MSI K8N Neo now available

[CdnAtWork]

Originally posted by: operator
So any of you guys in Canada have it?

Ordered mine from NCIX (based in BC) on Tuesday and it should be here today (providing the tracking info is correct). Great thing about ordering from them is that you can use your online banking and pay them just like you would pay a phone or utility bill.

 

[FiberoN]

very nice board. win xp pro installation was a breeze. no problems whatsoever. and the corecell is a pretty cool addition.

 

[hokahknow]

FiberoN

How do you like the Venus 12 heatsink??

 

[FiberoN]

It's good. Installation is simple and it comes with two fan controllers. ( if you want to put either of them on, you don't have to) It's a lot bigger than the stock AMD cooler and 100% copper. (comes with a temerature sensor as well) very well worth the money.

 

[SeaFoam]

can you hook that fan up to your motherboard's fan controller? or do you have to use their controller?

 

[FiberoN]

no you can do either.

 

[FiberoN]

and one more thing. on the thermaltake you can put it so that the heatsink fan rpm adjusts to the temp of the cpu. I haev it running like that but the temps are a bit high so I recommend you have the fan running at full speed all the time to keep it coolest. Unless you are a silence freak, then I would recommend that. I'm going to do it now.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: tr1kstanc3
only problem i ran into was the slk948 would not install properly because the stock backplate is stuck on with double sided tape and the retention mechanism was too small to fit the profile of the base.

Anybody else have problems with this HSF? That's what I was planning on using on one of these bad boys but wanna know before I order everything.

 

[EngenZerO]

well... running rather stable in 2-2-2-11. dunno which mode is better, LOL.

 

[Jaxidian]

bump to keep the info coming for those of us who are considering this!

 

[Axon]

I want to buy it, but I just can't justify the cost - my Neo-FIS2R is running fine. Hmmm....cool black PCB - must resist....

 

[RLiu818]

So did anyone else here have a problem installing a Thermalright SLK948U heatsink onto this motherboard??

 

[FiberoN]

I like the Thermaltake. It's very good. I think this board is really worth the money

 

[Muadib]

How is your Thermaltake Venus12 Heatsink, FiberoN? I ordered one, but I really know nothing about it.

 

[FiberoN]

it's runnin good. Although my temps are a bit high, I think the BIOS is messed up for some reason. I'm getting 43 cpu and 44 ambient, which is impossible. Anyone getting this problem?

 

[imported_operator]

/me twiddles thumbs a bit more waiting for the mobo to hit retailers in Canada...

 

[tr1kstanc3]

for those worried about installing the thermalright slk948u it will not fit without modification. the problem is the backplate on the neo is held on with double sided sticky tape and it was a large surface area. to take off the tape would require enough force that could potentially damage the trace routes around the socket. i wouldnt say its impossible, but i was not going to break my brand new board. the retention mechanism (the plastic square piece) is also too small to fit the baseplate of the thermaltake. you could mount the slk without the baseplate but that would mean the slk would not have anything to stabilize itself while you screw down the heatsink. it would be possible to use a dremel tool on the retention mechanism and shave off about 1/4" of plastic to make the slk fit but that would require alot of effort and using the stock msi backplate the screws would be a little short, it would fit but you would have to put alot of pressure on the chip. im talking about standing on the screw pressure. i ended up getting the thermaltake silent boost (its like 30 bucks at newegg) and i idle at 40-43c and load under 50c. this is at 2.4ghz @ 1.55v so this is not shabby at all. i applied a very small amount of arctic silver to the heatsink because it was kind of rough on the bottom and a very thin layer on the chip using a piece of cardboard to wipe off any excess.

its possible to mount the slk but it will require some modification if you use the stock retention mechanism. good luck nonetheless it CAN be done!

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: tr1kstanc3
for those worried about installing the thermalright slk948u it will not fit without modification. the problem is the backplate on the neo is held on with double sided sticky tape and it was a large surface area. to take off the tape would require enough force that could potentially damage the trace routes around the socket. i wouldnt say its impossible, but i was not going to break my brand new board. the retention mechanism (the plastic square piece) is also too small to fit the baseplate of the thermaltake. you could mount the slk without the baseplate but that would mean the slk would not have anything to stabilize itself while you screw down the heatsink. it would be possible to use a dremel tool on the retention mechanism and shave off about 1/4" of plastic to make the slk fit but that would require alot of effort and using the stock msi backplate the screws would be a little short, it would fit but you would have to put alot of pressure on the chip. im talking about standing on the screw pressure. i ended up getting the thermaltake silent boost (its like 30 bucks at newegg) and i idle at 40-43c and load under 50c. this is at 2.4ghz @ 1.55v so this is not shabby at all. i applied a very small amount of arctic silver to the heatsink because it was kind of rough on the bottom and a very thin layer on the chip using a piece of cardboard to wipe off any excess.

its possible to mount the slk but it will require some modification if you use the stock retention mechanism. good luck nonetheless it CAN be done!

From your description, it isn't really possible to mount the SLK948 without voiding the warranty. Can you think of any way that you could mod it without voiding the warranty to get it to fit? Would you be able to take pics, maybe, showing the backplate? Or a link to a review that has pics of it? I really want this mobo with that heatsink (planning a custom duct that I really want to pair with the heatsink).

 

[dimasukr]

I have a mobile A64 - the one without ihs.
You cannot put any (that I know) heatsink on mobile without removing mounting that comes with the mobo and using then SLK948
So I got this board and it is really has backplate glued on.
This means no mobile A64 on this board for me.

 

[dimasukr]

Finally I was able to take off backplate from k8n using pliers.
Doesn't look like I damaged anything

 

[tch65721]

Originally posted by: tr1kstanc3
for those worried about installing the thermalright slk948u it will not fit without modification. the problem is the backplate on the neo is held on with double sided sticky tape and it was a large surface area. to take off the tape would require enough force that could potentially damage the trace routes around the socket.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. What really pisses me off is that thermalright claims compatibility for this combo on their website. Research carefully and still get screwed.

 

[QuaiBoy]

FWIW, I have the Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu cooler on my Neo Platinum. Obviously, I couldn't use the Zalman backplate and stands on this board due to the MSI installed plate. So I used the stock plate and a pair of motherboard stands from an old computer build that approximated the height of the Zalman stands. Works great. Cheap cooler, silent at low speed and still keeps chip at less than 40C at full load in my Antec Sonata case (which is a pretty hot case).

Good luck,
-Evan-

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: tch65721
Wonderful. Just wonderful. What really pisses me off is that thermalright claims compatibility for this combo on their website. Research carefully and still get screwed.

I tossed Thermalright an email about this, we'll see what they have to say about it in a few days.

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: dimasukr
Finally I was able to take off backplate from k8n using pliers.
Doesn't look like I damaged anything

So did it work out?

 

[Ages120]

Oy