New System Upgrade Thumbs Up or Down?

**DJBeanPole17** · 08-03-2003, 11:34 PM

Check this out: Dream Machine :: BeanPole System rev. 2

Everything is in order. Just need thumbs up from you guys. I know 9500Pro isn't topoftheline but I don't need anything top of the line just yet.... well, maybe... :P

EDIT: TRY THE LINK NOW

**lonewolfroger** · 08-03-2003, 11:37 PM

Edited:

**mikeysg** · 08-03-2003, 11:43 PM

Looks good, but why Asus?

If you don't plan to OC, then the Asus'd be good, BUT if you intend to OC, I'd recommend Abit NF7/NF7-S rev2.0 or the Epox 8RDA+ rev2.0 (or 2.1 now?). Well, anyway, it's still good to go as is!

**DJBeanPole17** · 08-04-2003, 01:10 AM

mikeysg, I am planning on OC'ing the processor and the memory. With help from gkline, I know for a fact this is going to happen. I will look into the two boards you mentioned and will post a decision as to whether I will change my motherboard. I just see alot of people using it w/ the system I plan to make and overclocking to decent speeds. Thanks for input, and thumbs up!

**DJBeanPole17** · 08-04-2003, 01:21 AM

mikeysg, what would the difference be between the asus, abit, and epox? The expo 8RDA+ went only to 333MHz memory if I read correctly. I didn't see any differences between them really... unless you can point something out that would make me change my mind

**LilRock86** · 08-04-2003, 01:47 AM

ur systems quiet similar to mine, buy from newegg....dunno if u are or not. but definately go with the Asus, i have the board, and im running ur same cpu at 2400 mghz, boards a charm. The duel channel ddr really flies.

**mikeysg** · 08-04-2003, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by DJBeanPole17
mikeysg, I am planning on OC'ing the processor and the memory. With help from gkline, I know for a fact this is going to happen. I will look into the two boards you mentioned and will post a decision as to whether I will change my motherboard. I just see alot of people using it w/ the system I plan to make and overclocking to decent speeds. Thanks for input, and thumbs up!

If you know someone who can actually help achieve the OC you want, then I'm all for your getting it (especially if you got gkline to help ya

) I recommended Epox cause I heard good things about it from fellow Sharkyites, especially the newer revision of 8RDA+ (OCable and stable).

The NF7-S rev2.0 is based on my experience with the board as I've gotten quite a good OC from my 2800+ Barton from 2.08ghz to almost 2.5ghz (I believe my ram is holding me back but the Twinmos turned out to be relatively sweet OCer nonetheless.

PS. I honestly don't know much about the Asus, perhaps it's a sweet OCer too, just trust in gkline, if he says it can be done I ain't gonna contradict him

. Have fun with ya up-and-coming rig.

**G_Fisher** · 08-04-2003, 04:05 AM

He meant the 8RDA3+ not the 8RDA+. The 8RDA3+ is comparable to the A7N8X Deluxe Ver.2. NF7-S Ver. 2 and the 8RDA3+ will overclock to more extreem settings than the A7N8X. I purchased the A7N8X because of Asus' strong reputation and extreem overclocking was not my objective.

Epox uses the cheaper MCP northbridge, vs. the better MCP-T of Asus and Abit, then makes up for it by adding a sound chip and a dual lan chip, but it lacks firewire. Also the sound chip is not Dolby while the sound from the MCP-T is (at least the Newegg Epox description does not indicate it).

Abit's features are the same as Asus.

All three boards have their followers and all are within a few $ of each other but bottom line is you can't go wrong with either one. I prefer Asus products. How extreem do you want to go with overclocking? I have my 1700+ running at 1.8 ghz by setting the FSB to 166 (333). Since I'm not really in to FPS games, I haven't run across any game or other software the stress' this setting.

Also, spend a few more dollars and go with the 9700 n/p. Mine was only $20 more than the 9500 Pro and it's a hell of a lot better and only slightly slower than the 9700 Pro. Powercolor makes a good card.

**mikeysg** · 08-04-2003, 04:35 AM

Actually G_Fisher has a point, the 9700NP is a much better card than the 9500Pro.

PowerColor is an ATI partner and produces card to ATI specs so it's a good buy if you can find a PowerColor 9700NP at around the price of a 9500Pro.

**DJBeanPole17** · 08-04-2003, 10:39 AM

I will take a look at the 9700n/p and see how it compares to the 9500pro. As for motherboard chatter, I don't know if you'd call it OVERCLOCKING TO THE EXTREME but I was just going to get a 2500+ (I believe it stocked at 1.83GHz?) and push it to 2.2GHz+ depending on how well it handles. If you think the 8RDA3+ would be better at it, then maybe I'll think about it. I was just going after hardware the same as gkline's and he talked with me about it and said his asus board was solid. I am still using an old ASUS K7V and its run great for the past 3 years

**mike64647** · 08-04-2003, 12:13 PM

I have to recommend the Epox board. The thing is rock solid stable, and it overclocks like a freaking dream. I've owned three Epox boards over the last 4 years with one Asus in between and the Epox has never ever given me any problems. It's obvious I'm bias towards these boards but that's because they have always greatly surpassed my every expecation and been cheaper than the competitors to boot....

**G_Fisher** · 08-05-2003, 12:15 AM

The 2500+ will easily overclock to 2.2 ghz and will do it on any of the 3 boards you are looking at. If it were me, I would base my decision on reputation (what everyone is saying and all are good), features that are important to me, and price. Again, you can't go wrong with either board.

**Vengance_01** · 08-05-2003, 12:20 AM

You can't go wront with any of the boards. I have Asus A7N8X Non Deluxe and it preformes great. As for that heatsink, change it for SK-7+Smart fan II. And Go with 9700NP. Trust me, do not make the same mistake I did

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