ASUS A8N-E NF4 Ultra

[john1818]

is this a good choice for:
optir 165 or x2 3800
OCZ Enhanced Latency Dual Channel Platinum Edition - memory - 2 GB ( 2 x 1 GB ) - DIMM 184-PIN - DDR
radeon 1900xt
will probably want to overclock the cpu, and don't need sli (obviously!)

 

[Adk_Eric]

Yes it is.

It lacks firewire and SLI, it has everything else you could want. The BIOS is great for overclockers who know what their doing, and and for those that don't ASUS gives you very good 'overclocking software for dummies' software.

 

[john1818]

nice one

 

[Adk_Eric]

Just don't expect it to beat the cheaper EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra when overclocking.

That's a good board too.... I personally went with ASUS due to their rep over this one.

The ASUS is the cheaper one though:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCompare.asp?SubCategory=22&CompareItemList=N82E16813131530%2CN82E16813123236

I don't see how the Epox would be better for O/Cing.... what proof do you have?

 

[john1818]

with the epox, the ram slots are very close to each other. would it be a problem for sticks with heat spreaders on? (ocz platinum 3200 2gb)

 

[john1818]

cheers

 

[Adk_Eric]

I don't see how the Epox would be better for O/Cing.... what proof do you have?

Statistic from overclocking community especially overclocking database such as ones at VR-Zone or overclockers.com

Well... VR-Zone seems to be down.

Are you refering to this though on overclockers?

http://www.cpudatabase.com/index.cfm?Action=search

I looked for awhile on it and only found a couple Epox MB in the stats. It was mostly ASUS and DFI. And those Epox I found weren't at the top of the charts, ASUS and DFI were.

Those stats aren't exactly wholely indicative of what O/Cs better though, as those weren't tests dont in a controlled environment: ie all factors except the MB are the same.

Are you refering to something else? As based on those stats I'd go ASUS or DFI.

 

[juggernaught]

Yeeee haaarr
Now if that aint laying down a gauntlet. I dunno what is..... :lol:

 

[Adk_Eric]

Yes it is.

It lacks firewire and SLI, it has everything else you could want. The BIOS is great for overclockers who know what their doing, and and for those that don't ASUS gives you very good 'overclocking software for dummies' software.

Ok, I was wrong.... it has SLI capabilities. It only lacks firewire...

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=xeon64mb&page=5&cookie%5Ftest=1

 

[Adk_Eric]

Yes it is.

It lacks firewire and SLI, it has everything else you could want. The BIOS is great for overclockers who know what their doing, and and for those that don't ASUS gives you very good 'overclocking software for dummies' software.

Ok, I was wrong.... it has SLI capabilities. It only lacks firewire...

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=xeon64mb&page=5&cookie%5Ftest=1

Jugg... you message disappeared...

I'll post more on this later on today or tomorrow. I'm beat now. If you think about it... it's possible. you likely just need the SLI connector. NVidia has made those generally only attainable from a MB manufacturer, that makes a SLI MB. Why? One reason: to ensure that NVidia's chipset's are bought. Get your hands on a SLI connector and my money says you can run SLI on many boards that aren't certified SLI.

 

[jayb59874]

Just to derail this post for my own selfish but related topic, would that board be a decent choice for me, I was thinking about getting the athlon 64 3700+ processor with the 1Mb level 2 cache since it is nearly half the price of the X2 3800+ and then experimenting with my first attempt at overclocking.

I was going to then upgrade to dual cores in maybe 9 months when their prices have been driven down by AM2 and Conroe. Is this a wise tactic in terms of value for money or should I be looking at the opteron?

I will not be overclocking hardcore as I literally will not have a clue as to what I am doing, maybe a maximum of say 10% bonus, not even sure where to start but have been reading through these forums for a few days now...