NF3-250Gb boards

[Fin015]

I'm trying to decide which motherboard to get for an A64 3200+ Newcastle. Trying to get solid information about the different options has been pretty difficult. I've heard good things about the MSI K8N Neo Platinum, Chaintech VNF3-250, and EPoX EP-8KDA3J. I'm aware of MSI's support forums, but I cannot find similar forums for either Chaintech or EPoX.

I was originally leaning towards the MSI, but I've heard a lot of people having problems with temperature readings on the processor I want. It also seems like northbridge temperatures could be an issue in general, since it only has a passive heatsync on the northbridge. If I were to get this board, should I worry about custom-cooling the northbridge?

The Chaintech is attractive in part because of its price. However, I am concerned slightly by it using the 250 chipset, not 250Gb. This means that, among other things, the network adapter runs over the PCI bus, rather than being more closely integrated, correct? What kind of performance impact does that have? Other than that, are there significant differences between this board and one based on the 250Gb chipset that I should be aware of?

The EPoX EP-8KDA3J (not the +, the cheaper one) looks pretty good. It uses the 250Gb chipset, and I have heard very few complaints from people about it. In fairness though, I haven't heard much about it at all. Has anyone had any experience with it?

Because this is my first attempt at building my own system, it would also be nice to get a motherboard with a good manual. I'm not planning on overclocking much to begin with; my first goal is simply to get it up and running. However, I'd like to be able to overclock in the future if I decide to go down that path.

So, given my position as a first time builder looking for a solid, reliable, no-hassle board, which board would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for all your input
-Fin

 

[FiberoN]

I have the MSI K8N Neo and I have had no problems with it. Definitely a quiality board in my opinion. As for the temperature problems with the CPU, I have them too but I a BIOS fix is supposed to fix that. As for the northbridge, I have touched the heatsink on it while it's under load and it's only warm, never hot so I don't think it should influence your purchasing decision.

 

[dimasukr]

I had more problems with K8N Neo than with VNF - but I think a lot of it because of K8N doesn't support A64 mobile properly
Now if you don't have a 1Gb network then impact of 100Mbit network card on PCI is very low vs integrated adapter.
On a bad side for VNF - it is got very short manual - K8N has much better one.

 

[blackpool9]

The temperature issue is specific to the Newcastle core A64's, not specific mobo manufacturers, as I have seen other mobo's on these forums with the same issue. I have heard rumblings of BIOS patches to "fix" the temperature readings on the Newcastle chips.

I spent a lot of time researching which Socket 754 board to get. Narrowed it down to the Asus K8V SE Deluxe, the EPoX EP-8KDA3J, and the MSI K8N Neo Platinum. Wednesday afternoon I ordered a Clawhammer A64 3200+, an MSI Neo Platinum and 2x512MB OCZ PC3500 RAM. I've got my fingers crossed on running the RAM at DDR400 or higher speeds. If I have stability or DRAM speed issues, I may just rma the whole kit and kaboodle and spend the extra couple of hundred on the Socket 939 3500+. I haven't heard too many issues with RAM on S939, as the dual channel seems to solve alot of the issues. Went with the MSI over the Asus because of the NF3-250Gb chipset, and only went with the MSI over the EPoX because I heard more good things from users on this board about the Neo.

Unfortunately, my new rig core is currently sitting in a FedEx warehouse in Los Angeles. With Monday being a holiday, I'll be lucky to see my new stuff by next Wednesday. *sigh*

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Let us know blackpoo9 because I am in the same boat. 754 watercooled overclocked or 939 aircooled overclocked less