K8T800 Pro vs NF3

Chai · 28th Dec 2004, 11:47 AM

I've been wondering about this for a very long time. Which is the best chipset?

I've tested both chipsets before, I have to say, overclocking doesn't depend on the chipset anymore, since the memory controller is built into CPU. So far, both chipsets can overclock pretty well, about the same, a tie in fact. NF3 may be able to overclock memory at 1:1 slightly better than K8T800 Pro, but not that much more actually. It really depends on what memory modules you have.

So what so special about NF3 everyone loves? Honestly, I don't find anything interesting about NF3. There's no Soundstorm, most of the features can be found on K8T800 Pro also, except for the built in firewall and some other insignificant features. Is that the reason why people buy NF3? I don't think so. I know I wouldn't. Most are probably trying to refresh their memory with NF2 based motherboards, which I have to say I was particularly impressed. Does Nvidia still have the edge?

What about performance difference? I think it's about the same as well. Except for one thing. If you have Nvidia graphics card on NF3, there're some 'magical' speed bump. It gets suspicious. Look for NF3 vs K8T800 Pro comparison, if they use Nvidia card, there're differences. If they use ATI card, the results are about the same. My observation might be wrong though.

There are no decent NF3 Ultra based motherboard. MSI K8N Neo2? Epox 9NDA3+? Gigabyte K8NS Ultra-939?

Maximus_Detritus · 28th Dec 2004, 12:27 PM

People flock to Nvidia because of the power of the Nvidia brand.

I have no personally used either chipset, so I cannot comment, but I can tell you that Nvidia have a magical 'ring' to their name, especially to the general Public.

A good example would have been when my bro was forced to choose between VIA and Nvidia for a mobo for his PC. When my dad heard Nvidia Nforce2, that made up his mind. He didnt even look at the VIA one (of which I cant even remember thename now). It's a result of smart marketing and years of having their brand in the news. LIke that christmas song everybody knows the words to, because stores never stop playing it.

PsYkHoTiK · 28th Dec 2004, 01:33 PM

I cant really say anything about the socket 939. But I chose the NF3 coz at that time, it did have a lead over VIA chipsets. But for the 939, I'm really not sure... I kinda don't like VIA (coz of my experience with them on the P4)

SAMSAMHA · 28th Dec 2004, 02:17 PM

from what I can see with the reviews, nforce3 and K8T800 Pro performs neck to neck. It's true like you said, nforce3 has some driver tweak that nv has put in that help with nvidia's card. I think Via doesn't have much gimmick of firewall or teh driver enhancement with graphic card, but I think Via's chipset's mobo generally speaking are cheaper than nforce3 board. From what I have seen, either one is great chipsets and good performance, both oc quite well. I think nforce3 got a little better reputation because it has agp lock when it launched compare to the old K8T800, which does not have the agp lock. It's not until the Pro version that the agp lock appear and make K8T800 Pro a good OC board, so maybe people got the idea that nforce3 is a better oc board based on the comparision of the K8T800.

Chai · 28th Dec 2004, 05:13 PM

I will probably get K8T800 Pro based motherboard. Since I can only get MSI and Gigabyte, and both are pretty crap. MSI may be good though, but I'm not going to touch MSI again if possible.

I wanted to get Epox because vmod is quite easy!

But out of stock.

Max_87 · 28th Dec 2004, 05:19 PM

I already have some bad experince with 2 or 3 VIA chipset mainboards. I don't think i'm going to get another VIA chipset based mainboard

Chai · 28th Dec 2004, 08:37 PM

I have very good experience with VIA chipsets. KT133A was good, KT333 was good too. Although I haven't got a chance to test a good K8T800 Pro, I'm probably going to get one. No choice, can't get Epox now...

SAMSAMHA · 29th Dec 2004, 01:48 AM

My K8T800(non pro) is working pretty good. I haven't tried nforce3, so I can['t really compare but it's working pretty well no major problem so far. Of course, I am not a huge OCer.

playahata123789 · 29th Dec 2004, 02:50 AM

i would presonally go with the via. they are a bit cheaper, and they include just about everything the nf3 does. also, ive never tried out any via chipset, so that iswhy i would also get the k8t800pro

SAMSAMHA · 29th Dec 2004, 04:29 AM

I think current nforce3 and Via are all good, now the next round of amd chipset, so far seems like nforce4 has the lead.

28th Dec 2004, 11:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 28,127 Reputation: 4649 Rep Power: 82	K8T800 Pro vs NF3 I've been wondering about this for a very long time. Which is the best chipset? I've tested both chipsets before, I have to say, overclocking doesn't depend on the chipset anymore, since the memory controller is built into CPU. So far, both chipsets can overclock pretty well, about the same, a tie in fact. NF3 may be able to overclock memory at 1:1 slightly better than K8T800 Pro, but not that much more actually. It really depends on what memory modules you have. So what so special about NF3 everyone loves? Honestly, I don't find anything interesting about NF3. There's no Soundstorm, most of the features can be found on K8T800 Pro also, except for the built in firewall and some other insignificant features. Is that the reason why people buy NF3? I don't think so. I know I wouldn't. Most are probably trying to refresh their memory with NF2 based motherboards, which I have to say I was particularly impressed. Does Nvidia still have the edge? What about performance difference? I think it's about the same as well. Except for one thing. If you have Nvidia graphics card on NF3, there're some 'magical' speed bump. It gets suspicious. Look for NF3 vs K8T800 Pro comparison, if they use Nvidia card, there're differences. If they use ATI card, the results are about the same. My observation might be wrong though. There are no decent NF3 Ultra based motherboard. MSI K8N Neo2? Epox 9NDA3+? Gigabyte K8NS Ultra-939? __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

28th Dec 2004, 12:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Maximus_Detritus Moderator Join Date: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Posts: 2,130 Reputation: 242 Rep Power: 10	People flock to Nvidia because of the power of the Nvidia brand. I have no personally used either chipset, so I cannot comment, but I can tell you that Nvidia have a magical 'ring' to their name, especially to the general Public. A good example would have been when my bro was forced to choose between VIA and Nvidia for a mobo for his PC. When my dad heard Nvidia Nforce2, that made up his mind. He didnt even look at the VIA one (of which I cant even remember thename now). It's a result of smart marketing and years of having their brand in the news. LIke that christmas song everybody knows the words to, because stores never stop playing it. __________________ Ceramic White PSP - 3.52M33-4, Metallic Blue PSP - 3.52M33-4 ARP Reviewer PlayStation Network : Maximus_Detritus

28th Dec 2004, 01:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,746 Reputation: 4681 Rep Power: 66	I cant really say anything about the socket 939. But I chose the NF3 coz at that time, it did have a lead over VIA chipsets. But for the 939, I'm really not sure... I kinda don't like VIA (coz of my experience with them on the P4) __________________ Intel SLBEJ @ 4GHz : 3x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600 : Asus P6X58 Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : XFX Radeon 5850 : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Swiftech Apogee XT : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLBEJ : SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com

28th Dec 2004, 05:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 28,127 Reputation: 4649 Rep Power: 82	I will probably get K8T800 Pro based motherboard. Since I can only get MSI and Gigabyte, and both are pretty crap. MSI may be good though, but I'm not going to touch MSI again if possible. I wanted to get Epox because vmod is quite easy! But out of stock. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

28th Dec 2004, 05:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Max_87 h@x! Join Date: 11 Aug 2003 Location: the land of bandwidth cap Posts: 11,446 Reputation: 2090 Rep Power: 38	I already have some bad experince with 2 or 3 VIA chipset mainboards. I don't think i'm going to get another VIA chipset based mainboard __________________ Max_87 Tech ARP http://www.techarp.com Dell Studio 15 / P7350 / 3GB DDR2 / Radeon HD 3450 / 250GB 7200RPM / 15" @ 1920x1200 E8600 @ 4.4GHz 1.36v / Asus P5E3 Deluxe / 2x2GB DDR3 / Radeon X1800 / Barracuda 7200.9 120GB / 7200.10 320GB x2 / Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS / WD6400AAKS x2 / Dell 2007FP x2 / Silverstone ST56F

28th Dec 2004, 02:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
SAMSAMHA Super Active Join Date: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,356 Reputation: 197 Rep Power: 9	from what I can see with the reviews, nforce3 and K8T800 Pro performs neck to neck. It's true like you said, nforce3 has some driver tweak that nv has put in that help with nvidia's card. I think Via doesn't have much gimmick of firewall or teh driver enhancement with graphic card, but I think Via's chipset's mobo generally speaking are cheaper than nforce3 board. From what I have seen, either one is great chipsets and good performance, both oc quite well. I think nforce3 got a little better reputation because it has agp lock when it launched compare to the old K8T800, which does not have the agp lock. It's not until the Pro version that the agp lock appear and make K8T800 Pro a good OC board, so maybe people got the idea that nforce3 is a better oc board based on the comparision of the K8T800.

28th Dec 2004, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 28,127 Reputation: 4649 Rep Power: 82	I have very good experience with VIA chipsets. KT133A was good, KT333 was good too. Although I haven't got a chance to test a good K8T800 Pro, I'm probably going to get one. No choice, can't get Epox now... __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

29th Dec 2004, 01:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
SAMSAMHA Super Active Join Date: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,356 Reputation: 197 Rep Power: 9	My K8T800(non pro) is working pretty good. I haven't tried nforce3, so I can['t really compare but it's working pretty well no major problem so far. Of course, I am not a huge OCer.

29th Dec 2004, 02:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
playahata123789 Super Active Join Date: 11 Dec 2003 Location: TEXAS Posts: 1,881 Reputation: 40 Rep Power: 8	i would presonally go with the via. they are a bit cheaper, and they include just about everything the nf3 does. also, ive never tried out any via chipset, so that iswhy i would also get the k8t800pro

29th Dec 2004, 04:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
SAMSAMHA Super Active Join Date: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,356 Reputation: 197 Rep Power: 9	I think current nforce3 and Via are all good, now the next round of amd chipset, so far seems like nforce4 has the lead.