NForce2 onboard VGA sucks

[unskinnybob]

Anyone else been stupid enough to fork out cash on an Nforce2 with onboard GFX? Considering it? Don't.

The onboard VGA brings down the memory speed CONSIDERABLY - also, it appears that dual DDR is not available as long as the onboard VGA is using it's 32MB of shared memory.

No wonder decent VGA cards cost 3x more than this motherboard... it's a piece of shit!

Good thing I didn't buy 3 of them...

[|)U(|(0F|)3@TH]

Got the SPP version, but I empathize. I hate it when I get something I thought was gonna rock but it turns out to suck.

[Yian]

nForce 2's chipset is probably one of the most unstable one since KT400... another example of sacrificing stability for speed...

[|)U(|(0F|)3@TH]

I don't know about that. My Abit NF7-S is perfectly stable.

Some of the Nforce2 forums at various sites seem to be getting a lot of complaints, but imho they're the vocal minority. I think the vast majority of Nforce2 owners have no problems with either stability or speed.

Also, some of the complainers are people who configured their bios stupidly. For example, I've seen people with CAS3 DDR bitching that they couldn't get it to run stably, while their bios is set at CAS 2-2-2-6 timings, which just isn't going to work with that RAM.

Regardless, I wholeheartedly recommend buying your new mobo from Newegg.com, and make sure the one you buy does not have a "No Return" clause on it. As long as it doesn't have that clause, Newegg gives you great return service on faulty parts, like an unstable motherboard. Also, if you buy an Abit mobo, Abit has a direct RMA policy that allows you to exchange it directly with Abit.

[cobalttyreal]

hey if your looking to use the onboard graphics then you will slow the board down considerably i got the msi ver board(K7NG2-L) and it works great but i will extend a warning to any who get it to flash the bios using the msi "LIVE DRIVER UTILITY" immediatly after installing windows and "BEFORE" installing the board drivers the reason being is for some reason the board ships with the beta ver drivers which are incompatible with the latest driver and very unstable to boot.

here's my future mark score for 3dmark2k3

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=296045

here's 3dmark2001 se

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6062890
and finally for thoes who want it here's the system spec
AMD t-bred 2400+
msi k7n2g-L
512 pc 3200XMS platinum corsar ram (2x256)
HDD Western Digital WD600 JB (60 gig with 8 meg cache)
radeon 9500 pro W/ Catalyst 3.1 drivers
soundblaster live value 4.1
toshiba dvd drive 16x40x
liteon cdrw16x10x40x
windows xp pro with sp1 patch

Once you get windows installed and stable you can run these settings safely

BIOS: advanced systems features
current cpu clock: 2000
system performance: manual
cpu fsb clock: 133MHz
cpu interface: hi performance
fsb/dram ratio: 2:3
current dram clock: 200
memory timing: manual
t-(ras): 5
t-(rcd): 2
t-(rp): 2
cas latency: 2.0
fsb spread spectrum: disabled
agp spread spectrum: disabled
agp 8x support: enabled
agp fast write support: enabled (only if your video card supports fast write)
system bios cachable: disabled
video ram cachable: disabled
agp aperture size: 128

[cobalttyreal]

P.S.

hey |)U(|(0F|)3@TH are you with the wardogs?

[unskinnybob]

To make matters worse I cannot run memory in dual DDR more! As soon as I put the second PC2700 module in Dimm 3 the PC beeps and doesn't start.

I was stupid enough to buy the K7N2G-L. I did the bios update this morning but things are still fucked.

Also, I can't run 133FSB. On a 2000+ XP I have to run 1250 - shyte.

Don't buy an Nforce2.

[|)U(|(0F|)3@TH]

Originally posted by cobalttyreal
hey |)U(|(0F|)3@TH are you with the wardogs?

no, who are they?

[|)U(|(0F|)3@TH]

Originally posted by unskinnybob
To make matters worse I cannot run memory in dual DDR more! As soon as I put the second PC2700 module in Dimm 3 the PC beeps and doesn't start.

I was stupid enough to buy the K7N2G-L. I did the bios update this morning but things are still fucked.

Also, I can't run 133FSB. On a 2000+ XP I have to run 1250 - shyte.

Don't buy an Nforce2.

If you're sure you've got everything configured correctly, then return it. Get a different board. Nforce2 is the best AMD board out there. You just got a lemon.

[unskinnybob]

Ok - I swoped ou the board and I must say the results are looking better.

With Dual DDR I get the same mem bandwidth as I do on my Epox EP8K4A2+.

The best video bench in 3dmark 2001 SE is 4120. With my Epox (granted I have a Ti4200) I get 11700 or so.

[RAY16]

I'm using the Asus A7N8X nForce2 mobo. Its running fine for me, no problems. I don't have built in VGA though, just a crappy GeForce 4 MX440 (Its all my poor ass could afford after buying all the other parts).

[Yian]

You don't need that onboard VGA. It sucks. Good job you got yourself a real card.

[cobalttyreal]

ok it seems my last post didn't go through so here goes again
the first problem you have is that it seems your trying to run the cpu at the higher fsb it won't only the 2700 and 2800 run on fsb higher than 266MHz they run on 333MHz you have a 2000+ if i read your post right so you will only get a 266MHz fsb on the "CPU" you can however run the ram at higher fsb if you have pc 2700 or pc 3200 i have pc 3200

first clear the cmos yousing the jumper see User guide
nextgo to Advanced Chipset Features and set your


System Performance autol
CPU FSB Clock 133 MHz
CPU Interface normal
FSB/DRAM Ratio SPD
Current Dram Clock system will show this as your ram speed
Memory Timings SPD
FSB Spread Spectrum Disabled
AGP Spread Specturm Disabled
AGP 8x Support Disabled
AGP Fast Write Support Disabled
System BIOS Cacheable Disabled
Video Ram Cacheable Disabled
AGP Aperture size (64)MB

once your done and it seems stable try adjusting these settings

memory timing: manual
t-ras 5
t-rcd 2
t-rp 2
cas latency: 2.0
Special Note:I have a AMD T-Bred CPU that is locked so you can't have it set to 10x multiplier by 200 MHZ FSB to get the 2.0 gig settings that you see a lot of magazines & online sites promoting without using some kind of unlocking kit.

[WhoGivesARatsAss]

first clear the cmos yousing the jumper see User guide
nextgo to Advanced Chipset Features and set your


System Performance autol
CPU FSB Clock 133 MHz
CPU Interface normal
FSB/DRAM Ratio SPD
Current Dram Clock system will show this as your ram speed
Memory Timings SPD
FSB Spread Spectrum Disabled
AGP Spread Specturm Disabled
AGP 8x Support Disabled
AGP Fast Write Support Disabled
System BIOS Cacheable Disabled
Video Ram Cacheable Disabled
AGP Aperture size (64)MB

once your done and it seems stable try adjusting these settings

memory timing: manual
t-ras 5
t-rcd 2
t-rp 2
cas latency: 2.0
Special Note:I have a AMD T-Bred CPU that is locked so you can't have it set to 10x multiplier by 200 MHZ FSB to get the 2.0 gig settings that you see a lot of magazines & online sites promoting without using some kind of unlocking kit.

[Hitman]

LOL... man the Nforce2 boards are only good for their double memory performance.. if you're broke and need audio and video then it's in your ball game, if not stop being cheap and get seperate audio and video cards.. I have the A7N8X and it works fine for me.. no video as I have a Geforce card but the built in lan & audio works flawlessly, I thought I was going to need a Creative card but there is no need for it.

[IkYiolul]

The only true quality in graphics your going to get from onboard video/sound devices are on laptops!! They make that shit for quality now...you deff get what you pay for on the laptop. My girlfriend has a laptop taht plays q3A...at 1024/768 at 70fps! what more can you ask for!!

Good going to get urself a real card, dont fall for that shit untill you know for a fact lol.