Abit NF7-S Rev 2.0

**Roadee** · Jul 18, 2003, 10:35 PM

ok......just got this board over-nighted to me. It is replacing my Asus A7N8X Deluxe Rev 1.04 board. I feel the need for speed kind of upgrade

So......in the next few weeks I am going to be talking this system on up to overclocking heaven, but I need to have some other opinions on which way to go with this. So......here is whay I need opinions on:

Memory.......as in brand and speed, amount.......256, 512, GB
Cooling solution.........as in going from air.....over to water cooling.

Prices, review's, and links will be appreciated.....personal experience will be even better.

I am not made of money, but ALL opinions will be considered. The rest of my system is ready to handle whatever I throw at it. I will appreciate ALL opinions, the more the better, wheather you have 1 post or 10,000.......noOb or Guru, I want to hear what you have to say.

Just got the board.....so now I am going to shut down this system and say good bye to the Asus, in which now about to have a home in a friend's new rig. Hope I got a good board...or this could get UGLY!

LOL

Rayder · Jul 18, 2003, 10:51 PM

My bro has an NF7-S 2.0 with a AMD XP3000 and 1gig of PC 3200 dual channel RAM(don't know what brand) and that sucker FLIES!!! I think the PC3200 RAM is important if you want to overclock as PC2700 is 333fsb max.

About the only 'issue' with it is that you have to manually set the clock for the 3000, it doesn't have a preset setting for 3000's.

shuki · Jul 19, 2003, 01:17 AM

can't comment on the water cooling

but my kingston pc3500 hyperX is great! cheap too from newegg. I'm running dual sticks 2x256. for the money, really can not be beat

and these nf7's are very nice indeed. I can only comment on my vmodded v1.2 but I'm sure zardon and others can comment on their precious 2.0's

~~DriveEuro~~ · Jul 19, 2003, 10:47 AM

the OCZ PC3500 is prolly the best PC3500 out aside from the TwinMOS...

tek · Jul 19, 2003, 11:14 AM

Water Cooling - ehh... NO!!!!!
Memory - if your looking for GREAT RAM for CHEAP price get the GeiL Golden Dual Dragon PC3500 512MB for $129 at newegg.com, but if you got the money.... I'd go with OCz EL Dual Channel PC3500 2x256MB for $169 from newegg.com.

I personally am also gonna have an upgrade soon (I HOPE!!):
-ABIT NF7-S 2.0
-Barton 2500+ (going to do a versus 2500+ vs 1700+)
-GeiL Golden Dual Dragon PC3500 512MB
-Sapphire 9500nonpro RED PCB, L-shaped mem (HOPEFULLY!!!)
-Giant II or Zalman Heatpipe on that sweet card

muzz · Jul 19, 2003, 06:15 PM

I was under the impression that the NF7 2.0 was having issues with the HyperX3500.
Maybe a new bios has fixed that issue.

My Corsair XMS 3500 does fine ( on the nf7 and NF7-S 2.0 ), as does my Buffalo 3200.
The Buffalo 3200 is available at Newegg for like $46 ( with free shipping) for a 256mb stick.
I personally would get 2x256, which is the config I run........256 mb sticks OC better on avg. then 512 mb sticks.
The Buffalo ram is very good, if ya need more evidence go to www.xtremesystems.org and look it up..... for the price ya can't really beat it. The TwinMos ram is very good also, and can be had at MemoryX for around the same price ( + shipping of course).
Water is better than air ( I have used both).

**Roadee** · Jul 20, 2003, 01:45 AM

well......so far not so good......

The NF7-S that I got wouldn't boot.....at all. I tried Samsung and Apacer memory in it so far....no go. I just went and picked up some OCZ PC2700 and some Corsair PC2700, and have to build a system for a buddy tonight, so I figure I will use his case and stuff to see if I can get this board to boot. If not then I guess it will be time to RMA it......sucks....

On another note.....I traded my XP2600 333 CPU for a Barton 2500......ordered a twin pak of OCZ PC3500 2x256.....and sold my 32x burner for $40......so went ahead and ordered a 52x burner for $45

So with what I have coming....and what I already have....looks to be a nice system.....at least until the Athlon 64 hits the market and some of the bugs get worked out of the motherboards!! So..for the final system...

XP2500+ Barton (REPLACED 2600+ 333)
HHC-001 HSF lapped and polished
OCZ PC3500 2x256 (REPLACED Apacer 1x512 PC2700)
Abit NF7-S Rev 2 (REPLACED Asus A7N8X DLX Rev 1.04)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (built by ATI) (REPLACED ATI Radeon 8500LE 128) TV out hooked up to a 53" Sony
Maxtor 60G HD x2 (looking at twin Raptor's)
Lite on DVD
Lite on 52x burner (REPLACED Lite on 32x)
Asus TV Tuner/capture card
Antec PP 1080 w/430 TP
Twin Samsung 17" CRT

Sound system is a professional club system consisting of a 16 space rack full of component's/amps 6 foot front stacks (top/sub) and twin double 15" rears, pushing 2200 watt's per side at 4 ohms. Turn out the lights playing MOHAA and it is like you are in the war!!

I think my system is starting to look up

Now I just have to find a decent water cooling sytem....Thanks for all the idea's guy's!!!

~~DriveEuro~~ · Jul 20, 2003, 01:56 AM

That's a stellar system. I just hope you can boot it up.

Iridium · Jul 22, 2003, 09:01 PM

Wow,...um I mean WOW.. congrats on such a rig..I am hoping someday to have that kind of intergreated home/pc/entertainment system type set up!

shuki · Jul 23, 2003, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roadee
well......so far not so good......

The NF7-S that I got wouldn't boot.....at all.

man that suxOrs

either way I would RMA it! If it don't fly right out of the box mine go back!

**Roadee** · Jul 23, 2003, 01:46 AM

I finally got it to boot......I am using it right now

I went and borrowed some memory from several friends until I found one that worked.....the first stick I tried was OCZ PC2700 512x1...the basic series....and it booted right up "SWEET" Funny thing is...this same stick would not work with my Asus board....so I sold it to a buddy.....and the memory I bought for the Asus wouldn't work in this one......just my luck I guess. But I sold the memory for the Asus board to another buddy....to help pay for the new memory I have coming.

I have a set of OCZ PC3500 256x2 on the way.....Fedex tracking shows it will be here Wednesday.....so the overclocking will commence that evening....

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 01:59 AM

Damn, why all the incompatibilities? Is that normal with those boards?

**Roadee** · Jul 23, 2003, 02:08 AM

To be honest......it is pretty much normal for ALL nForce 2 boards. Like anything else..it is luck of the Draw.....if I would of had top notch memory to begin with.....instead of cheap stuff that wasn't made for the nForce 2 boards....then I wouldn't really of had any trouble. With the new revision 2 boards.....and using the newer memory modules......problems with compatability are pretty slim.

My Asus board was a Rev 1.04.....and the memory was Apacer. The OCZ memory was older memory from the middle of last year. The stick of OCZ would not work in the Asus board.....but when I built a few system's for some friends....out of curiosity I tried it in there boards......and the OCZ worked just fine with the newer Rev 2.0 A7N8X Dlx boards. As it did with this new Abit.

Kind of weird I know......but nothing is ever "easy" when it comes to computers........either you are lucky with the hardware that you get........or you are one of the few that has a problem. And I found in further testing that all the other sticks of memory I tried in this board worked fine......but the stick of Apacer would not......what is really strange about that......is that the Apacer stick I had.....was listed on the Abit web site.........

WEIRD

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 02:29 AM

"but the stick of Apacer would not......what is really strange about that......is that the Apacer stick I had.....was listed on the Abit web site......... WEIRD"

Yeah that is weird. But then again, ya kind of expect THAT kind of thing to happen too. At least your board isn't dead!

**Roadee** · Jul 24, 2003, 05:18 PM

I finally got in the new memory yesterday....OCZ PC3500 EL DDR!!

The memory was so pretty...all shiny mirrored finish copper heat sinks. Went ahead and inspected the contacts on it and then prepared my tower for the new memory install......taking out the old....unhooking power sources...inspecting memory slots......things like that.

Put the new memory in slots 2 and 3, they went in very nicely, and were seated perfectly. I was very happy with the install and quality appearance of the OCZ. I double checked everything.....just like always!! Got everything hooked back up and situated, turned on the monitor and hit the power switch.

SNAP........CRACKLE.........POP!!

I hit the power switch real quick.......and then that one of a kind smell hit my nose and I could see a little smoke coming out of the case. SHIT

The north bridge looked pretty messed up and the memory didn't smell to good either....but everything else that was in the case works just fine. I went outside for a smoke......came back in and switch out the motherboard in about 20 mins....." I have built a few system's" and was back online. Good thing my buddy's other parts haven't come in yet.....I still had my A7N8X DLX sitting here....and it didn't require a fresh install of XP Pro.....both being NF2 boards and all.

So I got online and on the phone to see what I could do....thankfully I deal with a REALLY good online source and they had me RMA both the mother board and memory. But I am having to wait for the re-order since they are out of the memory I had just gotten.......sux!!

I was looking at the Corsair PC3700 twin-X but can't seem to find out much on it with the NF2 boards compatability.....seeing as how they designed it with the Intel boards in mind according to there site. So now the wait for my new toys begins again........DAMN I HATE WAITING!!

Aren't computer's so much fun?? I love my hobby....

**Roadee** · Jul 24, 2003, 05:36 PM

I would be interested in hearing about all of your setting.....ie....voltage and all. I noticed that you are not on MS messenger. You have me intrigued with this memory and would like to hear more on it. If I like what I hear from you.....I will go ahead and order it tonight and shorten my wait.

Which would you say is better on this board........the OCZ PC3500 El DDR twin pack or the Corsair PC3700 twin pack?? Seeing as how I know that rated speed doesn't always mean what it says.

Thanx

dipstick · Jul 24, 2003, 06:34 PM

Well, I was running a TwinX 1GB kit with default timings of 8/4/4/3 at 241fsb with 2.7v. The default speeds are 233MHz 8/4/4/3 2.6v. I also like the OCZ PC3700 which is rated at 7/3/3/3, but I haven't used OCZ in years although I hear great things. If you want a very high fsb and have the $$ you gotta go with PC3700, dont' look into PC3500. But corsair ram has never failed me although don't expect to run this mem at lower timings than what it's rated at even at lower speeds, because it won't. Also my above OC is a motherboard limitation, so you might have better luck.

***Veridian3*** · Jul 26, 2003, 04:26 PM

HI guys, just picked up one of these boards today

I'm running 2x256mb of Twinmos PC2700 and an XP 2600+ absolutely fine, and the board seems rock solid. Will look at overclocking in the near future.

Stu

**Roadee** · Jul 27, 2003, 03:27 AM

I hope you get what you are after with that board

My new board and memory should be in on Tuesday or Wednesday.....so I will finally be able to see what I can get out of them as far as performance. I wanted to get a new water cooling system after I got things going on this system......but my car broke the timing belt and wiped out the #2 and 3 pistons.....kinda sux.....I bought that car in Germany.....ordered it brand new...oh well.....it was a 94' Plymouth Laser tuned for Germany

My wife kinda took over the car when we got married......and she needed a new one to replace it. I figure she has to get to work somehow while I sit in front of this computer!! So today I went and bought another new car....didn't want the payment.....but what can you do? She seems to like it though....

Will update this as soon as the stuff comes in. Feel free to use this thread to let me know how your system's are coming along. Any problems that we may have could pose useful to some visiting future members

***Veridian3*** · Jul 27, 2003, 09:03 AM

HI,

Its been good so far, i changed from a Leadtek board that was corrupting downloads (was either it didnt like the memory or the NIC was messed up) so have been downloading a lot since yesterday and all seems fine. Its a Rev 2 so thats also a good thing.

Basically all i was looking for was a board that matches the overall stability of the Intel built boards i've used in the past. Whenever i have used Athlon boards they have never been as good.

The only strange thing to happen so far to this board is that there is a bug that occasionally sets of the CPU heat warning when booting into XP (yes the first time it happened i got a real fright!) but there is a bios flash to fix that...just need to get a floppy drive to flash

Stu

**Roadee** · Jul 27, 2003, 02:44 PM

Keep us posted if anything starts to go weird.....not likely to happen though. Was wondering do you have any comparison benchmarks from your old board and this one? Wondering if you got an increase/decrease in anything. I have heard that the Abit board has a little better use of the memory controller and that it helps on all memory type benchmarks....

***Veridian3*** · Jul 27, 2003, 04:19 PM

No Memory benchmarks comparing the two i'm afraid. I had done some PC Mark benchies for the Wester Digital HD review but i decided against using them in the final draft and have deleted them...

I have today set up my existing ATA100 HD on the ABIT IDE-SATA convertor, just for fun, and the performance is within a few points on PC Mark. Nice thing to have really...excellent feature infact.

Stu