Abit NF7 Design

[Mr5oh]

So I replaced my Gigabyte 7n400pro2 today, becuase it was flaking out on me. I replaced it with and Abit NF7 board. However I am not impressed.

First, the board does not fit very well in my case (acrylic case), the ports on the back do not line up with the plate.

Second, the IDE1 channel is in the way of my AGP card (GeForce 6800). The cable can be plugged in, if the card is removed, but this still leaves the cable in contact with the card.

Third the AGP slot doesn't line up with a slot on the back of the case. To screw the card in, it actually bends the card over some.

Fourth the heatsink (Gigabyte 3d Cooler Pro) cannot be installed properly because the clip won't clear the PSU, and forget ever getting it off again with out removing the PSU. I turned the clip around, which is technically backwards, but works, but makes it a pain to remove.

Fifth, whats the deal with the power supply plugs being as far away from the PSU as possible?

I have had two motherboards in this acrylic case and not had these problems yet. Anyone expierence this?

So far the board seems to perform well, but seems to be very poorly laid out.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
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[Cybercraig]

I haven't had to deal with any of those issues yet. How do you keep from scratching your case. I'd love to have one, but it scares me silly!

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.5ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[Mr5oh]

Realistically you can't keep from scratching it. Mine really doesn't have any noticable scratches on it. However you can't ever lay it down on a table, becuase it will scratch it. The other thing is never set anything on it. For the most part if you are fairly careful with it you won't scratch it. They are delicate, but probably not as delicate as you are thinking.

Acrylic cases, however, look neat, they are not functional. Everyone loves the way my PC looks, however it isn't the sturdiest so it is not ideal for LAN parties and such. Also wait till you buy a new hard drive, or CD drive, then you have take the motherboard out to install it. (Airflow in them isn't exactly optimal either)

Overall I got mine mainly because the local computer shop cut me a great deal ($50).

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
Overclocking Results: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html</A>

 

[Mr5oh]

Did get one nice suprise, for some reason my memory score in PCMark02 went up 500 points over the GA-7n400Pro2 score. Not sure why the difference, since both boards were dual channel running 400 mhz (No overclocking in these tests).

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
Overclocking Results: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html</A>

 

[Crashman]

Had fitment issues with my Soyo board, but it also surprised me by having increased performance.

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[Spitfire_x86]

I've never had problem with NF7 design

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[Mr5oh]

It was a strange problem, had the shop baffeld too. In the end I just exchanged it for another Giga-byte, 7N400Pro2.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
Overclocking Results: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html</A>

 

[Worf101]

How are they as far as keeping cool and keeping quiet is concerned. I've a WaveMaster and while it is beautiful to look at, it does transmit processor HSF whine loud n clear. How's the dba's in a an acrylic? How do the temps run? Is acrylic "light" or heavy to move?

Da Worfster

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

 

[Mr5oh]

The case isn't really that heavy. However it wouldn't be the best case to be lugging around all the time, as it isn't the sturdiest of cases. If you start putting fans on the sides, front, and top, it isn't very quiet (The built in "grates" in the acrylic don't exactly allow fans to run quietly, and the grates cover up 68% of the fans surface area). Temps are ok at best, it doesn't exactly run hot, but doesn't run cool either.

The particular design I have requires you to take the motherboard and all cards out to do something simple like add a hard drive. There are a couple new designs out there that don't require this.

Mainly the acrylic cases look neat, they aren't functional. If you want a cool looking case, the acrylic case is great. However, if you want something that is functional and quiet, get a regular case.

There are some pictures of mine in the links in my signature.

Oh and as for dbs, I can't answer the quiet part, as I have 10 fans, all spinning no less than 4000 RPM, so my case is 70 db sitting in the chair, and 62 db three feet away, and still measures 54 db in the next room. Some say it is a little loud.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
Overclocking Results: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html</A>