Some quick mobo comparisons for XP-M

unixxx · 10-06-2005, 11:04 PM

I've been hanging out in the forums here for a while so here comes my first post

I'm gonna go with a Mobile Athlon XP (XP-M) for my CarPC. The problem is that I'm torn between three microATX (mATX) series of motherboards right now:

ASUS A7V400-MX & ASUS A7S8X-MX- no FSB or multiplier settings but good boards

Biostar M7NCG 400 - FSB setting and apparently CPU multiplier setting on version 7.2

MSI K7N2GM2 & MSI K7N2GM-V - FSB setting

The XP-Ms I've seen all run on a 266MHz FSB but there is no option for a 266MHz FSB on this pin mod page: http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/ht...md_pinmod.html Is it possible to configure a Socket A motherboard for 266MHz using the pinmod or will I just have to set it to say 200MHz and then use a higher multiplier to get up to the correct CPU speed? I know all of the motherboards say they support a 266MHz FSB but on the Asus this is "autodetected" and impossible to set correctly in the BIOS.

If I were to get the Asus I guess I would have to do both the FSB and Multiplier pin mod and if I got the MSI I'd have to do the multiplier pin mod. But in theory if I get the Biostar V7.2 I shouldn't have to do any pin mod. I have no problem doing any hardware mods and would prefer an Asus or MSI to the Biostar as I'm more comfortable with those brands.

I guess what I'm asking is would it be best just to get one of the MSIs, set the FSB to 266MHz in the BIOS, and then set the multiplier using the pin mod? Is this possible? Sorry if some of these questions have already been answered; I read through as many of the tens of pages of "athlon mobile" search results as I could. Which I might add were pretty informative.

Rafster · 10-07-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by unixxx

I've been hanging out in the forums here for a while so here comes my first post

I'm gonna go with a Mobile Athlon XP (XP-M) for my CarPC. The problem is that I'm torn between three microATX (mATX) series of motherboards right now:

ASUS A7V400-MX & ASUS A7S8X-MX- no FSB or multiplier settings but good boards

Biostar M7NCG 400 - FSB setting and apparently CPU multiplier setting on version 7.2

MSI K7N2GM2 & MSI K7N2GM-V - FSB setting

The XP-Ms I've seen all run on a 266MHz FSB but there is no option for a 266MHz FSB on this pin mod page: http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/ht...md_pinmod.html Is it possible to configure a Socket A motherboard for 266MHz using the pinmod or will I just have to set it to say 200MHz and then use a higher multiplier to get up to the correct CPU speed? I know all of the motherboards say they support a 266MHz FSB but on the Asus this is "autodetected" and impossible to set correctly in the BIOS.

If I were to get the Asus I guess I would have to do both the FSB and Multiplier pin mod and if I got the MSI I'd have to do the multiplier pin mod. But in theory if I get the Biostar V7.2 I shouldn't have to do any pin mod. I have no problem doing any hardware mods and would prefer an Asus or MSI to the Biostar as I'm more comfortable with those brands.

I guess what I'm asking is would it be best just to get one of the MSIs, set the FSB to 266MHz in the BIOS, and then set the multiplier using the pin mod? Is this possible? Sorry if some of these questions have already been answered; I read through as many of the tens of pages of "athlon mobile" search results as I could. Which I might add were pretty informative.

MSI is the best all around. I currently use a K7N2G-ILSR. I have never had any issues with it.

Awesome board. Am currently running an Athalon-XP 2600+ as a 3000+

Peace,

Rafster

DarquePervert · 10-07-2005, 07:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by unixxx

I've been hanging out in the forums here for a while so here comes my first post

I'm gonna go with a Mobile Athlon XP (XP-M) for my CarPC. The problem is that I'm torn between three microATX (mATX) series of motherboards right now:

ASUS A7V400-MX & ASUS A7S8X-MX- no FSB or multiplier settings but good boards

Biostar M7NCG 400 - FSB setting and apparently CPU multiplier setting on version 7.2

MSI K7N2GM2 & MSI K7N2GM-V - FSB setting

The XP-Ms I've seen all run on a 266MHz FSB but there is no option for a 266MHz FSB on this pin mod page: http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/ht...md_pinmod.html Is it possible to configure a Socket A motherboard for 266MHz using the pinmod or will I just have to set it to say 200MHz and then use a higher multiplier to get up to the correct CPU speed? I know all of the motherboards say they support a 266MHz FSB but on the Asus this is "autodetected" and impossible to set correctly in the BIOS.

Use a value that's half the FSB of the CPU because it's 'double pumped'. Fr your 266FSB CPU, use a value of 133mhz.

Quote:

If I were to get the Asus I guess I would have to do both the FSB and Multiplier pin mod and if I got the MSI I'd have to do the multiplier pin mod. But in theory if I get the Biostar V7.2 I shouldn't have to do any pin mod. I have no problem doing any hardware mods and would prefer an Asus or MSI to the Biostar as I'm more comfortable with those brands.

I guess what I'm asking is would it be best just to get one of the MSIs, set the FSB to 266MHz in the BIOS, and then set the multiplier using the pin mod? Is this possible? Sorry if some of these questions have already been answered; I read through as many of the tens of pages of "athlon mobile" search results as I could. Which I might add were pretty informative.

You need to make your own decision on the board, man.
Besides, this pin mod is as simple as putting wires into holes in the CPU socket.

unixxx · 10-07-2005, 08:51 AM

Thanks guys, that's what I was looking for, great info. So in theory any board should work with the pin mod. I guess that opens up my choices even more. One more question, is it possible to change the multiplier/FSB after boot in software if you've already modded the pins, probably not? Just thinking about real time downclocking if the CPU utilization is low.

unixxx · 10-07-2005, 10:01 AM

Ok, I decided to go with the MSI K7N2GM-V for it's features, ease of getting a mobile running on it, smaller than microATX size (24.5cm x 19cm), and the MSI brand name. Just gotta pick my mobile now

Rafster · 10-07-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by unixxx

Ok, I decided to go with the MSI K7N2GM-V for it's features, ease of getting a mobile running on it, smaller than microATX size (24.5cm x 19cm), and the MSI brand name. Just gotta pick my mobile now

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...2600-N&cat=MBB

Just sell the motherboard

Peace,

Rafster

DarquePervert · 10-07-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by unixxx

Thanks guys, that's what I was looking for, great info. So in theory any board should work with the pin mod. I guess that opens up my choices even more. One more question, is it possible to change the multiplier/FSB after boot in software if you've already modded the pins, probably not? Just thinking about real time downclocking if the CPU utilization is low.

The pin mod is only necessary if the motherboard's BIOS doesn't support manually setting FSB & multipliers manually. It will register the CPU's speed to the BIOS as a specific speed.
For the XP-M, they're designed for ultra-low voltages (1.35 or 1.45v) to achieve their low power, but they can be run at higher voltages as well. The majority of motherboards are designed for a desktop CPU, so they aren't setup for the lowest of low voltages.

unixxx · 10-07-2005, 10:21 PM

Ok, I'm gonna grab a 35W 2400+ Low Voltage Barton from Newegg. That'll give me a large cache and reasonable speed while at the same time reducing power consumption: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103439

Sham-Mobile · 10-08-2005, 06:40 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by unixxx

Ok, I'm gonna grab a 35W 2400+ Low Voltage Barton from Newegg. That'll give me a large cache and reasonable speed while at the same time reducing power consumption: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103439

Bought that exact chip off newegg two weeks ago, put it inside a ASUS A7V400 mobo, and no problems at all. Also liked the low wattage of the chip (better than the other AMD chip i was running taking about 67w).

Scouse Monkey · 10-08-2005, 06:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rafster

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...2600-N&cat=MBB

Just sell the motherboard

Peace,

Rafster

look at the grpahics mate!

good price though!

I would stick with the nforce2. There is an epox board out there with dual VGA out and nforce 2

EDIT: i jsut realised you meant sell the POS mobo. got ya now

DarquePervert · 10-08-2005, 06:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

look at the grpahics mate!

good price though!

I would stick with the nforce2. There is an epox board out there with dual VGA out and nforce 2

EDIT: i jsut realised you meant sell the POS mobo. got ya now

The Shuttle unit I have is the same: nForce2 with the GeForce4MX and dual video outs.
Yeah, baybeee!

Scouse Monkey · 10-08-2005, 07:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

The Shuttle unit I have is the same: nForce2 with the GeForce4MX and dual video outs.
Yeah, baybeee!

DarquePervert · 10-08-2005, 07:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

look at the grpahics mate!

good price though!

I would stick with the nforce2. There is an epox board out there with dual VGA out and nforce 2

EDIT: i jsut realised you meant sell the POS mobo. got ya now

The Shuttle unit I have is the same: nForce2 with the GeForce4MX and dual video outs.
Yeah, baybeee!

Scouse Monkey · 10-08-2005, 07:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

The Shuttle unit I have is the same: nForce2 with the GeForce4MX and dual video outs.
Yeah, baybeee!

eh? oh well off we go again:

unixxx · 10-08-2005, 08:37 AM

The mobo I'm getting has an "Integrated NVIDIA NV18 graphic engine", that's pretty good for integrated isn't it? It's basically a GeForce4 right?