K8N-E or K8N Neo Platinum?

[t_biggs]

I just sold my Chaintech VNF3-250, and am about to buy a replacement for it. I'm torn between the Asus K8N-E and MSI K8N Neo Platinum.

I have read almost nothing about the Asus, I think thats because it has just been released. Asus is a very reputable company (I've never owned an Asus board, but other family and friends have) and am willing to try a new board from them.

However, I like the features on the MSI board more, plus its a little bit cheaper. But I've read a lot of bad things about this board. If money wasn't so tight, I would be willing to give it a chance, but I don't want it to go out and take something with it. Are these boards really as unreliable as I've read?

Or do you have any other suggestions for a nForce3 250Gb motherboard in the <$140 price range? Keep in mind, I want a 250Gb, not just 250.

 

[jonspd]

I would go for the epx board thats like 100 bux @ newegg.

Hummmm this one


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-123-219&depa=0



but then again I'am not into A64 yet but if I was buying it would be this one I think. The other epox is about 58 bux more and If I remeber correctly isn't worth the $.

 

[hooah]

I'd also say go with EPOX 8KDA3J having owner 2 K8N Neo's myself. But if you only choose between those two you mentioned, i'd recommend ASUS simply because MSI has some quality control issues to deal with.

 

[Thecalmingapple]

The K8N-E has just been released, and it is in it's infancy and people have said overclocking to tricky with it, but are pretty sure its just a bios revision problem. Other than that, the motherboard's performance seems to be flawless. In the future I see this board being a great performer. On another note, I would not reccomend the MSI board to ANYONE, and don't think it should be considered as an option. If I had to choose between the two, I would definitley go with the asus K8N-E. But I would also second the reccomendations of the Epox mobo, and add reccomendations of the Abit KV8 Pro, Gigabyte K8NS Pro, and Gigabyte K8NSNXP.

 

[t_biggs]

Thanks guys. I'm going to either go with the K8N-E or the Epox you suggested, depeding how soon newegg gets it in stock. The price tag on the Epox is really nice, but I really like the 6 SATA device support on the Asus.

 

[NiTrO bOiE]

Go for the Epox, The Asus board turns out to be not so good afterall. Read around XS, amdforums.com, and extremeoverclocking.com.

 

[hooah]

if you want 6 SATA support EPOX 8KDA3+ is the board you want. The difference between the 8KDA3+ and 8KDA3J is the 3+ has 6 SATA. Asus should also be a good product, but i'd recommend the EPOX for sure. Check some reviews else where as well. andandtech did a big review of ABIT, CHAINTECH, EPOX and MSI.

 

[csrx]

If you are looking to overclock, do NOT go with the Asus K8N-E. I have it and I'm sending it back.

Many people are recommending the Epox, so I am assuming the voltage stability issues with the Epox are not that bad?

 

[Sa3atsky]

daaamn the asus K8N-E turned out to be a bad performer?

To me it's all down to the Abit KV8pro rev 1.1 and the Epox.. help me pick one out!!

 

[hooah]

Either should be great. ABIT has amazing customer service, simply amazing when I had to RMA 2 IC7's (problems with the first one and the NB fan fell off the second) they picked up the duty UPS wanted (1/2 price of a new IC7) and paid for the shipping to send both boards back for the inconvience it caused me.

On the other hand, the EPOX is wonderful and problem free. There were reports of the ABIT having some problems with AGP lock, but with that sorted out they look like a great performer as some others on this forums have shown. I'd research both boards and make a decision, cause you'll be happy with either.

 

[t_biggs]

I got the cheap Epox. Its in stock (and cheaper with ground shipping) at MWave. I'm willing to wait the couple extra days for ground (probably would anyways by the time its in stock at NewEgg) so thats why I got it there. I would've got the ABit KV8 Pro, except you aren't guarenteed a PCI lock, and it only has 2 DIMMs, and I have a gig in 3 sticks. But hey, now I have a hardware firewall to play with.

 

[CandymanCan]

Good luck with the board.