[newbienerd]

I was looking at ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 $100 but hmm... bad RMA support.. why?? are there a lot of probs with the boards?? What about the NF7-S2?? I'm liking the Gigabyte Features of the ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe... I guess I could always get a card...

I'd also like to know what you ocer's out there think is a good, stable overclocking board that does not need much tweaking. Also, Asus states that their A7N8X-E dlx has overclocking protection when it heats up or something like that.. the nf7-s does not seem to have that.. or does it???

ARRRGGHGHH!!! so many choices...!!!!!??????

 

[CalsonicGTR]

Out of the list you have, I would say go with either the NF7-S or the Infinity Ultra. While the NF7-S is limited to 2.9 VDimm, it shouldn't need more than that to get up to the FSB's that you are looking to reach. Also, the NF7-S is the more mature of the 2 boards. The DFI would be better if you want to get farther than 450FSB without mods. However, the DFI does still has some minor bugs in it.

At this point, I would stay away from the NF7-S2 simply because of the severe VCore limitations (+14%), and the differences in Southbridge features (ie: No Soundstorm). To get that VCore back, you would have to mod, which you said you dont want to do.

PS: In your list, you stated that the NF7-S has the nForce2 SPP Northbridge. It actually has the identical Ultra 400 Northbridge as the AN7.

 

[Biggles 266]

NF7-S. They tend to overclock well, they are pretty reliable and they are mature boards so pretty much every issue with them is well known and with a work around. They also are more stable.

Of course, that is just my experience, but I don't like the DFI boards at all.

 

[dippy_skoodlez]

I want a good well-rounded, stable board. I want to be able to achieve 430-450FSB. So far I heard the best board for overclocking FSB is the DFI, but I've also heard that you hafta do a lot of modding, and theres some bugs.

For the Abit, to get the voltages up, you need mods.

For the DFI, it normally reaches 500+FSB with out ANY mods, (mine for EG), but are very quirky mobos. If you get the DFI, head on over to www.dfi-street.com/forums if you need any help.

If you are looking for the more rounded, STABLE board, I loved my Asus, but I maxed out at 223fsb. (reg. a7n8x, not deluxe.)

I'll have an a7n8x-E friday, and I'll see how it OC's compared to my old a7n8x.

 

[ap673]

So you say that you maxed out at 233fsb with a7n8x non deluxe? Was it v1.xx or v2.0?

 

[dippy_skoodlez]

So you say that you maxed out at 233fsb with a7n8x non deluxe? Was it v1.xx or v2.0?

223. it was a rev 2.0 ofcourse. But I had my ram maxed out aswell. I still think it would've gone further if I had the ram to take it. My crucial was running 3-3-3-11 @ 2.9V and was struggling.

 

[Sentential]

My vote is firmly with NF7-S 2.0. Best mobo I ever owned See my sig for details and scores.

 

[ap673]

Ya, I wrote this post a while ago, NF7-S 2.0 coming tomorrow, heh. I've already talked with you Sen, remember?

 

[SilverJag]

I think the real competition is b/e the NF7-S and the ASUS, I've owned both on 2500XPM.
ASUS OC'ed to 2.41-2.46 (Stable)
ABIT OC'ed to 2.43-2.46 (Stable)

Both systems included SLK 947U, AIR COOLING, 1gb Mushkin 222 Special, Antec 430 PSU. Hope it helps

 

[David Coleman]

I've had my Albatron KX18D ProII at over 230FSB with my duron and crappy Geil Value Ram...

 

[MoonWolf]

Don't leave the Epox 8RDA3+ out of your list I love mine. Very stable and dependable, VDD adjustments in BIOS up to 2.0v, CPU vcore up to 2.2v, memory up to 2.9v. If I did the mod to raise my VDimm to 3.2+, I'm positive I could hit 240+ fsb.