Should I move from the A7N8X Deluxe to the NF7-S?

[Sean]

I'm VERY tempted. Not only would I get further with my TwinMOS ram, but I'd also be able to fit my SLK900u on there without having to shed some metal off...

As seen in my review, it's impossible to fit on the A7N8X without HEAVY bending or modding the heatsink. I don't want to do either.

I could buy the NF7-S and sell my A7N8X Deluxe to a friend for probably the price I spent on my NF7-S.

I just wanted to ask a few things. I've looked and it seems the only differences are that there is no SPDIF out, which the A7N8X deluxe has and it doesn't have dual NIC's, which I could have used in the future but can easily live without. AND, the NF7-S has a few pluses, like the P4 connector and it fits the SLK900u.

Whatcha think?

Please post if you vote!

Thanks!

[PreDatoR]

Epox... stay away from Abroke

[VidmanII]

I don't think it's a simple "yes or no way" matter. So I didn't vote.

I'll say this tho. I have an NF7-S and I like it alot. I've never used or really even checked out the Asus mobo you speak of. I never liked Asus BIOS's. Maybe their better now. I don't know. Asus also was the mfgr of the worst mobo I ever owned ( A7V) so I'm even more sour on them than I was previous to that abortion. It was fun tho demolishing it with a log splitter.

Do you need all the crappola of the more expensive boards? Because if you don't, I'd get a Shuttle AN35N-U @ mwave for $55 + 8 s/h.

FYI: Newegg has jacked the price on them up to $74.I just got one and I'm EXTREMELY impressed.......As of an hour ago it was looking like this running prime95 with my kidz on it doing their happy horsesh!t.

1700+ DLT3C JIUHB 0319 @ 2.21 GHz ( 1.6v )
Shuttle AN35N Ultra 400 ( 10.5*210 FSB / default chipset voltage, no adj for it)
2 x 256MB TwinMOS PC3200 ( 2.6v / cas2-2-3-8)
40GB Maxtor D740X 2MB
ATI Radeon 8500 64MB ( default AGP voltage, card not OCed )
Realtek ALC650 5.1 (o/b) / Altec 880’s
19” VX900T Gateway/Sony Trinitron
XP Pro SP-1

and I DO mean stable.

It's out benching my Abit NF7-S in Sandra membenches and it's not that far behind in the CPU and Multimedia tests either.




I can't get my Abit to run over 205-207 FSB. It may be the Barton's not crazy about higher FSB's or maybe my kidz' pair of 256MB TwinMOS stix are superior to mine. I haven't tested hers in my rig yet. All I know is this Shuttle is a little ROCKET ! :

[Sean]

Well, I do want the new nForce Ultra 400 chipset, the fastest one. AND, I want onboard sound, cause I don't have anything equal to it right now. And, I like to use the onboard NIC and I want Dual Channel, so...

I think I'll do it. I'll test it out, if I don't like it, I may be able to sell it to the same friend for a small loss, but we'll see.

[VidmanII]

Something you have to be aware of too is that the Shuttle reports all sorts of weird voltage and temp readings. To a degree my NF7-S does too, but not as bad. This has been reported on other forums about this mobo and some of the other nforce2 mobos.

Even with the variances tho, my +12v and +5v are within reason all the time. That's what's important to me.

I finally got so tired of seeing the wild swings in temps and voltages that I just uninstalled MBM5 and basically just left things to prime95 as to whether or not the systems are stable or not. I know I hooked both rigs with proper AS3 and fan/hs applications so I'm not gonna get a headache over it.

The temps vary so much from BIOS to BIOS on the Abit that I don't know what to believe. So heck with it. If it ant on fire or smokin', it's cool w/ me.

[blade]

Isn't yours an earlier version Sean?

I have version 2 of the asus a7n8x and it so far has been the most stable mobo I have ever owned. This is also the first asus mobo I have ever owned.

Many do like the abit one, but then ya gotta consider the sources.

They both seem good though and the abit is lower priced.


I have heard nothing but raves on that shuttle nforce2 mobo. For the price, damn. And, it is a purdee blue color too. ow Not fugly like the others are. The only thing that concerns me is, will they last. Shuttle mobos are known for being overly sensitive. I killed one by simply replacing the nb sink.

I should be getting one in soon.


btw, got an email from Thermalright on their new SLK900A. They say it is trimmed more like the slk800 so it'll fit on more mobo's, something they knew was a problem with the slk900. And it weighs closer to the slk800 at 527g. I requested a review sample.

Actually, it sounds more like another updated slk800 than a slk900. But mainly, it is made for 92mm fans as only the slk900 is. Though 92mm fans can fit on the slk800 too, with some clip bending.

[Bigal]

I wouldn't switch just to use the SLK900U, but that is my favorite heatsink. As Blade pointed out, they are coming out with a modified version that should fit more motherboards. If the modified heatsink doesn't fit the Asus A7N8X, then they are wasting their time. Regarding the manufacturers quality history, I think both Abit and Asus are excellent, but neither one is perfect. The Over the past few years I think Asus put out more bios updates than Abit, but maybe I feel that way because I was more interested in keeping my Asus A7V up to date (finally settling on the 1.4 GHz T-bird with 200 MHz FSB) than my old Abit KA7 (now on my bench wondering when I'll finish replacing the leaking caps).

VidmanII - Speaking of Asus and the A7V, that was a great motherboard! I am running that thing way above it's original design specfications, and although it runs warm (46C), I can still count on it to boot. You should save that log splitter for hardware that deserves it - the Pentium IV CPU!

And PreDatoR knows what's up. I took his recommendation earlier this year and bought not one, but eventually two of the Epox EP-8RDA+ motherboards from NewEgg. Both of these are using the Thermalright SLK900U heatsink (yes, it fits this motherboard nicely), and one has that CoolerMaster Aero-7 blower fan, while the other one has that Vantec TMD fan. The SLK's wire clips made this possible, since these fans are mounted in unique ways due to their shapes.

So, should you switch? No, I would save my current motherboard, and spend the money on faster memory, better speakers, or another hard drive. Then there are always case mods you could perform, such as laser-etched custom windows, cold cathodes, LED fans, or even the addition of a Mystic Globe!

[VidmanII]

A7V a great motherboard? I think you've been staring into that mystic globe for too long!
:laugh ( j/k ) . I guess they made some good ones but make no mistake, mine wasn't one of them. It deserved every whack it got.

[chottoED]

If you've something other than rev2 on the A7N8X, then go ahead and switch... to the rev2...

Abit sux and Epox is not as good as Asus... My last 3 boards have been Asus and I've had ZERO problems... unlike Abit and Epox before the 3.

When auditioning for my NF2 board, I got both the Asus and Epox and I chose Asus over it due to the robust features, support, and ease of use.

[Bigal]

....I see that the VidmanII is destined to receive yet another sub-par motherboard. And so it is written....

You know what? No manufacturer has a 100% perfect track record. Abit, Asus, and many others make great motherboards. Support varies quite a bit. Maybe if we were willing to pay $200 per motherboard, they might be willing to put more testing and evaluation into their products. The constant cost cutting necessary to stay afloat in todays market might come back to hurt us in the end.*&

[stall6g]

Just adding my two cents to this. I own both an A7N8X deluxe rev.2 and an A7V8X-X asus mobo and they are great stability wise. They do not have have as many overcocking options as the NF-7 but again for the stability and a really decent o/c ability they're great.

[VidmanII]

You Asus folks are pretty touchy. Glad you like'em. Nonetheless, I'll pass. Bottom line is, if you get a mobo made by anyone that WORKS, be happy.

Over the last 2-3 years I've steered clear of Asus, VIA, Intel and especially ANYTHING by Creative. Gimme all the heat you care to pass out on my Abit. I can take it. 500MHz overclock and 24 hour prime95 stable. The thing runs like a top. :

I could use one of those Mystik GLobes tho !!! It's not made by Asus is it?

Poor Sean. If he wasn't confused before, he is now. :laugh

[Sean]

Yeah, thanks for the sympathy Vid....

Yeah, I am a bit confused. I'm thinkin I'll take the chance though, since I could really get more out of my PC3200 TwinMOS BH-5 on the NF7-S I think.

Keep it coming though!

[Bigal]

VidmanII - have you too seen the light? Er, I'm talking about the light from the Mystic Globe, not the streetlight outside your front door. Anyway, I e-mailed you some pictures, since I don't have anywhere to post them right now.

[VidmanII]

OMG ! The mystik globe is in da house. That is so wild !!! I think I'm gonna get one. Not sure I'm gonna try the pc install with it tho. Spencer gifts you say? Gotta have one.

We have to find someone to host those pics. Incredible !

Anybody?