Nforce2 now or wait for KT400a?

[Killrose]

Was wondering. Is the Nforce2 the way to go or is KT400a going to bring anything to the table really worth waiting for? And when is KT400a going to launch?

 

[yodayoda]

why, so you can wait for whatever bugs this via chipset has? ok, first the 686B south bridge didn't work with SB cards, then the KT266 had bad USB and poor memory performance, then the KT400 doesn't even support DDR400 or dual channel memory. don't by via and save yourself from the pain.

 

[Killrose]

Well hopefully Via gets it together with the KT400a, but I know what you mean about pain. I had an early version Fic 503+ with the MVP3 chipset (I think it was) luckily that board went bad under warranty and I got a later version that was'nt near as bad.

 

[Nardman]

I'd agree with yodayoda. My experiences with VIA mobos have resulted in migraine headaches. Also, I can't explain why but the overall responsiveness of via mobo systems do not seem to be as crisp to me. I just recently purchased an a7n8x(w/ XP 2100) to upgrade my old BH-6; I held out so long, because Intel chips are way too pricey and I was wary of buying a via motherboard. I've got nothing but good things to say about this mobo, I highly reccomend it.

 

[Nats]

Somehow I'd agree. I used to have an ECS K7S5A that I've
replaced w/ an ASUS a7v266-c. Some this board feels more
sluggish than the old one.

 

[meson2000]

I disagree with yodayoda. The 686B southbridge issue was 2 years ago and I believe it was overrated. I am still
using a KT133A motherboard with a 686B southbrige with a soundblaster live and never once had any issues with
it. Yea, the KT266 boards were slow but VIA quickly came out with the 266A. It was VIA's first DDR chipset so
you knew there were going to be issues. Even Nvidia's original Nforce wasn't any faster than the 266A boards even
though Nvidia released it months after VIA released the KT333 boards. The KT333 is a great chipset and is
faster then the Nforce. In my opinion, there is no noticable reason to have anything other than at KT333 chipset, unless
you have a 333FSB Athlon. As far as the KT400 not supporting DDR 400, it doesn't really matter now does it? Since
there are no Athlons capable of supporting DDR 400. Even with the Nforce 2, 99% of the benchmarks are slower
with DDR400 than they are with DDR333. Finally, as far as Dual channel memory, why even bother? The Nforce and Nforce2
needs it because of the integrated graphics, nothing more. There is no noticable increase in performance for Dual channel
DDR in over 90% of the Nforce2 benchmarks. The Athlon simply doesn't need it. So Killrose, I would pick whatever
chipset makes the most sense to you. You can't go wrong with either VIA or Nvidia.

 

[Vette73]

I am a big fan of VIA and have used just about all their chipsets and had very few problems. Most people just don't have the experience or time to setup a system. So VIA got a bad rap as Microsoft didn't support the VIA chipsets nativaley, hence the need for the 4in1's before win XP came out.

BUT even saying that if I built a single CPU system RIGHT now I would use the Abit nForce2 board.

Will the KT400a be better, maybe, but there will also be some better or improved nForce2 boards by the time the KT400a comes out.


So right now, nForce2. If you wait then read the reviews and see which chipset will do the most for you.

 

[NicColt]

Well said meson2000. Those that 'still' complain just to complain about the VIA chipset don't know what they're talking about and are truly in a small miniroty.

All those that bought a 266A instead of an nForce 420 knew exactly what they were doing and now to dishout VIA when nForce2 is out is really low.

 

[DoubleL]

Well I am running a KT400 board now and don't see a thing wrong with it, I have a room full of computers and this one just seems to be the one I use all the time, I am in no hurry for the KT400a,

 

[Mustanggt]

I have never had problems with via last via board Epox 8KHA+ was the best MD I have ever owned, I have Nforce2 board now that is very nice also very fast and super stable.

 

[IQJUMPuw]

I would get the Nforce2 board. I'm pretty sure KT400a is going to be nice, but why wait when Nforce2 is the best chipset out right now?

The only thing that would stop me from getting the Nforce2 board would be the price.

 

[cisco]

someone (meson2000) mentioned Nforce2 having intergrated graphics, funny that I don't see it listed in the specs.
It doesn't say intergrated graphics here: MSI K7N2-L
or here EP-8RDA+
I'm thinking of getting the K7N2-L combo but don't like the issues mentioned on the bottom on monarch's site about SB live not 100% compatible (joystick port and who knows win2000, pci vga card issues)
seems Nforce2 has got some bugs in it!!
anyone want to comment on that, or did I miss a post
not flaming anyone just clearing up my confusion

 

[SpideyCU]

cisco, those aren't the nForce2 boards with IGP. The ones with video are due out next month. 8RGA+, for example. I'm not sure exactly why the boards without integrated graphics were out that much sooner (a parts and production issue, or is there more of a market for just barebones nForce2?), but that's just the way it is.

 

[Nardman]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Most people just don't have the experience or time to setup a system. So VIA got a bad rap as Microsoft didn't support the VIA chipsets nativaley, hence the need for the 4in1's before win XP came out.

Not to start a flame war or anything, but Marlin, how hard is it to install 4in1s? Adjusting BIOS settings is far more complex than installing 4in1's, and all mobos require that; not to mention, nvidia chipsets require drivers too. I can guarantee that I know how to set up a computer system properly; I have just been unhappy with VIA chipsets every time I have worked with them. I'm not saying that they are faulty or crappy or anything of that sort, I'm just telling this guy that I prefer chipsets from other manufacturers. I admit that my standpoint is biased (that was the point of my statement in the first place), but my statement was not based on ignorance like you would suggest. I have worked with several VIA based motherboards, and have spent a considerable amount of time configuring them; in my opinion, other chipset manufacturers (specifically nvidia and Intel) produce better products. Dispute my statement if you want marlin, but don't just point a finger and say I'm dumb...that's not much of an argument.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Just go the Intel route like I did. The CPU's cost more, the motherboards gennerally less for much superior quality.

Example. My Duron 800MHz system I got fed up with on a Soyo Dragon board... crashed all the friggin time. The mobo costed me new at the time. $179. The Duron was a relic, before the XP's were even released. But $89 at the time, actual value at the time of buying the Soyo board was about $68. (prices w/o shipping) $268 total, or $247 real time value.

Now my new system. Abit BE7-Raid mobo. $123. P4 Retail $118 (non-northwood). The P4 OC's to 2.48GHz on stock retail intel cooling. Can probably do more, but my cheap Corsair PC2400 memory can not handle it. Total system value, $241.

This is what I noticed about AMD CPU's = Little $$$. Good quality mobo's = Losts of $$$
Intel based high quality mobo's = Low-'mid-high' $$$. CPU's = Primo money at high MHz... but the lower MHz OC really well. Also the lower frequency give more yeild of OC ability... AMD's do not OC in my experience anywhere as close as Intel.

And now I do not have those friggin crashes AMD setups always gave me. Makes me glad I dumped those crappy AMD setups.

Ahh well. Just glad it's off my chest.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: IQJUMPuw
I would get the Nforce2 board. I'm pretty sure KT400a is going to be nice, but why wait when Nforce2 is the best chipset out right now?

The only thing that would stop me from getting the Nforce2 board would be the price.

i agree about the nforce2 being pricey. thats why i just ordered a kt400 mobo.

 

[Jeff7]

The nForce2 sounds like it's quite impressive; and the sound quality is supposed to be excellent too. Not quite on the same technical level as an Audigy2, but still very good.

why, so you can wait for whatever bugs this via chipset has? ok, first the 686B south bridge didn't work with SB cards, then the KT266 had bad USB and poor memory performance, then the KT400 doesn't even support DDR400 or dual channel memory. don't by via and save yourself from the pain.

No more 686B southbridge problems here (as far as I can tell anyway). Example, the Epox 8K9A2; it uses the KT400 chipset, with a VIA VT8235 southbridge.

As for all the VIA bashing, I don't think it's warranted. All the systems in the house now run VIA chipsets. There's the following: 2 x KT266A, 2 x KT133A, and 1 x MVP3, all running stable and performing nicely. In terms of "underdog" chipsets, I even had a VxPro-based system stable. The process is simple too; install the OS, install chipset drivers. A chipset's like any other component - the OS will probably have basic support for it, but for best performance and stability, updated drivers from the manufacturer must be installed.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper
Just go the Intel route like I did. The CPU's cost more, the motherboards gennerally less for much superior quality.

Example. My Duron 800MHz system I got fed up with on a Soyo Dragon board... crashed all the friggin time. The mobo costed me new at the time. $179. The Duron was a relic, before the XP's were even released. But $89 at the time, actual value at the time of buying the Soyo board was about $68. (prices w/o shipping) $268 total, or $247 real time value.

Now my new system. Abit BE7-Raid mobo. $123. P4 Retail $118 (non-northwood). The P4 OC's to 2.48GHz on stock retail intel cooling. Can probably do more, but my cheap Corsair PC2400 memory can not handle it. Total system value, $241.

This is what I noticed about AMD CPU's = Little $$$. Good quality mobo's = Losts of $$$
Intel based high quality mobo's = Low-'mid-high' $$$. CPU's = Primo money at high MHz... but the lower MHz OC really well. Also the lower frequency give more yeild of OC ability... AMD's do not OC in my experience anywhere as close as Intel.

And now I do not have those friggin crashes AMD setups always gave me. Makes me glad I dumped those crappy AMD setups.

Ahh well. Just glad it's off my chest.

Just because you don't know how to build a system that has EVERY driver and file needed in the OS doesn't mean others don't.

And I bet a single Athlon XP 2000+ on a nForce2 board is faster then your system and cheaper.

I have built over 50 machines. Most have been AMD cpu's and VIA chipsets. I have built a web-server with a Dual Athlon 760MPX board, I have built nForce1 boards. And I have only had a couple of problems a long the way, as I buy good boards that have good ratings and match other components up also(good ram, power supply, etc...)

And Intels CPU's might overclock higher Mhz, but if you STILL believe Mhz is a effictive rate of performance, then just keep your head in the sand.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Hmm... I did get all the latest drivers from ATI, CMedia, Soyo, VIA, & Microsoft after initial stability problems, new drivers effected nothing. Specs were.

K7V Dragon
800MHz Duron
Leadtek GF2 Ultra
Corsair XMS PC2400
IBM 60GXP 40gb * 2 (RAID 0)
SB Live 5.1 Gamer
Antec case with Enermax 350W power.
HP CD-RW (9100i)
8x DVD

My older Athlon system was not that stable either. People told me AMD had problems with NVidia graphics... but I tried ATI and that did not help much either. My previous PII 400MHz was bullet proof as well as the Pentium 166MMX before.
I see no reason why I should have had problems with both setups. The only conclusion I could come up with is VIA and/or AMD do not make good products. Especially after salvaging the parts from the Duron to build the P4... why was it stable and the other not?

As for AMD's MHz myth thingy... well people may or may not believe in it. But kinda don't. I heard a simalar expression since I was a kid. "It's not the size that count's, it's how you use it!" Well... that is just an excuse for you know what.

But thats not what I was getting at. If AMD and/or VIA start putting out good products, I will buy. I have not seen any evidence yet to make me firm believers of them. I gave them plenty of oportunity. I too just like you build computers for people. But my clientel mostly focus on Intel workstation platforms. Only the home users went for AMD's... Same with Intel for that matter.
I went both ways... but the price was dead nearly the same. Sure instead of my BE7-Raid board I could have gone cheaper... say a Biostar P4TDQ. Or an OEM CPU or Celeron 2GHz or slower for that matter. Would have been just over/under $100. So Intel systems that are good can still be put together cheap.
Hell look at Dell. They got some low priced computers all Intel based. Though I don't think i would lower myself to buy one of those POS's.

I am getting off topic though. To me Intel's are stable. AMD's were not. I never tried a nforce type of board. I thought about it when I was about to ditch my Soyo. But I decided I am done futzing trying to get that last tweak in to see if it will be stable. I wanted a fast computer, I wanted it cheap, and I wanted with no stability issues. That only left me the Intel route. Sorry AMD fans.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Actually I did have a stable AMD setup once. A 486 DX/133. However that is in the land before time. I did not count that. Lasted a year before I upgraded.

 

[AlucardBelmont]

to me, both AMD and Intel are stable, it depends on the user.I'm using Via KT266a and I'm very satisfied with price/perfomance I get.

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper
I am getting off topic though. To me Intel's are stable. AMD's were not. I never tried a nforce type of board. I thought about it when I was about to ditch my Soyo. But I decided I am done futzing trying to get that last tweak in to see if it will be stable. I wanted a fast computer, I wanted it cheap, and I wanted with no stability issues. That only left me the Intel route. Sorry AMD fans.

 

[glenn1]

i agree about the nforce2 being pricey. thats why i just ordered a kt400 mobo.

On the flip side, however, the Nforce2 will probably retain more resale value when time comes to upgrade again. My $0.02.

 

[SpideyCU]

Definition of an Intel fanboy - telling people to go Intel when the discussion is between two AMD chipsets.

For cryin' out loud that little pissing contest is never-ending - take it to General Hardware if you really, really want to beat that dead horse. Over here, let the people talk about what they came here to do. Coming in to whine about how AMD setups are inherently unstable reminds me of this little comic strip.