Should I get revision2 A7N8X Deluxe to go with a new Barton 2500+

[Don Burnette]

I currently have the A7N8X Deluxe mb, version 1.xx, running an Athlon XP
2400+ at app 2.1 ghz.
I also am running Corsair XMS twin matched LL ram - pc3200.
Right now, I am running a bus speed of 197 mhz. My system does not seem to
be stable running at 200 mhz fsb.

I would like to order a Barton XP2500+ , and overclock it to XP3000+ or even
XP3200+ speeds, at 200 mhz fsb or even slightly higher.
Would I need to upgrade to a Revision 2.0 A7N8X Deluxe mb to be able to run
at 200 mhz and have it stable? Seems like I read some time ago , that even
though the later bios' for the previous versions of this mb allows setting
it to 200 mhz fsb, it will not run correctly unless it is a version 2.0 mb?
Is this correct?

I don't imagine it would be a big deal, even with version 2.0, the mb being
virtually identical, I would think my hard drive with XP Pro installed would
be able to be just transferred over, boot up, and run as it has been. At
worst I could do a repair install of XP Pro, but with the mb's basically
being the same, I would expect not to even have to go to that length.

Would appreciate any feedback on this.

 

[BoB]

I would say it's the 2400+, not the mobo. That's a 266fsb cpu
and runs at 2.0 ghz w/o oc'ing.
The barton's performance rating is crud! AMD went way out on this!
The 2600+/333 non-barton's are disappearing, I like the 2700+, but it's
still pricey!
Except for the overclocking, I prefer the 2400+/266 over the barton 2500!
The amd 64's, the way to go, it's an intel killer, even the mac g5 is taking
a back seat.

 

[AJ]

I currently have the A7N8X Deluxe mb, version 1.xx, running an Athlon XP
2400+ at app 2.1 ghz.
I also am running Corsair XMS twin matched LL ram - pc3200.
Right now, I am running a bus speed of 197 mhz. My system does not seem to
be stable running at 200 mhz fsb.

I would like to order a Barton XP2500+ , and overclock it to XP3000+ or even
XP3200+ speeds, at 200 mhz fsb or even slightly higher.
Would I need to upgrade to a Revision 2.0 A7N8X Deluxe mb to be able to run
at 200 mhz and have it stable? Seems like I read some time ago , that even
though the later bios' for the previous versions of this mb allows setting
it to 200 mhz fsb, it will not run correctly unless it is a version 2.0 mb?
Is this correct?

I don't imagine it would be a big deal, even with version 2.0, the mb being
virtually identical, I would think my hard drive with XP Pro installed would
be able to be just transferred over, boot up, and run as it has been. At
worst I could do a repair install of XP Pro, but with the mb's basically
being the same, I would expect not to even have to go to that length.

Would appreciate any feedback on this.

I have revision 2.0 and run 197FSB for the same reason you do. I have
the same RAM you have but I believe the RAM is the problem not the CPU
or mobo. Using other CPU's on this board give similar stability
trouble higher than 197. My Sandra RAM scores are around 3000 and
that's what really matters anyway.

A7N8X 2.0 DLX
2500+ @ 3200+
Volcano 11+ HSF
Corsair Xtreme 2x 256MB
GF FX 5200 ultra
Plextor CDR
DVD drive
Antec case/PSU
Default RAM, Vcore voltage
RAM locked to 100%
AGP locked to 66Mhz

 

[JR]

I had an older revision 2400+ that would not overclock well at all.The
newer 2400+ cores I would assume overclock better.The 2400+ I now a have
a Barton that runs a 2.2Ghz 3200+ speeds without raising the voltage! It
is stable because I ran prime95 for 12 hours straight without an error.
The temps maxed out at 98-100 degree F under full load.I am using a
Thermalright SLK-900A Heatsink with Mechatronics 80mm 53cfm fan.

 

[ldg]

I currently have the A7N8X Deluxe mb, version 1.xx, running an Athlon XP
2400+ at app 2.1 ghz.
I also am running Corsair XMS twin matched LL ram - pc3200.
Right now, I am running a bus speed of 197 mhz. My system does not seem to
be stable running at 200 mhz fsb.

I would like to order a Barton XP2500+ , and overclock it to XP3000+ or even
XP3200+ speeds, at 200 mhz fsb or even slightly higher.
Would I need to upgrade to a Revision 2.0 A7N8X Deluxe mb to be able to run
at 200 mhz and have it stable? Seems like I read some time ago , that even
though the later bios' for the previous versions of this mb allows setting
it to 200 mhz fsb, it will not run correctly unless it is a version 2.0 mb?
Is this correct?

I don't imagine it would be a big deal, even with version 2.0, the mb being
virtually identical, I would think my hard drive with XP Pro installed would
be able to be just transferred over, boot up, and run as it has been. At
worst I could do a repair install of XP Pro, but with the mb's basically
being the same, I would expect not to even have to go to that length.

Would appreciate any feedback on this.

I have this mb and the 2500+ working easily at 3200+. You just have
to buy appropriate ram. I'm no expert, but the 1gig (2x512) of low
latency TWINX1024-3200LLPT Corsair ram I purchased seems just fine. I
have the sticks in sockets 1 & 3. (check out www.newegg.com)

I also have the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu cpu cooler with the 120mm fan.
This has given me the coolest and quietest pc I've ever built. (the
cpu/mb temps are 45/33. The core voltage was not adjusted yet it's
been stable as a rock for a couple of months now. (This came from
Fry's)

I can also recommend the wd raptor sata drives. I have 2 of them in
raid 0. Gee they're fast. (newegg) I understand wd is coming out
with a larger version of these drives, but I haven't seen any for sale
yet.

My only regrettable purchase was the ati 9800 pro card. The digital
interface wont work with my 21in Viewsonic vp211b display. The
analog interface works though, so I kept it. (Both from Fry's)

Oh, I never got the lan ports working on the a7n8x. One is by nvidia
and the other 3com. I finally disabled both of them in the bios and
stuck a cheap lan card in from my junk pile. Works fine. No other
problems. Great sound.

Regards,
Larry

 

[ldg]

oops

I also have the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu cpu cooler with the 120mm fan.

92mm
http://www.zalman.co.kr/english/product/cnps7000alcu.htm


win2k operating system

 

[dgk]

oops


92mm
http://www.zalman.co.kr/english/product/cnps7000alcu.htm


win2k operating system

And that thing fits the A7N8X? Very well.

 

[Kyle Brant]

tired of spam, no email address
| On Sun, 2 Nov 2003 03:11:11 -0600, "Don Burnette"
|
| >I currently have the A7N8X Deluxe mb, version 1.xx, running an
Athlon XP
| >2400+ at app 2.1 ghz.
| >I also am running Corsair XMS twin matched LL ram - pc3200.
| >Right now, I am running a bus speed of 197 mhz. My system does not
seem to
| >be stable running at 200 mhz fsb.
| >
| >I would like to order a Barton XP2500+ , and overclock it to
XP3000+ or even
| >XP3200+ speeds, at 200 mhz fsb or even slightly higher.
| >Would I need to upgrade to a Revision 2.0 A7N8X Deluxe mb to be
able to run
| >at 200 mhz and have it stable? Seems like I read some time ago ,
that even
| >though the later bios' for the previous versions of this mb allows
setting
| >it to 200 mhz fsb, it will not run correctly unless it is a version
2.0 mb?
| >Is this correct?
| >
| >I don't imagine it would be a big deal, even with version 2.0, the
mb being
| >virtually identical, I would think my hard drive with XP Pro
installed would
| >be able to be just transferred over, boot up, and run as it has
been. At
| >worst I could do a repair install of XP Pro, but with the mb's
basically
| >being the same, I would expect not to even have to go to that
length.
| >
| >Would appreciate any feedback on this.
|
| I have this mb and the 2500+ working easily at 3200+. You just have
| to buy appropriate ram. I'm no expert, but the 1gig (2x512) of low
| latency TWINX1024-3200LLPT Corsair ram I purchased seems just fine.
I
| have the sticks in sockets 1 & 3. (check out www.newegg.com)
|
| I also have the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu cpu cooler with the 120mm fan.
| This has given me the coolest and quietest pc I've ever built. (the
| cpu/mb temps are 45/33. The core voltage was not adjusted yet it's
| been stable as a rock for a couple of months now. (This came from
| Fry's)
|
| I can also recommend the wd raptor sata drives. I have 2 of them in
| raid 0. Gee they're fast. (newegg) I understand wd is coming out
| with a larger version of these drives, but I haven't seen any for
sale
| yet.
|
| My only regrettable purchase was the ati 9800 pro card. The digital
| interface wont work with my 21in Viewsonic vp211b display. The
| analog interface works though, so I kept it. (Both from Fry's)
|
| Oh, I never got the lan ports working on the a7n8x. One is by
nvidia
| and the other 3com. I finally disabled both of them in the bios and
| stuck a cheap lan card in from my junk pile. Works fine. No other
| problems. Great sound.
|
| Regards,
| Larry


I've seen comments such as yours more than once concerning the onboard
NICs. Not sure why peeps have problems with them. Both of the
onboard NICs work fine for me, and both seem to be quite speedy (don't
really notice any difference therebetween in surfing/gaming). I only
recently installed the mobo, and at first the 3com was not using the
correct driver, but a manual "driver update" procedure via device
manager fixed that problem, and all is well. I'm using win2k on my
a7n8x-dlx mobo.

 

[ldg]

I've seen comments such as yours more than once concerning the onboard
NICs. Not sure why peeps have problems with them. Both of the
onboard NICs work fine for me, and both seem to be quite speedy (don't
really notice any difference therebetween in surfing/gaming). I only
recently installed the mobo, and at first the 3com was not using the
correct driver, but a manual "driver update" procedure via device
manager fixed that problem, and all is well. I'm using win2k on my
a7n8x-dlx mobo.

I actually started out using the 3com port on my lan, but for some
reason it stopped working. It seemed to die slowly, so I mistakenly
called my isp to see if they were having problems. (I have a wireless
high speed internet connection, a router, a lan box, and 4 computers
sharing drives.) It turned out to be a problem with just the single
machine on the lan. I switched to the nvidia port and some of it's
lights weren't alive - basically it was dead as a doornail. Since I
needed to get this box going in a hurry for a job, I just disabled
both ports and put an old lan card in. That was a month or 2 ago and
it's still working just fine. I may go back to troubleshooting the
onboard ports when I have time, but there's not much to gain right
now.

To be fair, I was jin the process oft sorting out dynamic versus
static addressing from my router to the various machines. I couldn't
maintain the shared disk drives with dynamic addressing. Static
addressing fixed it. I doubt that caused the 3com port to fail, but
my recollection is a mixture of 2 problems.

It appears that the drivers that come with the card work fine with
some boards and not with others. I've read both sides in this
newsgroup. I didn't do anything unusual. I tried updating the
drivers from the cdrom and downloads at the time, but nothing seemed
to work. I was sort of put off that something so simple would take so
much time. Oh well . . .

Otherwise I like the card well enough to buy another, if that's a
help. I'm looking at 64bits for my next machine, though waiting for
the dust to settle a bit before jumping in.

Regards,
Larry

 

[Wayne Thompson]

I have a Coolermaste Aero7 Lite on my 2500+ Barton (OC to 3000+)
and it is very quiet. I have the squirrel cage set to ~2700rpm,
stay in the mid 40s under load and I cannot hear it at all. My
low noise Panasonic case fans are louder than the Aero7.

-Wayne

 

[Ed]

I put that squirrel cage on a Vantec Aeroflow, I just can't get the damn
Aero7 to work good, my temps were terrible with that thing and I don't
like the clip either, it sucks compared to the vantec aeroflow clip IMO.
But the squirrel cage variable fan is nice, I never turn it up past
2500RPM with my Barton 2800+ @ 206x11.

Mid 40s? I find that hard to believe, you must be reading the socket
temp (PcProbe?) and not the CPU die temp. But once you OC all that
really matters is that it's 110% stable, too many people freak out over
their CPU temps. ;p

Cheers,
Ed