MSI K7N2 Delta

[traffic_65]

I'm building a gaming computer and have already bought a MSI K7N2 Delta Mobo and was looking at buying a AMD Barton 2500+.

I want to make sure I'm matching everything up right, so my questions are What brand of pc3200 ram for the money would be the best? I'm on a limited budget. What power supply would be the best, and what cpu cooler would you guys recommend?

I'm planning on doing some OCing and I'm new at this. I hope I got the right motherboard.

Also need some info on dual channel memory. Would it be better to get a single 512 memory chip or 2X256 dual channel?

Thanx,

traffic_65

[Darthgary]

Thats a great motherboard you got there.

[vass0922]

1 mobo is great! I've got essentially the same board w/o the builtin vid card.

2. 2 256 chips is best! Put them in slot 1 and slot 3 for Dual DDR action.

There were some issues with RAM on this board and somebody got me a link to it.. can't remember where it was now.
Myself I use Crucial memory (256x2) and it works great

For cooling I just use the stock HSF (not overclocked) and it stays a very nice 40C at full load!

[Darthgary]

Yeah, the K7N2 is very picky with RAM, I have witnessed people I know take back several Chips. Ones that worked were the PNY's, but all the major brands work, Crucial, Corsair, OCZ, Geil , Kingston Kingsmax. You will be ok if you dont use crappy RAM, most 64X32 and up modules work.


Samsung hates thats board.

[traffic_65]

I researched the motherboard on several websites and decided for the money it was the best way to go. I liked that it had raid sata capabilities and dual channel memory slots.
It didn't have onboard video but thats ok because I want a good gaming video card. I'm thinking about installing one of the MSI video cards. I don't know a whole lot about how good they are or which one I want but I decided to stick with the same brand as my motherboard for compatability.
The Barton 2500+ seems to be what everyone is raving about and from all the post is probably the best processor for overclocking.
Thanks alot for all your input guys. I really appreciate it.

[Darthgary]

It does not matter what video card you use although MSI makes decent cards. It all depends on your budjet.

[Nobody077]

Hay Traffic, does that MB have the 4 holes drilled around the A socket for mounting large HS or Waterblocks? I am currently looking at the same board and 2500+barton for a new project but want to use my Watercooler on it.

As for the MSI vid cards I use one of there G4 Ti4200 128mb cards and works great. The only thing I have noticed is most of there models dont offer Video in on the card, when the same chipset by other companys do.

[traffic_65]

Nobody077,
I don't see any mounting holes around the socket A and there is also a system fan already mounted on the m/b which kinda poses a problem for me because I got a hudge cpu cooling fan. The fan I've got is a "Heat Guzzler" by Foxconn and when I set the thing on my socket A It was hitting really close to the system fan on the m/b. Also it was also resting right ontop of some of the componets. The componets I that it is resting ontop of look to be some compasitors.
It might work ok with a watercooling system. Sure wish I had spent the extra money and got a watercooling system.
The m/b looks really impressive. I can't wait to get it installed.
Good luck with your project. Let me know how it turns out.

[Telexen]

Most MSI boards don't have the mounting holes...My brother's K7N2-L doesn't either.

[Nobody077]

Thanks Traffic, I have been useing MSI boards for a few years and love them, with about 6 currently in use only 1 has ever had a problem(Onboard sound quit on my current board, so SB Audigy to the rescue) My MSI 266pro has the mounting holes but its time to upgrade and the K7N2 was going to be my first choice but looks like my waterblock wont work on this board.