KT333 or KT400 or nForce2 ??

[misle]

I'm looking to upgrade my KT133a, and these seem to be the latest greatest boards out there.

I do a lot of home recording. So I need a fast, reliable IDE controller, so I don't get skips or drops in my recordings (which is a problem I have with my RAID controller on my ABIT board).

I also need a board that is very stable, fast, and has good driver support.

What do you recommend?

thanks!
Matt

 

[Varsh]

I'd go with a KT400 Mobo, either an Asus A7V8X or an Epox 8K9A2/3+
Personally I'd go with the Epox Mobo

 

[misle]

I'm not up-to-date on the KT400 or nForce2 boards, so could you explain your reasoning behind your pick? Thanks!

 

[Varsh]

Well actually firstly are you wanting a Pentium or an AMD? The two boards I've mentioned are for AMD, anyway to the point in brief : Unlike the KT333, the KT400 can support DDR 3200+ AND allow for the new higher FSB coming from AMD and Intel later in the year, generally it's the choice now to get a KT400 as it now has the best possible upgrade opportunities compared to the KT333 which can use DDR PC3200+ but it'll be downclocked to 2700. To take full advantage of the KT400 though you'd want a 333MHz FSB AMD or the 800MHz Intel Proc., that way the DDR runs at it's peak. I have however found that with the AMD Proc they tend to have a lot of RAM leaks meaning that for some reason it's not performing any faster than a PC2700 anyway, I could be wrong about that one though.

 

[misle]

Thanks! Yes I'm looking at AMD processors. Intel seems to be more stable and recommended in most home recording studio situations, but my budget doesn't allow for it.

I guess I'm now curious about the differences between the KT400 and nForce2.

 

[Varsh]

Unfotunately I don't know the differences on that one, sorry

 

[misle]

np. Thanks for the info on the KT400.

 

[cmaMath13]

I'd go with a KT400 Mobo, either an Asus A7V8X or an Epox 8K9A2/3+

I agree!!!

 

[AtomicDude512]

nForce2, much better and a Epox nForce2 can reach 200FSB stable. Some of the advantages of the nForce2 are:
1. Dual-Channel DDR which can yield a 10-20% performance improvement, most helpful if you have onboard graphics.
2. DASP help better predict which data the CPU will ask for and puts it in the cache before hand.
3. Synchronus and Isosynchronus North-to-South bus, which helps out some devices like the network. Not to mention that is has 800MB/s bandwidth because of HyperTransport technology.
4. It also has an award winning arcitecture and audio.

Check out these reviews for more info. Link1 and this one, Link2. There you go!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: cmaMath

I'd go with a KT400 Mobo, either an Asus A7V8X or an Epox 8K9A2/3+

I agree!!!

what the hell? I thought everyone loved NForce2.... there really isn't any reason to get KT400.
NForce2 is faster, and is very stable at high speeds (KT400 not as much) if I was getting a single CPU AMD rig today it would be NForce2 based, or nothing at all.

 

[KidChaos]

Yield is 100 percent correct.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: cmaMath

I'd go with a KT400 Mobo, either an Asus A7V8X or an Epox 8K9A2/3+

I agree!!!

what the hell? I thought everyone loved NForce2.... there really isn't any reason to get KT400.
NForce2 is faster, and is very stable at high speeds (KT400 not as much) if I was getting a single CPU AMD rig today it would be NForce2 based, or nothing at all.

I know the feeling, I was surpised to see the KT400 even being recommened.

My vote is nForce2.

 

[Dufrane]

Agreed go n-force2. Wish I had the money to upgrade to it!!

 

[Whitedog]

VIA took a long time to convence the AMD community they could produce a "stable" platform... I still question it. NVidia on the other hand produced a stable platform for AMD first try. WTF VIA?

I've never "recommended" an AMD platform to anyone (I always just let them decide for themselves) based on VIA's track record... But now, it's easy to recommend an AMD platform.

NForce2

Period!

(recommend ASUS A7N8x Deluxe) +/- $140

 

[Varsh]

I've heard there's a lot of hardware conflicts with the NForce mobo's, besides what's wrong with the KT400?

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Varsh
I've heard there's a lot of hardware conflicts with the NForce mobo's, besides what's wrong with the KT400?

Nothing, besides the fact that the nforce 2 bests it in every way.

 

[NOX]

I''ll never ever use VIA again to many bad memories.

Currently running an nForce2, and love it, 100% stable and compatible with all my hardware.

EDIT: Did I mention it was fast too?

 

[warmonger]

Over at the StorageReview Forums, I've noticed many more issues with IDE bandwidth on VIA boards than nForce boards. That alone should be enough to convince you about not getting the KT400.
That said, what kind of recording do you do? Do you record 24/96 with multiple tracks simulatneously? What sound card are you using? Give some more specifics on your other hardware and we might be able to make a more informed decision.

 

[Varsh]

I've had absoloutely no problems with a VIA Mobo ever since I got my first one over 5 years ago, I've had 4 mobo's since then, and I own an EPOX 8K9A2+ and it's lightening quick, 4 RAID, 2 standard IDE, the only thing I've found better in the NForce 2 is that it has 6 channel sound and uses the onboard Realtek Network adapter, having already an Audigy and a 100/1000 Mbps network card, this is the better option, I hear people rave on about the 8RDA/+ and there's not even a RAID CONTROLLER!!! What's with that...besides this person's asking for RAID which is why I recommended those two Mobo's.

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: Varsh
I've heard there's a lot of hardware conflicts with the NForce mobo's, besides what's wrong with the KT400?

Nothing, besides the fact that the nforce 2 bests it in every way.

There doesn't seem to be any RAID controllers on the NForce2 Mobo's as far as I've seen.

 

[NOX]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: Varsh
I've heard there's a lot of hardware conflicts with the NForce mobo's, besides what's wrong with the KT400?

Nothing, besides the fact that the nforce 2 bests it in every way.

There doesn't seem to be any RAID controllers on the NForce2 Mobo's as far as I've seen.[/quote]I have RAID on my nForce2 board.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Varsh
I've had absoloutely no problems with a VIA Mobo ever since I got my first one over 5 years ago, I've had 4 mobo's since then, and I own an EPOX 8K9A2+ and it's lightening quick, 4 RAID, 2 standard IDE, the only thing I've found better in the NForce 2 is that it has 6 channel sound and uses the onboard Realtek Network adapter, having already an Audigy and a 100/1000 Mbps network card, this is the better option, I hear people rave on about the 8RDA/+ and there's not even a RAID CONTROLLER!!! What's with that...besides this person's asking for RAID which is why I recommended those two Mobo's.

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: Varsh
I've heard there's a lot of hardware conflicts with the NForce mobo's, besides what's wrong with the KT400?

Nothing, besides the fact that the nforce 2 bests it in every way.

There doesn't seem to be any RAID controllers on the NForce2 Mobo's as far as I've seen.

You haven't "seen" very far. Both the Asus and Abit nforce motherboards have sata raid.

 

[Varsh]

My mistake then
Anyway I've had not a jolt of problems on my mobo

 

[arcenite]

nForce II

Bill

 

[JavaMomma]

Nvidia is the only reason I still use AMD CPUs.

If the KT400 chipset was all there was for the Athlon...I'd almost rather have a Cyrix CPU

 

[Varsh]

Oh gawd don't remind me of my old Cyrix II *shudders*