More nForce2: New Boards from Abit, Biostar and MSI

Features
By Patrick Schmid
published

Motherboard Comparison Table

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Manu-facturerAbitAsusBiostarChaintechLeadtekMSI
ModelNF7-SA7N8XM7NCGZenith Series CT-7NJSWinfast K7NCR18DK7N2-L
Chipset
SocketnVIDIA nForce2nVIDIA nForce2nVIDIA nForce2nVIDIA nForce2nVIDIA nForce2nVIDIA nForce2
Clock (CPU/Bus)2255.1 / 334.092255.1 / 334.092255.1 / 334.092255.1 / 334.092255.1 / 334.092271.23 / 336.48
NorthbridgenForce2 SPPnForce2 SPPnForce2 SPPnForce2 SPPnForce2 SPPnForce2 SPP
SouthbridgenForce2 MCP-TnForce2 MCP-TnForce2 MCP-TnForce2 MCP-TnForce2 MCP-TnForce2 MCP-T
Northbridge Fannonoyesyesnono
Form FactorATXATXMicro ATXATXATXATX
Memory
Maximum RAM3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB
DIMM-Sockets333333
Memory TypeDDR SDRAMDDR SDRAMDDR SDRAMDDR SDRAMDDR SDRAMDDR SDRAM
Memory FrequenciesDDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400
ECC-Supportnononononono
Standard Components
Size (LxH)305 x 245 mm305 x 245 mm??304.8 x 243.2 mmRow 15 - Cell 6
PCI Slots5x PCI 2.2 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2 32 Bit3x PCI 2.2 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2 32 Bit4x PCI 2.2 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2 32 Bit
AGPAGP 3.0 / 8xAGP 3.0 / 8xAGP 3.0 / 8xAGP 3.0 / 8xAGP 3.0 / 8xAGP 3.0 / 8x
AGP Card Lockyesnoyesyesyesyes
ACR / AMR / CNRno / no / nono / no / nono / no / yesyes / no / noyes / no / noyes / no / no
Parallel Ports111111
Serial Ports221221
USB 2.0 internal/external4 / 22 / 44 / 24 / 24 / 24 / 2
Fan Headers332332
IDE Controller2x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/133
Additional Components
Piezo Speaker OnBoardnoyesnononono
Wake on LAN (WOL)noyesyesyesyesno
Wake on Modem (WOM)noyesnoyesyesno
IrDA-Portyesyesyesyesyesno
Chassis Intrusion Detectionnoyesnoyesyesno
Temperature Monitoringyesyesyesyesyesyes
Fan Status Monitoringyesyesyesyesyesyes
Network ControllerRealtek RTL8201Realtek RTL8201, 2xRealtek RTL8201ICS 1893Y?yes
IDE RAID ControllerSilicon Image Sil3112Silicon Image Sil3112-Promise PDC20376 SATA-Promise PDC20376, optional
Firewire-ControllernForce2 / Realtek RTL8801BnForce2 / Realtek RTL8801BnForce2 / Realtek RTL8801BnForce2 / Realtek RTL8801nForce2 / Agere FW803optional
SCSI-Controller------
Sound System
TypeAC97 / MCP-TAC97 / MCP-TAC97 / MCP-TPCI / MCP-TAC97 / MCP-TAC97 / MCP-T
Manufacturer / ChipRealtek ALC650Realtek ALC650Realtek ALC650C-Media CMI8738Realtek ALC650Realtek ALC650
Surround Sound6 Channels, Dolby Digital6 Channels, Dolby Digital6 Channels, Dolby Digital6 Channels, Dolby Digital6 Channels, Dolby Digital6 Channels, Dolby Digital
External ConnectorsIn, Out, Mic, Surround, Center, SPDIF-outIn, Out, Mic, Surround, Center, SPDIF-outIn, Out, Mic, Surround, Center, SPDIF-outIn, Out, MicIn, Out, MicIn, Out, Mic
Internal ConnectorsCD-in, AUX-inCD-in, AUX-inCD-in, AUX-inCD1-in, CD2-in, AUX-inCD1-in, CD2-in, AUX-inCD-in
Setup
CPU ConfigBIOSBIOSJumper + BIOSJumper + BIOSJumper + BIOSBIOS
Selectable Multipliers-6.5 - 17.0---auto
FSB Range / Increments100 - 237 / 1100 - 211 / 1100 - 200 / 1100 - 200 / 1100 - 200 / 1100 - 200 / 1
AGP clock66 - 100 MHz66 - 100 MHz50 - 100 MHz50 - 100 MHz50 - 100 MHz50 - 100 MHz
Voltage
Vcore Range / Increments1.1 - 1.85 / 0.05 V1.65 - 1.85 V / 0.025 V1.25 - 2.0 / 0.025 V1.4 - 2.150 V / 0.025 V1.1 - 2.0 / 0.025 V1.55 - 1.80 / 0.025 V
Vram / Increments2.4 - 2.7 / 0.1 V2.6 / 2.7 / 2.8 V2.5 - 2.8 / 0.1 V2.7 - 3.2 V / 0.1 V+ 0.1 V / + 0.2 V2.5 / 2.6 / 2.7 V
Vchipset / Increments1.4 - 1.7 / 0.1 VVagp 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 V1.6 - 1.9 / 0.1 VVagp 1.6 - 2.0 V / 0.1 V-Vagp 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 V
Board and BIOS Details
BiosAward/PhoenixAward/PhoenixAward/PhoenixAward/PhoenixAward/PhoenixAward/Phoenix
Version1.21015 Beta 003---3.0 B11
DateNov 29, 2002Nov 1, 2002Dec 20, 2002Nov 1, 2002Nov 6, 2002Dec 16, 2002
Motherboard Revision1.01.031.0??1
Boot DevicesFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, SCSI, CD, IDE, ZIP, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, SCSI, CD, IDE, ZIP, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LAN
Manual Interrupt Assignmentnononoyesnoyes
Special Features-Speech Post Reporter, Q-Fan---Bluetooth PC-2-PC
Shared Interrupts??????
Clock GeneratornForce2nForce2nForce2nForce2nForce2nForce2
Miscellaneous
Layout Issues-CD/AUX connectors directly behind PCI slot-IDE connectors in front of PCI slots, floppy connector at the very bottomIDE connectors in front of PCI slotsIDE connectors in front of PCI slots
Model Variations-----K7N2G w/ Graphics
Shipment / Utilities
Manual / Qualitycomprehensiveshort but completeshortcomprehensivecompleteexcellent
LanguagesEnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish, comprehensiveEnglishEnglish
Quick Setup Guide6 languages12 languages-yesnono
Cables1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy, 1x SATA1x IDE-80, 1x IDE-40, 1x Floppy, 2x SATA1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy2x IDE-80 round, 1x Floppy round, 1x optical digital, 2x SATA1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy, 1xSATA
Adapters1x DIE-to-SATA, 2x Firewire, 2x USBCOM2, Game port, 2x USB, 2x Firewire3x Firewire2x Firewire, optical digital in/out1x Firewire, 1x SPDIFUSB/D-LED
SoftwareAdobe Acrobat Reader 5.05PC-cillin 2002 Anti Virus, PC ProbeNorton Anti Virus 2002, Ghost 2002, Personal Firewall 2002Adobe Acrobat 5, Adobe Active Share, Norton Anti Virus 2002Adobe Acrobat 5, Speed Gear, Ulead Video Studio 6, Ulead Cool3D SEWinDVD
MiscellaneousRow 72 - Cell 1 Asus Live Update, ATX cover includedRow 72 - Cell 3 audio can only be disabled by jumpers, key fob included, ATX cover includedATX cover includedRow 72 - Cell 6
Patrick Schmid