*Update* 6-way nForce2 Roundup Online

[L3Guy]

Evan;

Thanks for asking.

I am interested in add on controller performance. How about testing an Adaptec 19160 and a Seagate 15k.3 on the boards?

I would also like to know which of the boards have holes to mount a water block.

Thanks for testing the MSI. They looked like they had the best Nforce1 boards, so I am waiting for their Nforce2 boards before I make any decisions.

Thanks;

Doug

 

[OverclockTHIS]

Forget this...here is an ABIT NF7 review for you guys...

http://www.hexus.net/review.php?review=464

 

[htyei]

I recently was able to do a repeatable crash on my friends ASUS NFORCE 2 mobo. I was wondering if all the nforce 2's have the same bug? (maybe its a general windows bug)


Go to Windows Update. Press scan for updates. WHile it is scanning, move the windows update window around with the mouse.
The window might not move, or it might move sluggishly, but in the end it'll do a blue screen memory dump.
Playing mp3's in the background migh be a cause,(i forgot if i was playing music)

I remember my sis745 didnt have a problem , but the kt266 had similar crash problems

 

[Mrburns2007]

Originally posted by: htyei
I recently was able to do a repeatable crash on my friends ASUS NFORCE 2 mobo. I was wondering if all the nforce 2's have the same bug? (maybe its a general windows bug)


Go to Windows Update. Press scan for updates. WHile it is scanning, move the windows update window around with the mouse.
The window might not move, or it might move sluggishly, but in the end it'll do a blue screen memory dump.
Playing mp3's in the background migh be a cause,(i forgot if i was playing music)

I remember my sis745 didnt have a problem , but the kt266 had similar crash problems

Why would I want to crash the computer ?

I think when I go to windows update I won't be moving the window around.

 

[kadajawi]

but it seems to be a bug which might apear on some other places too... -> should be solved if possible...

 

[compudog]

I couldn't wait... I was going to go with the Leadtek nForce2 but decided on the Asus A7N8X instead. I should have everything tomorrow. I can't wait to read the AnandTech nForce2 roundup to see how bad I screwed up (If at all... ) So finally, since March of 1999, I will be building myself a new computer!

Asus A7N8X Deluxe mobo
AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (Will probably get a Barton next year)
2 - 256MB XMS PC2700 DDR CL2.0
WD 800JB Spec Ed drive
Albatron Ti4200P Turbo
Sony 16X DVD
BenQ 48x16x48 CDRW

 

[AbRASiON]

As I predicted, you are all in bed, it's 8:00 in the morning here and I'm waiting for a review, but I have to wait until tommorow cause y'all don't get online till I've gone home


sigh

 

[kadajawi]

nope, 10 pm here, so still awake

 

[AbRASiON]

Yeah but it's Sunday - he's not going to update it today!

 

[zeruty]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
Oh yeah, when I'm done with these boards, maybe I'll let some of you fool around with them.

I would love to fool around with one of them

 

[crisscross]

when will the review be up?

 

[scudiac]

anyone know when nforce2 igp mcp-t solutions are going to hit stores? I see igp mcp-t products on the epox and leadtek sites, but I can't find any place to buy them. I can't wait for the review!! hurry!

 

[airrahul]

Hello.

I would like to the see the following things if possible all though I really appreciate the simple fact that you guys are doing this 5-way roundup for all of us. Here are the things:

-A look at FSB overclocking with the PCI/AGP locking features now available because I prefer FSB overclocking (I have a 1.6a using Corsair XMS 3000 C2 oc'ed to 2.54ghz) and because it gives you a greater overall performance increase than multiplier OCing and doesn't involve surgery on the processor.

-A look at Serial ATA if possible using SATA drives.

-A look at what boards have the best FSB and memory OCing and timing potential.

-A great review just like the ones you guys always have.



Thanks

 

[zeruty]

Originally posted by: scudiac
anyone know when nforce2 igp mcp-t solutions are going to hit stores? I see igp mcp-t products on the epox and leadtek sites, but I can't find any place to buy them. I can't wait for the review!! hurry!

Hopefully Evan will write a follow up to this roundup when the igp solutions are available....

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: scudiac
anyone know when nforce2 igp mcp-t solutions are going to hit stores? I see igp mcp-t products on the epox and leadtek sites, but I can't find any place to buy them. I can't wait for the review!! hurry!

Last I was told was hopefully January.

 

[claspingbeast]

Oh yeah, when I'm done with these boards, maybe I'll let some of you fool around with them.
...do we have to send you a 'STAR LETTER'?
Heres mine....Alpha centuri,Mira,the sun,Ursa majoris and of course....Anandtech!!!! (..ill take the fastest on test please!!....)

 

[ndee]

where is it?

 

[wicktron]

I've been told by the good fellas at Xtremesystems.org that the NF-7 at Hexus is a rebadged pre-production board of the board formerly known as the NV78X.
Evan, do you have the shipping product?

 

[scudiac]

Last I was told was hopefully January

Jeez, I thought by december. I had some systems I wanted to build for Christmas based on nforce2 igp...oh well...tbanks.....

 

[hoebowl]

Decsions decisions, EPox? Asus? ... ahh need review.... take your time though (IT BETTER BE QUALITY [shakes fist]) hehe

 

[davidos]

I'm ready to open my wallet... Epox or Asus (leaning towards this for the features and layout (power connector) + better resale value . Also, Epox is going to release an Nforce2 board with more features soon.

I have a feeling that you can't go wrong with any of these boards, they are all solid, it's just personal preference.

 

[Parja]

It's probably too late, but I'd like to know if there is any possibility of switching between audio outputs (like a 4.1 speaker system to headphones a la Turtle Beach Santa Cruz) through the software in any of the integrated audio solutions.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: scudiac

Last I was told was hopefully January

Jeez, I thought by december. I had some systems I wanted to build for Christmas based on nforce2 igp...oh well...tbanks.....

You and me both. I've gone Intel for my systems for now. Sure the integrated video isn't as good, but none of the people I build for are gaming anyway.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: L3Guy
Evan;

Thanks for asking.

I am interested in add on controller performance. How about testing an Adaptec 19160 and a Seagate 15k.3 on the boards?

I would also like to know which of the boards have holes to mount a water block.

Thanks for testing the MSI. They looked like they had the best Nforce1 boards, so I am waiting for their Nforce2 boards before I make any decisions.

Thanks;

Doug

L3Guy, if it's of any interest to you, I use a 19160 with an X15-36LP on an nForce 220D board (nForce1 with single-channel memory). Using Adaptec SCSIBench, I find that the same-sector throughput can exceed 120Mb/sec with cluster size at 128kb, which is approaching the limits of the PCI bus itself. For reference, the same controller and drive are thoroughly bottlenecked at 72Mb/sec on my KT333 motherboard, or 52Mb/sec on KT333 if the onboard USB 2.0 controller is enabled. Even my old K7S5A is leaps and bounds better than the KT333 in this regard. So I'm expecting nForce2 should have stellar PCI performance too.

I'm getting an A7N8X for my human-resources person, and I may throw the 19160 and X15-36LP into it once it's built, just to benchmark the throughput and satisfy my curiosity. If I do, I'll let you know what the results are. Probably won't have the parts for about a month, however (purchase requests take a while to complete).

 

[davidos]

Hey! an nForce2 roundup! digit-life