okc_smoker

There is quite a bit of info out there on mobos for these CPUs, but I've got some pretty specific requirements. Namely, I need 2 x PATA so I can continue to use my 2 IDE HDDs until I get a chance to upgrade them.

I've currently got an ASUS M2V, which is a good board, but the OC'ing options are extremely limited. The most I can get out of it is about 2.4Ghz. Since it will probably be a while until I can upgrade the CPU I'd like to try to get this one to 3Ghz to hold me over for a while.

So I'm looking for a board with good OC'ing ability and 2 x PATA. SLI isn't something I'm concerned with. So far, I've come up with the following two boards. I'd love any feedback on these or recommendations on any better options. I'd like to keep it as close to $100 as possible.

MSI K9N2 Platinum

Jetway JHA04-LF

Thanks!

The Duke

Hi and Welcome to OCN
The more info the better we can understand you needs.
1. Single vid card or multiple ...SLI, crossfire or neither is needed.
2. Is your CD/DVD ROM drive a SATA so you may or may not need additional IDE ports.
etc...

That MBs VIA K8T890 does have a PCI/PCIe lock which when set to 33/100 (usually only the 100 is shown in the BIOS) you won't have the PCI bus increasing in speed when the CPU bus in OCed. It that setting is not set manually to 100, then the PCI bus speed will increase and cause instability.
So, do check that out in the BIOS, it may be whats holding you back.

The VIA chip set, even with the PCI/PCIe lock isn't a great OCer, but can still do some good OCs.

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okc_smoker

Thanks for the info! I don't do any gaming, so even the MSI's onboard 8200GT would probably be sufficient for my needs. SLI and Crossfire are not requirements for me.

The PCIe lock issue would make sense. When I bump the FSB over about 220 or so it screwed up the graphics. However, I can't find anything in the manual about a PCI/PCIe lock. Do you have any idea what the setting is called or where I might find it?

The Duke

Yep, usually around the low to mid 220 range kicks the PCI bus speed up enough to screw things up if the PCI/PCIe lock isn't manually set.

With a good OCing CPU, you may hit around 2.6-2.7 with that MB.
Chip set voltages may need an increase and the RAM may have to be set to a lower default speed... DDR2 800 reduce to DDR2 667 for example. That way the RAM has room to OC along with the CPU. If you do have DDR2 800 and reduce to DDR2 667 that will cause about an 83% underclock on the RAM and the RAM will then only OC at about 83% of the CPU bus speed increase.

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okc_smoker

I can't find that setting anywhere in the manual. Any idea what I should be looking for?

The Duke

If the opotion is available in the BIOS, it may be in an advanced section and be something like PCIe "Auto" and have to be set to 'manual' or BIOS dependent who knows, but you'll see the change and then the appropriate area to set will change from a light grey (or greyed out) to bold lettering. BIOS designers use the greyed out to display settings and/or that the option has not been set to "manual" or what ever to give you the option to adjust it.

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okc_smoker

Okay, I just looked through every setting in the BIOS and there is nothing resembling a PCIe Lock setting. So... back to square one. Any comments on either of the mobo's I posted? I'm leaning towards the MSI but I'd really like some feedback before I spring for it...

okc_smoker

I just thought of something. Would underclocking my video card free up some headroom for overclocking my CPU?