Which NForce 3 board should I get.

[quist9]

Ok I'm looking at 3 board with different prices and options on them. This will be a gameing machine with some overclocking. I saw a guy with the NForce 2 Chaintech board and I fell in love with it because of the overclocking this guy was doing with it. Thats why I like Chaintech.These are the 3 and the prices.

MSI K8N Neo Platinum nForce3 250Gb $127
Chaintech VNF3-250 nForce3 250 $79
Chaintech ZNF3-250 nForce3 $145

The MSI has the built in firewall, the VNF3 is cheap with no CBoX and maybe a few other things missing, and the ZNF3 is the one i really want. Now will the MSI one have all the OC features and fun stuff as the other 2? Will the VNF3 have all the features and software as the ZNF3.

2 other questions. Is the CPU what determines if you need duel channel memory? Also if i get a CPU that has duel channel memory can i put in one stick now and one in later?

 

[Mr5oh]

Haven't had any expierence with those boards, so can't answer the first part.

As far as dual channel. You never have to have dual channel. You will get a good performance boost haveing dual channel enabled. Think of it as a feature of the motherboard, and not so much the processor. So yes you can just run one stick of RAM, and add another later.

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>

 

[Obtuse]

First off, no socket 754 board can do dual channel b/c the memory controller is on the processor, and it only supports single channel. Second, it really depends on what you want to do with the board. I got the K8N neo for the chipset and the added features like 4 sata, parallel raid, and onboard firewire. I also built a friend a considerably more modest computer with the vnf3 and he loves it. Sure it doesn't have the extras, but it has decent onboard sound and a good chipset, which is all he needed. As for oc, have to look at the bios for each of the boards, I know the K8N neo has a lot of nice options, but I don't know what the chaintech options are.

"It's too late now anyway. That song is stuck in my head and the only way to get rid of it is to blow it out. With a bullet!! - Carl

 

[Cybercraig]

Yes, the Chaintech has a good BIOS and easy overclock features. Just like my board though, it limits Vdimm to 2.8v.

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

 

[endyen]

I would go with the Asus K8N-E Deluxe. At $142, it is pricey, but the 3 year warranty says a lot.
Second, I would take the MSI board, but make sure it has the latest bios, as older vers. dont do temps well.( they say your chip is 20c higher than it is.)