Mistakenly got a A7V8X-X instead of an A7N8X-X - also need cooling recommendation.

[Hupjack]

I just upgraded my trusty PIII 450 system. Actually the only thing I kept
were two previous component upgrades, my 80 GB HD and my Asus V7100 GeForce
2 MX Pro 64MB Video Card.

I intended to purchase the Asus nForce2 based A7N8X-X along with an Athlon
2600+, but I accidentally ordered a Via based A7V8X-X motherboard and chip
bundle. The model number is so similar I didn't even notice... I should
have been paying closer attention. I'm thinking I'll build this motherboard
combo into another system, sell it, and get the NVIDIA chipset A7N8X-X that
I intended to get for myself. I'm not the overclocking type, but I'd sorta
feel better having the NVIDIA board since I had heard such good things about
it. Am I being silly? Making a mountain out of a molehill? I figure I can
turn a profit on the system I sell and subsidize my upgrade.

I get the feeling this VIA based motherboard would work out quite nicely if
I wanted to stick with it. I'm a little less keen about the heatsink and
fan combo that was provided in the bundle http://tinyurl.com/2lhnv. It's a
SPEEZE 5R281B1H3G Like this one
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-150-013&depa=0
I didn't have any expectations that they'd bundle a high end heat sink and
fan, but I had hoped a stock fan, not intended for overclocking, would be a
bit quieter. http://www.speezeusa.com/5r281b1h3.asp - this looks like the
manufacturers page for the cpu cooler I got stuck with (but mine has a "G"
on the end of the model number). It's spec'd at 30dB, and I apparently find
that too loud. I'd love some recommendations for a better heatsink fan
combo.

In keeping with my plan to build the VIA based Mobo into another computer
and sell it, I'm considering getting a 2nd Mobo/Chip combo from either
http://www.bzboyz.com/store/product3090.html or the same place I got my last
(mis-ordered) one from http://tinyurl.com/2ut6u. Anybody have a
recommendation for a reputable awesome priced shop to order from? I'd
prefer it be outside of California so I avoid sales tax Both of these
places I spotted offer upgraded cooling options, but neither are very
descriptive as to what you are upgrading to. I can pick a specific model
cooling option through the website another way, I just need to know what to
select. So any suggestions for a well priced quiet cooling option are much
appreciated.

One more question... Am I doing anything really stupid by getting the
A7N8X-X as opposed to the nForce 2 Ultra based A7N8X? As best I can tell,
the only thing I'm missing out on is the Dual-Channel memory support of the
Ultra chipset. I had purchased a 512 MB stick of Corsair Value Select
PC3200 RAM.VS512MB400. With this RAM, would I stand to benefit from the
Dual Channel architecture of the nForce 2 Ultra Chipset or do you need some
special RAM?

Thanks in Advance,
-Ethan

 

[Hupjack]

Sorry about this post.. I meant to send it to
alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
it's almost a replica of my post "Want a more quiet CPU Cooler" from an hour
ago.

I had an afterthought that I should have copied my earlier post to the ASUS
board, but I accidentally reposted it here. 1000 Apologies.

 

[Ed_]

I just upgraded my trusty PIII 450 system. Actually the only thing I kept
were two previous component upgrades, my 80 GB HD and my Asus V7100 GeForce
2 MX Pro 64MB Video Card.

I intended to purchase the Asus nForce2 based A7N8X-X along with an Athlon
2600+, but I accidentally ordered a Via based A7V8X-X motherboard and chip
bundle. The model number is so similar I didn't even notice... I should
have been paying closer attention. I'm thinking I'll build this motherboard
combo into another system, sell it, and get the NVIDIA chipset A7N8X-X that
I intended to get for myself. I'm not the overclocking type, but I'd sorta
feel better having the NVIDIA board since I had heard such good things about
it. Am I being silly? Making a mountain out of a molehill? I figure I can
turn a profit on the system I sell and subsidize my upgrade.

I get the feeling this VIA based motherboard would work out quite nicely if
I wanted to stick with it. I'm a little less keen about the heatsink and
fan combo that was provided in the bundle http://tinyurl.com/2lhnv. It's a
SPEEZE 5R281B1H3G Like this one
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-150-013&depa=0
I didn't have any expectations that they'd bundle a high end heat sink and
fan, but I had hoped a stock fan, not intended for overclocking, would be a
bit quieter. http://www.speezeusa.com/5r281b1h3.asp - this looks like the
manufacturers page for the cpu cooler I got stuck with (but mine has a "G"
on the end of the model number). It's spec'd at 30dB, and I apparently find
that too loud. I'd love some recommendations for a better heatsink fan
combo.

In keeping with my plan to build the VIA based Mobo into another computer
and sell it, I'm considering getting a 2nd Mobo/Chip combo from either
http://www.bzboyz.com/store/product3090.html or the same place I got my last
(mis-ordered) one from http://tinyurl.com/2ut6u. Anybody have a
recommendation for a reputable awesome priced shop to order from? I'd
prefer it be outside of California so I avoid sales tax Both of these
places I spotted offer upgraded cooling options, but neither are very
descriptive as to what you are upgrading to. I can pick a specific model
cooling option through the website another way, I just need to know what to
select. So any suggestions for a well priced quiet cooling option are much
appreciated.

One more question... Am I doing anything really stupid by getting the
A7N8X-X as opposed to the nForce 2 Ultra based A7N8X? As best I can tell,
the only thing I'm missing out on is the Dual-Channel memory support of the
Ultra chipset. I had purchased a 512 MB stick of Corsair Value Select
PC3200 RAM.VS512MB400. With this RAM, would I stand to benefit from the
Dual Channel architecture of the nForce 2 Ultra Chipset or do you need some
special RAM?

Thanks in Advance,
-Ethan

You're also going to miss the SATA ports and the dual LAN.

I used that ram with a Deluxe build and am quite happy with it. I pushed the
2500 Barton up to 200fsb and ran at 3200, just to see if it would be stable and
it was.

From everything I have read about dual channel, I don't think it is a very big
boost but someone may disagree. In order to get the dual channel you would need
to run with 2 sticks of ram so you would either need another stick of 512 or 2
sticks of 256.

I hope this helps you.

Ed

 

[Hupjack]

You're also going to miss the SATA ports and the dual LAN.

I was just talking about the more subtle difference between the A7N8X-X and
the A7N8X.

My thoughts on the other Deluxe features...

I don't foresee needing an SATA drive for quite a long time, perhaps not
during the life of my 2600+ Am I deluding myself? As for firewire, I was
thinking if I was going to use it, I'd want firewire 800, and just get it as
a PCI upgrade card.

I don't have a clue what Dual Lan is good for:
"Integrated 3Com® and NVIDIA® LAN controllers lets users access broadband
via one LAN port and share the Internet connection with network neighborhood
via the other LAN port."

Is this making it effectively a Broadband router? Obviously you can already
do internet connection sharing with built in Microsoft software (I've never
needed it and have no idea how well it works, I've always just used a
router). I suppose this hardware makes ICS work better? Isn't it better to
just use a router so the internet connection available to other computers
isn't dependent on a server computer always being on? I'm a big power
saver...

I used that ram with a Deluxe build and am quite happy with it. I pushed the
2500 Barton up to 200fsb and ran at 3200, just to see if it would be stable and
it was.

Cool... good to know Maybe when I get the nForce board and sell this
Via one, I should get a 2500+ just so I have the option to crank it up a
notch.

From everything I have read about dual channel, I don't think it is a very big
boost but someone may disagree. In order to get the dual channel you would need
to run with 2 sticks of ram so you would either need another stick of 512 or 2
sticks of 256.

Yeah, I had no clue what sort of boost the dual channel mode offered.
Knowing no better, I'll take what you've read and assume I can do without
it.

thanks,
-Ethan