Ok, I found the MSI K8N Neo4 SLI board at Newegg, here is the link.' ">http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-130-487&depa=1 My other option is the A8N SLI that I can get from monarch in a combo with the 3500 newcastle, for about 5 bucks cheaper. In addition to that, i get farcry dvd version, hl2 via steam, and 4 months to napster.

Couple of questions,

1) Which motherboard would be better?
2) Would it be better to get the Neo4 SLI over the A8N SLI?
3) Should I buy the Neo4?, or wait awhile. I have the cash availble...

If I think of anything else, I ask. Also, since this is probably a 1 day sale, it would be great if i could order it tonight. But I want you guys' opinion first.

Thanks,
hubs8907

Its really just a total toss up. Both mobos are the [content edited].

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The opinions expressed above do not represent those of AMD, OCZ, or ATI
"bv, if Mormons were real, you'd be one" - SDA

Here's what I see about them:

MSI: got SB audio, good o/c'er for the future, more SATA2 ports, no x1 slots

Asus: no SB audio, has 2 x1 slots, has been out for a while

Other than that, they are pretty close to being the same. I dont know if I would ever use the x1 slots, because I dont see too many upgrades unless i get a brand new computer. So, i dont think that the x1 slots are necessary for me.

Thanks for all the help in advance guys.

hubs8907

QUOTE (hubs8907 @ Jan 29 2005, 07:55 PM) Ok, I found the MSI K8N Neo4 SLI board at Newegg, here is the link.' ">http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-130-487&depa=1  My other option is the A8N SLI that I can get from monarch in a combo with the 3500 newcastle, for about 5 bucks cheaper.  In addition to that, i get farcry dvd version, hl2 via steam, and 4 months to napster.

Couple of questions,

1) Which motherboard would be better?
2) Would it be better to get the Neo4 SLI over the A8N SLI?
3) Should I buy the Neo4?, or wait awhile.  I have the cash availble...

If I think of anything else, I ask.  Also, since this is probably a 1 day sale, it would be great if i could order it tonight.  But I want you guys' opinion first.

Thanks,
hubs8907
1- Well both have about the same features. Theres only one real difference between the two. The MSI uses some creative audio chip and the Asus uses the ALC850. But if you have an external card your fine. The asus does have 2 extra PCIE 1x slots.

2- look up

3- Personally I would wait to see the ATI multi rendering. You must rememebr that the SLI mode will only benefit certain number of games. Im not so sure on PCI E yet as many people jsut arent ready for it.

EDIT: Im wrong I believe it does work 8x 8x on the msi.

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Rigs: AMD 3700, MSI RD 480 Neo 2, X850Xt, 2GB GSkill
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QUOTE 1- Well both have about the same features. Theres only one real difference between the two. The MSI uses some creative audio chip and the Asus uses the ALC850. But if you have an external card your fine. Now another thing you may look at it is the asus becuase it does have 2 extra PCI E 1X slots, and its SLI mode is 8X 8X, not like MSIs 16X 1X.


I thought that all the Nforce 4 SLI MCP chips did 8x 8x...... i believe that the 16x/1x in the description means that the second x16 slot can function as a x1 slot as well. Can someone please clarify this?

Thanks,
hubs8907

Edit: So do you guys think that the neo4 would be better because of the neo line's reputation, or the a8n would be better because it has been out longer?

hubs8907

Yeah the K8N Neo4 Platinum is the one w/ the 4X PCIe...

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The opinions expressed above do not represent those of AMD, OCZ, or ATI
"bv, if Mormons were real, you'd be one" - SDA

QUOTE Yeah the K8N Neo4 Platinum is the one w/ the 4X PCIe...

Yeah, that ended as a flop. It is still on the market for 150. I had never heard of this board until I saw it today.

I'm kind of leaning toward the Neo4 because of the success of the Neo2 Platinum. Any opinions on this?

Thanks,
hubs8907

There are some mobos that allow for hybrid modes instead of the default x8/x8. One such board is DFI's nF4 board, which allows for x16/x2. In any event, feature wise, I would imagine MSI and ASUS' boards to be very similar. However, as far as the overall retail package is concerned, I'd go with the A8N from Monarch without a doubt. And I've always been an ASUS man myself anyway. They aren't #1 in the biz for nothing.

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Intel Core i7 860
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro
Corsair HX650W
Corsair XMS DDR3-1333 (4GB @ 8-8-8-24)
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Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB

Ok, I've decided that I'm going with the Asus. I looked at where the chipset was placed, and on the msi, it was right behind one of the pcie slots. That could cause some problems. Like Ardrid said, the asus also has a lot more in the retail package.

I may be missing out on the onboard SB live, but I can get one of those really cheap if i wanted to.

Thanks for all of you guys' opinions.

hubs8907

I vote for Asus

I'm having a lot of troubles with my current MSI K8N Neo Platinum nf3 250GB so I would choose Asus and see how good their products are; they're supposed to be way up there

QUOTE (hubs8907 @ Jan 29 2005, 10:16 PM) Ok, I've decided that I'm going with the Asus. I looked at where the chipset was placed, and on the msi, it was right behind one of the pcie slots. That could cause some problems. Like Ardrid said, the asus also has a lot more in the retail package.

I may be missing out on the onboard SB live, but I can get one of those really cheap if i wanted to.

Thanks for all of you guys' opinions.

hubs8907
Good choice. Personally I am an Asus man myself for the newer boards. I also love gigabyte, but recently Asus has been making great products. I think you made an excellent decision, plus i dont feel that the creative sound thing is all that worth it, they make good cards, but chipsets for mobo. Im just not sure.

Plus that retail package is a sweet addon.

Hope you enjoy it.

-------------------------
irc.globalgamers.net
Channels are #freedom and #forums.amd.irc.
Unofficial chat on both.

Rigs: AMD 3700, MSI RD 480 Neo 2, X850Xt, 2GB GSkill
Dell Latitude D810, Pentium M 740, 128MB (ded.) X600, 2GB Crucial
AMD 3200, GB K8NS Ultra, x800xlaiw, 2GB Corsair.