*Update* 6-way nForce2 Roundup Online

[First]

12-4-02 Update: nForce2 shootout is now online. Enjoy.

 

[Megatomic]

Evan, I'd like to see the following in the review:

1) Installation woes (if there are any)
2) BIOS settings (the more the merrier)
3) IDE/SATA/RAID options described in detail
4) Different memory configurations tested
5) Benchmarks pitting them against KT333 or KT400 boards with otherwise identical setups


It's too bad you don't have a Barton to use with them. That's what I'd really like to see right now. But I'm looking forward to your review. Knock our socks off!

 

[ThumpR777]

very cool. I am interested in seeing how they work with different brands of memory, especially ASync mode at a 400+Mhz FSB. The KT400 seem to be particular about what they eat. I want some RAM I can keep when I upgrade to Barton.

Also, it does not seem that anyone has hooked up Serial RAID and run a test on that, since the Barracuda drives are available. Some of the Serial boards I have seen do not seem to support Serial RAID, some support IDE RAID only, or single Serial drive. A clarification of the various limitations on RAID setups on these boards would be great.

 

[Torghn]

I would like to know how accurate the temperature sensors are. Both for the CPU and the motherboard.

 

[T2T III]

I would like to find out more in regards to Linux compatibility. I've read from other sources that nVidia isn't cooperating, so Linux drivers for this motherboard may never be created.

However, I'm also just looking forward to the review. It sounds like a good one.

 

[Gravija]

oc'ing the FSB to 400 to run sync (if possible) with memory
features of board (serial ata, what comes with it, etc...)
your opinion on which is best

max overclocking possible (if you want)
what kind of memory works best (compared even with the 400FSB, if you oc)
thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Evan, when I think of your upcoming review, I keep wanting to make up a parody of the song Money for Nothin' (I want my MTV).

That ain't workin'
That's the way you do it
Get your mobos for nothin'
Get your chips for free

I want my
I want my
I want my nForce 2...

Anyway, looking forward to your shootout...

 

[Palek]

I mentioned this before in another thread, but I would very much appreciate a detailed analysis on the sound solutions of each board, especially the ones that use the MCP-T southbridge. I would like to know what sound quality is going to be like with the APU and the various external codecs used on the nForce2 boards. A quality and CPU load comparison to some recent dedicated sound cards would be wonderful, too.

<EDIT>At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would like to ask again that you shed some light on what the purpose of the external codecs is. What part of the audio processing is done by the nForce2 APU and what is done by the codecs? And why does the Chaintech website not mention Soundstorm, even though the Zenith uses the MCP-T southbridge? Did Chaintech choose not to use the APU? I would find that rather curious...</EDIT>

I know I am asking for a lot... Thanks for all the hard work even if you do not have time to follow up my requests.

 

[Adul]

if all this is too much to do in one review, make it a 2 parter and add even more

 

[Live]

Great! I am really looking forward to this review. I want to see tests that include the use of R300 and NV30. Ok maybe the last one is along shot but just being honest here

Performance with diffrent RAM setup and OC performance. Dividers. Which boards has which dividers (PCI, AGP etc)? Max FSB.

 

[CyNics]

PCI lock. Does it exist or not

 

[Micronaut]

I'd definitely be interested in PCI/AGP lock

 

[jamautosound]

This sounds great. I've been interested in the Epox.

Curious to know if any of the boards show an increase in performance by disabling the onboard items, i.e. sound, lan, etc.?

 

[jaybee]

Ditto on:
PCI/AGP lock
R300 -- (how) does AGP8x work? I'd like to know if the implementation is buggy
Sound quality -- I've heard that the MCP-T rivals the Audigy. Don't know if I believe that, but if it's better than my SB Live I'll probably go with the onboard. How does it compare?
Overclocking -- Run it up -- with dual channel memory active.
SATA -- How many devices supported, RAID options, performance (or are they not out yet...)?

Other things I'd like to see:
logistics -- installation, hsf compatibility, placement of headers and connectors
Asus Q-fan -- is it significant?
Performance against a P4 system please! 2700/2800+ against 2.8 or 2400/2600+ against 2.53, GB if you can

Thanks Evan!

 

[AMDfreak]

mechBgon said:

That ain't workin'
That's the way you do it
Get your mobos for nothin'
Get your chips for free

I want my
I want my
I want my nForce 2...


ROFL!!!

 

[mechBgon]

Good, someone laughed at my stupid joke

BTW, I will be getting an A7N8X-Deluxe for one of my human-resources people where I work, if you can believe that. Probably will put the check request in on Monday. I anticipate being very envious! :disgust:

 

[mrman3k]

Evan, could you also mention how or if the 400MHz Barton FSB speed will be addressed?

 

[compudog]

Evan, hurry! I'm ready to order now. I can't wait to read the AnandTech spin on the Leadtek.

 

[Regalk]

Whilst you guys are waiting on Evan L , I am enjoying my A78NX and the really excellent move from the Epox 8KHA+! Grrreat board so far.

 

[Torghn]

I hope you get the MSI board in the review. The company I work for is an offical distributor of MSI so I'd like to know what I'm selling

 

[Lint21]

I agree with Palek, and would like to see an in-depth rundown on the sound solutions on each board (CPU usage, how they compare to Audigy, etc.). Also, maybe some sort of preliminary stability testing? Like use the same hardware configuration on each board and run 3dmark for three days straight to see if any of them crash.

Looking forward to the article

 

[Lint21]

Oh, one more thing. Instead of just comparing performance to the current boards out there, how about comparing to the last several generations of motherboards? Most people aren't upgrading from a KT400 to an NForce2. For example, I have an Epox 8k7a, using the AMD761 chipset, and would like to know what sort of benefit I'd get from moving to a more modern platform.

 

[kadajawi]

yeah, the sound quality interests me alot too. A comparison to more high end cards (not Audigy ) like the Audiophile ones would be good, not just the tech specs but the real sound which comes out For every card as they seem to have different codecs (?). Whats their use anyway?
A comparison of their LAN performance should be interesting too. With CPU usage.
Firewire performance (and USB 2.0), see if the boards are differing a bit.

Oh, btw. what about boards from other manufacturers like Gigabyte? The GA-7VAXP was quite ok according to AT so what about its counterpart from AT?

 

[BeaverTooth]

On top of everything else mentioned here, I would like to add my two cents and see if we can get a confirmation on whether or not the nForce2 chipset supports a 1/6th PCI divider for 200MHz FSB operation. If it does then that may go along way to easing some compatibility woes about Barton people are having right now.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: Lint21
Oh, one more thing. Instead of just comparing performance to the current boards out there, how about comparing to the last several generations of motherboards? Most people aren't upgrading from a KT400 to an NForce2. For example, I have an Epox 8k7a, using the AMD761 chipset, and would like to know what sort of benefit I'd get from moving to a more modern platform.

Agreed. I actually mentioned this to Evan in a PM not too long ago.