ASUS Announces 690G Mainboard ,M2A-VM

[sxs112]

ZEUS

[nn_step]

it is nice to see AMD chipsets but it looks like ASUS, still isn't any good with AMD layouts

[Plywood99]

Don't think it will compete too well against the Abit NF-M2 nView in the overclocking department...


Ply

[Thorry]

If only there was a micro-ATX motherboard with a PCI lock... I would be in small PC heaven by now...

[Plywood99]

If only there was a micro-ATX motherboard with a PCI lock... I would be in small PC heaven by now...

You lost me with that one Thorry...


Ply

[nn_step]

If only there was a micro-ATX motherboard with a PCI lock... I would be in small PC heaven by now...

try MSI, Epox, and DFI uATX boards They lock just fine

[Thorry]

I want something like a C2D or AM2 micro-ATX but with a PCI lock.

As of yet I haven't found a single.

This because voltages can be modded, FSB and HTT speeds can be set using almost any bios and clockgen tools (hell I could mod out the clockgen if it comes down to it).

But a PCI lock is something you just can't mod in, it has to be present in the board.

So anyone know of a confirmed PCI lock on a micro-atx board? I don't need SLI or a lot of PCI slots, so I don't give a crap about the lower half of the motherboard.

I do however like small cases (a lot).

BTW: I've got a couple of MSI boards here, none of them have a lock (granted no C2D or AM2, but it is a K8 and two 478 boards).
DFI has no C2D or AM2 micro-atx boards...

Epox has a AM2 micro atx board: EP-MGF6100-M
It also has a PCI lock, but the nVidia chipset isn't that great, and AM2 doesn't really go well in small cases. Only the 35 watt models which I can't get around these parts.

I have found: Biostar I945G-M7 V2.X
Which also has a PCI lock, but the FSB seems limited to 300 mhz.
Also: Biostar is a no go in these parts, they just don't exist...

All the Asus boards have very crappy locks if any, so they just won't fly.
Asus P5LD2-VM does seem to be pretty great (the lock sucks, but it doesn't hurt that bad).

[Plywood99]

Are talkng about 33mhz lock or something else???


Ply

[Thorry]

Full PCI bus lock, so basically the 33 mhz lock, the SM bus lock, PCI-E lock (which is a bit broken on the Asus models).

[Plywood99]

Full PCI bus lock, so basically the 33 mhz lock, the SM bus lock, PCI-E lock (which is a bit broken on the Asus models).

How would one test for this? Clockgen readings???


Ply

[Thorry]

It's very hard to test.

Usually you find out when you overclock the HDD gets corrupt because the controller can't handle the high bus. Or the VGA freaks out because of a high PCI-E.

Also a scope connected to the PCI bus (and some diagnostics cards have it), or a frequency counter on the PCI bus would do it.

[Kasparz]

It depends from chipset, not form factor.

[Dillusion]

As the god of all that is SFF, I will input...

There is NO core2 matx board with PCI-E locks right now. The IGP's on the intel chipsets are not allowing manufacturers to be able to setup a pci lock, no matter which chipset is used from intel. VIA chipsets for core2 also do not work, but mind you the VIA core2 matx series is a very value oriented line and is not focused on overclocking, so crappy parts are used and no options are available.

As for AM2, overclocking is just as good as any ATX board. I have tested multiple AM2 mATX boards for overclocking, and they all hit 300FSB PLUS. The abit nview, epox MF6100, biostar TFORCE, ALL can overclock my 3800X2 to over 2.8ghz without a sweat.

All PCI/E locks work fine, and nothing EVER goes currupt. THe only time i have EVER seen file curruption was on my nview, when i set my RAM timings to tight @ over 1000mhz, but that has nothing to do with PCI/E locks.

Right now im running an abit nview with a beta bios and a 65nm brisbane 3600+....im at 300x9.5 and my PCi-E lock is @ 100, PCi is at 33.33, etc

So i really dont know what you're talking about...

[yehuda]

Aadjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125 increments

What's the voltage range? Can it undervolt too?

Personally, I've been eagerly waiting for a 690G variant of M2N-VM DH. That would make the perfect HTPC/general use setup in my opinion. If it ever comes out I'll be the first in line to buy it.

[Helmore]

Geesh guys..... look at that northbridge cooler .....that is a small cooler , can that be real?

[yehuda]

It's about the same size as the northbridge cooler in M2NPV-VM, and should be quite sufficient given that 690G is expected to consume less power than GF 6150.

[nn_step]

It's very hard to test.

Usually you find out when you overclock the HDD gets corrupt because the controller can't handle the high bus. Or the VGA freaks out because of a high PCI-E.

Also a scope connected to the PCI bus (and some diagnostics cards have it), or a frequency counter on the PCI bus would do it.

get an ATi Chipset, it'll lock perfectly every time

[Starscream]

Right now im running an abit nview with a beta bios and a 65nm brisbane 3600+....im at 300x9.5 and my PCi-E lock is @ 100, PCi is at 33.33, etc

beta bios?
no new bios on the abit site so willing to share whats diffrent with it?
id love to be able ot undervolt my nview in the bios but abit says it aint possible.

[Plywood99]

beta bios?
no new bios on the abit site so willing to share whats diffrent with it?
id love to be able ot undervolt my nview in the bios but abit says it aint possible.

Here you go:

http://www.abit-usa.com/betabios/NFM..._BIOS_0119.zip


ANd Dillusion is right about the Abit locking the pci. That's why I was asking Thorry so many questions. Had mine well over 320 already, with no problems...


Ply

[Thorry]

As the god of all that is SFF, I will input...

There is NO core2 matx board with PCI-E locks right now. The IGP's on the intel chipsets are not allowing manufacturers to be able to setup a pci lock, no matter which chipset is used from intel. VIA chipsets for core2 also do not work, but mind you the VIA core2 matx series is a very value oriented line and is not focused on overclocking, so crappy parts are used and no options are available.

As for AM2, overclocking is just as good as any ATX board. I have tested multiple AM2 mATX boards for overclocking, and they all hit 300FSB PLUS. The abit nview, epox MF6100, biostar TFORCE, ALL can overclock my 3800X2 to over 2.8ghz without a sweat.

All PCI/E locks work fine, and nothing EVER goes currupt. THe only time i have EVER seen file curruption was on my nview, when i set my RAM timings to tight @ over 1000mhz, but that has nothing to do with PCI/E locks.

Right now im running an abit nview with a beta bios and a 65nm brisbane 3600+....im at 300x9.5 and my PCi-E lock is @ 100, PCi is at 33.33, etc

So i really dont know what you're talking about...

Thanks for the info, good to know.

S*cks, but if that's it that's it you know

AM2 is good for overclocking, but like said, 35watt chips can't be found here