Best Nforce 4 mobo?

[mcjimbo]

Hi all,

Well i've got most of my components put together for my new pc, however i've yet to choose a motherboard. I'm reluctant to get the DFI lanparty, as i've heard mixed negative feedback. To those that have these boards don't get offended, but I would rather something thats solid and stable.

I got the VA3000 Dream Tower so I want a mobo that connects to the USB2/IEEE1394 and audio connectors on top. Also our network tech brough in his new PC the other day and it was using the latest Intel Desktop Board mobo. I really liked the heat monitoring software and tweakability that allowed so i'd like the equivalent in Nforce 4. Also I don't need SLI.

I would also like to get a board that comes with ATA/SATA cables and any connections I need. I was thinking about the Gigabyte GIGABYTE "GA-K8N Ultra-9:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-283&depa=1

or

MSI "K8N Neo4 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-484&depa=1

Basically I want something thats stable, good heat monitoring / sensors, comes with a good warranty and has the ability to overclock if I desire.

So with that, i'd like your recommendations.

Thanks in advance

James

 

[mcjimbo]

*bump*

 

[Kid Vicious]

DFI nforce4 lanparty or the MSI your looking are the way to go.

Asus if your looking for solid stock performance and stability.

 

[mcjimbo]

Thanks, I guess I want users with Nforce 4 mobo's to post the good and the bad about their particular board. I want to make the right decision here, as the mobo is probably the most important component of the lot.

Also do mobo's come with cables these days, or are they seperate?

 

[jose]

All NF4 are having either quality control problems, bios issues, or compatablity problems.

Consider yourself lucky if you get one w/ no problems.

Just read the motherboard section and see for yourself. Personally I got hooked by the pci-e propaganda..

If I could do it all over I'd have gotten a skt 754 or 940 platform.

ie. DFI Lanparty UT w/ a 3400+ , & a gig of ram. or a Tyan K8W dual Opteron both w/ a 6800GT agp video card.

Regards,
Jose

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Well, besides the DFI, then the MSI is your best bet.

 

[AMDZen]

I think the MSI is better from all that I've read, and overclocks better. But the DFI is also very good

 

[Corporate Thug]

from Wesley's review:

The DFI nF4 SLI-DR is the board of choice for overclockers who wish to squeeze every last bit of performance from an Athlon 64 SLI system. The range of overclocking options and the overclocked performance are the best that we have seen.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: shady06
from Wesley's review:

The DFI nF4 SLI-DR is the board of choice for overclockers who wish to squeeze every last bit of performance from an Athlon 64 SLI system. The range of overclocking options and the overclocked performance are the best that we have seen.

go for a DFI Ultra. It can easily mod to a fully functional sli ready nf4sli board with a pencil mark. anand had an article on how to do it somewhere.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: AMDZen
I think the MSI is better from all that I've read, and overclocks better. But the DFI is also very good

That's not quite right, DFI > MSI in terms of overclocking. However the MSI is no slouch and is has the most copmlete feature set.

DFI for pure performance/overclock ability
MSI for the most features, great overclocker as well

hard to go wrong with either one, if overclocking is not high on your list of priorities, you're probably best off with the MSI. Even if you decide to dabble with overclocking later on down the line the MSI is more than up to the task.

 

[GML3G0]

No one mentioned the Abit AN8 Fatal1ty? It's a bit overpriced at the moment, but it's a great motherboard. I like the layout better than all those other motherboards mentioned. Abit is reliable and stable, and this one overclocks great. Right up to par with that DFI.

 

[l Xes l]

yea.. hopefully fatal1ity will be cheaper soon...

 

[fireontheway]

DFI.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

go for a DFI Ultra. It can easily mod to a fully functional sli ready nf4sli board with a pencil mark. anand had an article on how to do it somewhere.

hasn't this been disabled?

 

[ShadowBlade]

ya, DFI

 

[GML3G0]

Originally posted by: rise4310

Originally posted by: mwmorph

go for a DFI Ultra. It can easily mod to a fully functional sli ready nf4sli board with a pencil mark. anand had an article on how to do it somewhere.

hasn't this been disabled?

supposedly, but if you use the old 66.xx drivers, it still works. And good luck finding the bridge chip. I found only one on eBay.

 

[Ike0069]

MSI Neo4

 

[andy nowotny]

why not choose asus a8n-sli or a8n-sli dexule?

 

[SNM]

Originally posted by: GML3G0

Originally posted by: rise4310

Originally posted by: mwmorph

go for a DFI Ultra. It can easily mod to a fully functional sli ready nf4sli board with a pencil mark. anand had an article on how to do it somewhere.

hasn't this been disabled?

supposedly, but if you use the old 66.xx drivers, it still works. And good luck finding the bridge chip. I found only one on eBay.

And good luck getting new drivers working when all the bugs in the old ones show up.:Q

 

[Promethply]

Have a very good experience with the ASUS A8N-SLI, running stably for three months.

 

[Doctorweir]

Another vote for Asus

 

[fstime]

DFI

MSI :thumbsdown:

 

[ribbon13]

DFI + TwinMos ram == overclockers joy!

 

[Rike]

My Asus A8N SLI-Deluxe has been good to me. Check out my main rig below.

 

[GreatDaleness]

My Asus A8N SLI-Deluxe doesn't overclock at all. The HTT multiplier in the bios does not work. Waited through 3 bios versions, still no fix. I would reccommend against getting this board.