ABIT NF7-S vs. EPOX EP-8RDA+

[bunnyfubbles]

I'm very tempted to get a nForce2 board along with a T-Bred B CPU (most likely a 2100+). I first considered the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe as the features were really attractive. I then looked at the 8RDA because I primarily want the nForce2 to tweek and overclock the CPU. But because I already have a decent system from which I can't really afford to hoard any parts from (It's a no frills KR7A so it needs its own LAN card and audio, ofwhich is a Hercules Game Theater XP). So I now want some of the nicer features that the A7N8X Deluxe offered but I don't really want to for over the extra $20+ for it as I'll want to save that for a good heatsink (SLK-800).

My problem now comes down to this; I'm leaning twoards the ABIT NF7-S as its features seem to be little more enticing than the 8RDA+ however when reading about the nForce2's over clocking success, I hear most everything coming from ASUS and EPOX users, very little about ABIT.

What are some reasons to stay away from the ABIT board or instead stay away from the EPOX?

Oh yeah, forgot to metion that the ABIT is $1 more so price point isn't detrimental here

 

[NovaTone]

Have you checked the 6way nForce2 motherboard roundup?

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1759&p=1

I think most people here are favoring the epox because of the gold rating for value motherboard from this review. At first, I wanted an epox, but then I decided for the ABIT NF7-S. It did get honorable mention as a power user motherboard (ahem... ASUS). The way I see it, it does come with more features than the epox 8RDA+ (serial ATA, soundstorm), and performs as well if not better than the epox from the benchmarks. Check out the overclocking tests for the abit in the review.

 

[First]

It's a crap shoot at this point. Price doesn't matter anymore (though it did when my nForce2 article was published), so I'd suggest you base your decision on:

1. How extreme you're going to overclock (8RDA+ will likely win).
2. Features (NF7-S wins).
3. Support (NF7-S wins).

Also, if you absolutely need to have the four mounting holes then the 8RDA+ wins, as initial NF7-S boards won't come with the mounting holes (but later NF7-S's supposedly will, so maybe you want to take a chance).

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Well the SLK-800 needs no mounting holes, correct? I thought the Abit was great for overclocking as well. I did read the shootout only I didn't hear anything that might sway me away from the Abit. Does the Abit allow for adjusting the multiplier just like the all other nForce2 boards. The shootout makes it out that way but, again, I've only really heard from EPOX and ASUS users.

Right now I think I'm pretty set on the ABIT NF7-S...

 

[wicktron]

They have tested the NF7-S fairly thoroughly @ www.xtremesystems.org
Check it out.

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
Well the SLK-800 needs no mounting holes, correct? I thought the Abit was great for overclocking as well. I did read the shootout only I didn't hear anything that might sway me away from the Abit. Does the Abit allow for adjusting the multiplier just like the all other nForce2 boards. The shootout makes it out that way but, again, I've only really heard from EPOX and ASUS users.

Right now I think I'm pretty set on the ABIT NF7-S...

no, the slk-800 doesn't need mounting holes
it should allow for multiplier adjustment(i'm 99% sure)

 

[chizow]

I was a click away from getting the NF7-S. The only noticeable difference I saw from the Asus feature-wise was the lack of a 2nd LAN, but it has some extra goodies in the bag. I don't think there is another launch model Nforce2 board though that has as robust an I/O plate as the Asus-DLX (maybe Chaintech, pls correct if I'm wrong). The only thing that stopped me was the lack of 4 mounting holes on initial boards (I have an 8045). Also, I've found through my experiences with my Asus that OC'ability with these boards seems only limited by the quality of the BIOS. Seems like Epox has been king of that arena lately. I know everyone's against the "sheep mentality" of buying the same board, but I also knew that if I had problems with the board, the user-base of the Asus was much larger than the Abit. The Serillel adapter meant little to me, as I would still need to buy a second one for SATA RAID. Made more sense to me to buy a PCI RAID card for the same price and have 2 extra IDE channels down the road. I'd get the SLK-800 and either the Asus or Abit if you want to leave components on your other rig to keep it functional. Save for a video card, both provide near top of the line quality integrated components.

Chiz

 

[BalAtWork]

There is a good asus user baser here.....because they lack a decent forum anywhere else.

Abits user base tends to be in their own forum not here.

I am getting the ABit with the 2100+ and SLK 800. The Abit's new Bios actually outperforms all the Asus bios releases right now. They are definantly right, Overclockability of this chipset is limited by bios, not the chipset. I have been waiting for a board like that for a LONG time.

 

[KF]

My quandry is similar to yours. I'm going around several different ways. I'm itching for a new personal mobo (it's been too long), and it I'd like to make it an nForce2, because it would be interesting to me and it also seems to be the highest performer. But being objective, for max OCing potential it still appears that a VIA KT400 mobo will do higher FSBs easier. So maybe an nForce2 is not the right choice about chipset, even with its independent clocks for PCI and AGP. From Anand's investigations, the higher benchmark scores for nForce2 come through it's better HD controller driver, of all things. Yeah, it didn't get such great scores until the new HD controller driver. ??? The bandwidth advantages of the nForce memory controller under almost all circumstances are very slim. I think the big plus comes if you require more memory than one stick will provide economically. Since it has two memory controllers, it does two sticks just as well as others do one. If you use two sticks with a VIA chipset, you lose some OC potential.

For features the NF7 is along the lines of the ASUS. The NF7 is the only mobo that honestly uses the nForce2 for its strength; built in sound and LAN; and uses the straight nVidia drivers. By being able to use the nVidia drivers straight, unlike for other manufacturers (ASUS), you will alway have the latest, least buggy, most compatible combo of drivers. When your manufacturer discontinues your mobo -and they all do eventually- you get the significance. NF7 also has a complete set of sound inputs/outputs, so you don't have to make a choice of functions if you have more than two speakers, something which is becoming common. You can still have microphone and high level inputs.

Unfortunately, there may be a reason many manufacturers avoid the nForce on-chip sound. Noise. Computer mobos are generate loads of low-level noise that is hard to keep from being audible in the audio output. Noise, as interference, could also be a problem for the on-chip LAN.

NForce2 is still kind of new, and I expect improving, so it is not the best time to buy. At least the price is settling down. nForce evidently does not perform so well with the W98 drivers. I have not switched to XP as my main OS. We all know we will have to switch to XP at some time, but unfortunately that often obsoletes a printer, scanner, web cam, or video card (or maybe all of them), since manufacturers do not write new drivers for new OSes for superceded equipment, especially if they have gone out of business.

 

[mordrid52]

Originally posted by: BalAtWork
There is a good asus user baser here.....because they lack a decent forum anywhere else.

nNorcersHQ has a pretty good Asus forum as long as you have an nForce 1 or 2 board. You can find it here.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I think ABIT will be my choice as it seems to be the most feature rich for the price. Right now I have no need for what the A7N8X might offer over the NF7-S. I appreciate all the help and input... will most likely give the NF7-S a serious test drive

 

[CraigRT]

I would get the 8RDA+ just because everyone seems to love theirs.. can't say the opposite about the Abit really. but more ppl seem to have the 8RDA+ and it looks to be really great. It's also a few bucks cheaper from my findings anyways.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I am really tempted to get the EPOX, but I don't see exactly why. I was refered to go to www.xtremesystems.org to read about the ABIT NF7-S. People there really seem to love their ABIT boards just as much as users here might love their ASUS and/or EPOX. I'm still getting mixed feelings. The EPOX and ASUS seem to = the win here but the ABIT NF7-S is just as good if not better. The one thing that gets me down about the NF7-S is the lack of mounting holes, something I don't need for an SLK-800 but would need incase I ever attempt a go at watercooling. The ABIT NF7-S rev 1.1 supposedly will fix some design problems (and include mounting holes) but I heard that board might not be available until Febuary and I don't think I can wait that long. I'll just have to get the NF7-S now as it is and just get a new mobo/CPU to mess around with water cooling.