What is the best AMD motherboard right now?

[rpc64]

In terms of performance/stability/overclocking. I've been thinking about using my tax return to get me an XP2100+ and a new mobo. I want to try to overclock it so I need a stable, good performing board. I was thinking about the nforce2 but I don't necessarily need integrated video or sound. I would like integrated LAN though. So what do you all think?
Thanks for the input.

 

[LostHiWay]

I would say the EPoX 8RDA+ nForce2 board. The Asus A7N8X coming in a close second.

 

[XCrodo]

NForce2 that's for sure. And since you're interested in overclocking, I agree that EpoX would seem the right choice. It also has a fair price which is always a good thing.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: LostHiWay
I would say the EPoX 8RDA+ nForce2 board. The Asus A7N8X coming in a close second.

I would second this. I think some of the other NForce2 offerings that will be coming out should be definitely looked into as well.. soltek has one coming out, msi has one, soyo will probably have one.. wait and see maybe?

 

[magomago]

I would say a7n8x-d followed by the 8rda+ as the close second

Nforce2 is the best right now.


If you pick either of those you'll be happy so it is probably more personal choice than anything else.

 

[rpc64]

I'm probably leaning more towards the Asus at the moment because it is a little cheaper. Yield: How long until those other boards come out?

 

[KidChaos]

Abit NF7-S: all-around great board; Great tech support; SATA-ATA converter included; Nobody seems to know about it so it is dropping in price.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: rpc64
I'm probably leaning more towards the Asus at the moment because it is a little cheaper. Yield: How long until those other boards come out?

oh I'm not sure.. just going by how popular these other boards are, the other companies will for sure release NForce2 stuff I am sure. I'd love to try a Soltek if it comes out soon. (one of my favorite brands)

 

[Grminalac]

I've got an epox and i just sent it in for RMA. Seemed like a nice laid out board though. Hopefully the new board will work well.

 

[Hauk]

Via's KT400A is just around the corner. I'd hold off.

In contrast to the rumors, the KT400A is going to be more than just a DDR400 ready KT400.

I'm not jumping on the Nforce2 bandwagon. I buy Nvidia graphics cards; but Via knows AMD. And like Nvidia, they know product cycles:

KT133A, KT266A, KT400A

 

[Macro2]

RE:"In contrast to the rumors, the KT400A is going to be more than just a DDR400 ready KT400."

And? What are you talking about?
From what I've heard the KT400a chipset isn't even dual channel DDR capable?

 

[Hauk]

The question is, does dual channel benefit current AMD processors. There's an ongoing debate about the issue; and I'm certain many would love to pontificate further.

I've been in email contact with someone inside VIA, who claims the KT400A will outperform Nforce2 by decent margins.

We'll see...

 

[KidChaos]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
I've been in email contact with someone inside VIA, who claims the KT400A will outperform Nforce2 by decent margins.

Interesting. How?

 

[Hauk]

As far as contact, I got five Public Relations contacts, emailed all of them. All replied; but only one opened up as to the details of KT400A. No dual channel, and per his words, "will outperform Nforce2 by decent margins."

As far as how that will be done, I haven't a clue. But we'll all know in a few weeks. Chipsets are supposed to be released to M/B manufacturers within a couple weeks.

I think a little competition among chipset manufacturers is a great thing. Look at what it's done for graphics cards. With six month product cycles and fierce competition, a top of the line card can be had for nearly half it's launch price in less than a years' time...

Bring It On VIA!

 

[KidChaos]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
As far as contact, I got five Public Relations contacts, emailed all of them. All replied; but only one opened up as to the details of KT400A. No dual channel, and per his words, "will outperform Nforce2 by decent margins."

As far as how that will be done, I haven't a clue. But we'll all know in a few weeks. Chipsets are supposed to be released to M/B manufacturers within a couple weeks.

I think a little competition among chipset manufacturers is a great thing. Look at what it's done for graphics cards. With six month product cycles and fierce competition, a top of the line card can be had for nearly half it's launch price in less than a years' time...

Bring It On VIA!

Hmm... I guess we'll see. I don't think it's possible to outperform nforce2 without dual-channel DDR. Maybe they're saying, if ya put one memory module in a KT400A board and one module in an nforce2 board, in which case Dual-DDR mode would be disabled, then the KT400A would perform faster. I still don't believe it would be by a decent margin though if at all. Maybe VIA's done something to KT400A of which I have no knowledge. I just know they had better come up with something good because SiS 746FX is knockin at the door.

 

[rpc64]

Interesting information. I have no problem waiting to see how things develop. I won't have the money to buy anything for a little while anyway.

 

[SpideyCU]

I love how we try to compare vaporware. How about we wait until products come out before we try to wonder how X will compare to Y without X even being completed?

 

[White Widow]

No one has mentioned it, but I recently got an MSI K7N2-L and just love it. I can't really argue that it's better than the other boards mentioned here, but it was under $100 and smokes my Gigabyte KT400.

 

[Swanny]

Originally posted by: KidChaos

Originally posted by: SteelSix
As far as contact, I got five Public Relations contacts, emailed all of them. All replied; but only one opened up as to the details of KT400A. No dual channel, and per his words, "will outperform Nforce2 by decent margins."

As far as how that will be done, I haven't a clue. But we'll all know in a few weeks. Chipsets are supposed to be released to M/B manufacturers within a couple weeks.

I think a little competition among chipset manufacturers is a great thing. Look at what it's done for graphics cards. With six month product cycles and fierce competition, a top of the line card can be had for nearly half it's launch price in less than a years' time...

Bring It On VIA!

Hmm... I guess we'll see. I don't think it's possible to outperform nforce2 without dual-channel DDR. Maybe they're saying, if ya put one memory module in a KT400A board and one module in an nforce2 board, in which case Dual-DDR mode would be disabled, then the KT400A would perform faster. I still don't believe it would be by a decent margin though if at all. Maybe VIA's done something to KT400A of which I have no knowledge. I just know they had better come up with something good because SiS 746FX is knockin at the door.

Problem is that dual channel doesn't really offer much benefit. Athlons just can't take advantage of the extra bandwidth.

 

[kursplat]

I love how we try to compare vaporware. How about we wait until products come out before we try to wonder how X will compare to Y without X even being completed?

what fun is that ?
i love the smell of bench racing in the morning...

 

[kimber]

8rda+

 

[Sushi]

I'm partial to the ASUS A7N8X myself. The NVidia chipset kicks butt!