Recommended Motherboards: From a Silence Perspective 1.1
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:21 am
The goal of this thread: To create a list of boards for all modern AMD & Intel boards that have features SPCR readers look for when deciding on a board for a new system. Desired features include good fan control of CPU and system fans, the ability to under-volt the CPU, and most important passive cooling of the chipset.
Common MB Problems for Silencers
- A very hot chipset requiring the use of active cooling or large heatsinks for passive cooling.
- No BIOS fan control for CPU and/or system.
- No support of SpeedFan.
- Lack of CPU under-volting options.
- Poor location of chipset causes problems with large aftermarket passive heatsinks and PCI-E 16x slots.
The above issues are generally what separate a good board from a bad one in terms of building a silent system.
To make the recommended list there are a few important qualities or features the board should have. If anyone feels I've left something out let me know and I'll revise the thread.
Requirements for "Quiet" Motherboards
- Stock passive chipset cooling. Or chipset cooling that can easily be modified from active to passive. If modifying the chipset cooling from active to passive has negative side affects they should be noted, such as interference with PCIE 16x graphic slots on many AMD nForce4 boards.
- Dynamic fan control for CPU and/or system fans either through the BIOS or software. The more details that can be provided here the better. For example; the number of controllable fan headers, what temps each header is tied to, the range of control offered 12-5v, or %, ect.
- SpeedFan support if available for more control over fans in addition to BIOS control would be a welcome bonus.
- CPU core under-volting option in the BIOS for reductions in power consumption and CPU temps.
Note: Most if not all AMD AM2 and Intel socket 775 boards feature 4-pin PWM CPU fan headers. Some of these motherboards will not be able to control the speed of traditional 3-pin fans so you will want to to take special care when selecting your CPU fan.
With that out of the way I'd like to take some recommendations for various platforms. As they come in I'll edit this thread into a list of boards (broken down by chipset) with a description of their features.
---Current Boards--- This section is for modern boards for current generation, still in production CPUs.
AMD Athlon Recommended Boards
AMD Athlon Recommended Boards
Common MB Problems for Silencers
- A very hot chipset requiring the use of active cooling or large heatsinks for passive cooling.
- No BIOS fan control for CPU and/or system.
- No support of SpeedFan.
- Lack of CPU under-volting options.
- Poor location of chipset causes problems with large aftermarket passive heatsinks and PCI-E 16x slots.
The above issues are generally what separate a good board from a bad one in terms of building a silent system.
To make the recommended list there are a few important qualities or features the board should have. If anyone feels I've left something out let me know and I'll revise the thread.
Requirements for "Quiet" Motherboards
- Stock passive chipset cooling. Or chipset cooling that can easily be modified from active to passive. If modifying the chipset cooling from active to passive has negative side affects they should be noted, such as interference with PCIE 16x graphic slots on many AMD nForce4 boards.
- Dynamic fan control for CPU and/or system fans either through the BIOS or software. The more details that can be provided here the better. For example; the number of controllable fan headers, what temps each header is tied to, the range of control offered 12-5v, or %, ect.
- SpeedFan support if available for more control over fans in addition to BIOS control would be a welcome bonus.
- CPU core under-volting option in the BIOS for reductions in power consumption and CPU temps.
Note: Most if not all AMD AM2 and Intel socket 775 boards feature 4-pin PWM CPU fan headers. Some of these motherboards will not be able to control the speed of traditional 3-pin fans so you will want to to take special care when selecting your CPU fan.
With that out of the way I'd like to take some recommendations for various platforms. As they come in I'll edit this thread into a list of boards (broken down by chipset) with a description of their features.
---Current Boards--- This section is for modern boards for current generation, still in production CPUs.
AMD Athlon Recommended Boards
- Socket AM2 AMD Chipsets
- Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H -- mATX / AM2 / AMD 690G -- Passively cooled north and south bridges. -- BIOS control of CPU 4 pin PWM fan (sparse options). -- Speedfan support when BIOS fan control is disabled. -- CPU undervotling options unknown.
- MSI K9AG Neo2-Digital -- mATX / AM2 / AMD 690G -- Passively cooled north and south bridges -- BIOS can control CPU fan with PWM (Min fan speed adjustable from 0.0% - 87.5% of original fan speed in 12.5% increments) -- Speedfan only works on CPU fan header (if BIOS fan control is disabled) -- CPU Voltage adjustable in BIOS from 0.800V - 1.550V in 0.025V increments -- Other: Integrated DVI and HDMI.
Socket AM2 nVidia Chipsets - Asus M2NPV-VM --mATX / AM2 / nForce 6150 + nForce 430 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- Q Fan control of two system fans, CPU header controls 4 pin PWM fans as well as 3 pin 12v fans. -- Speed fan control possible when BIOS Q Fan is disabled. -- CPU voltage control unkown. -- Other: Integrated DVI & VGA.
- Abit AN-M2HD -- mATX / AM2 / nVidia GeForce7050PV/nForce 630a -- Passive chipset cooling -- System and CPU controllable; with user defined min and max start/stop speeds, target temp., as well as source temp sensor (nice ). -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU voltage options unknown. -- Other: Integrated HDMI.
- Asus M2N (M2N-E, M2N-SLi Deluxe, M2N32-SLi Deluxe) -- ATX / AM2 / nForce5 (various) -- Passive chipset cooling via heatpipe -- Two to Three fan headers controlled by Q-Fan. Options include; Performance, Optimal or Silent. -- SpeedFan support aprears to be present for three fan headers. -- CPU voltage ranges are 0.8000V to 1.5625V in .0125 increments.
- Asus M2NPV-VM -- mATX / AM2 / nForce 6150 + nForce 430 -- Passive chipset cooling -- Q-Fan is present in BIOS, settings are only "enable" or "disable" however. -- SpeedFan support appears to be present for three fan headers. -- No CPU voltage options.
- Gigabyte GA-M55S-S3 -- ATX / AM2 / nForce 550 -- Chipset cooled by a "pretty large" heatsink -- BIOS control for CPU fan header, settings are on or off only. -- SpeedFan not currently supported -- CPU voltages down to 0.8V.
- Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 -- ATX / AM2 / nForce 590 SLI -- Passive chipset cooling via heatpipe. -- BIOS "Smart Fan Control" for CPU fan. -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU under-volting options unknown.
- Abit KN9 SLI -- ATX / AM2 / nForce 570 SLI -- Passive chipset cooling via heatpipe. -- BIOS fan control for CPU 4-pin PWM fan header. -- SpeedFan support for at least one 3-pin system fan in addition to the CPU fan header. -- Undervolting not supported through the BIOS but is possible via CrystalCPUID down to 0.8v.
Socket AM2 ULI Chipsets - MSI K9NU Neo-V -- ATX / AM2 / ULI-M1697 -- Passively cooled chipset. -- BIOS CPU SmartFan with up to 5 degree hysteresis and 2-8 steppings. -- Two fan headers controlled by SpeedFan. -- CPU voltage ranges of 1.2 - 1.4V in 0.025V increments.
- Socket 775 Intel Chipsets
- MSI X38 Diamond, Platinum -- ATX / 775 / Intel X38 + ICH9R -- Passive heatpipe cooling for chipset. -- Automated CPU control for CPU fan and manual control for two system fans. -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU voltages from 1.3250V to 2.1000V (by 0.7875 increment).
- Abit IP35 Pro -- ATX / 775 / Intel P35 + Intel ICH9R -- Passively cooled North Bridge, South Bridge -- Control of 5 3-pin fan headers & 1 4 pin cpu header vai uGuru -- Underclockable via BIOS or Windows uGuru
- Asus P5W DH Deluxe -- ATX / 775 / Intel 975X + Intel ICH7R -- Passive heatpipe based cooling of chipset -- 4 pin PWM CPU fan and two system fan headers controlled by AIQuiet or Q-Fan (performance, optimal, silent). 4 pin PWM CPU fan header also supports 3 pin fans via PWM or DC BIOS option. -- SpeedFan support for CPU fan and two system fan headers. -- CPU voltages range from 1.2000 to 1.7000 in 0.0125 increments. Note: None "Deluxe" version lacks support for 3 pin CPU fans
- Abit AW9D-MAX -- ATX / 775 / Intel 975X + ICH7R -- Passive heatpipe based cooling of chipset -- Seven fan headers under the control of Abit EQ -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU under-volting options unknown.
- MSI P965 Platinum -- ATX / 775 / Intel 965 + Intel ICH8R -- Passive cooling of chipset. -- BIOS fan control for CPU and one system fan header, with target temperatures and tolerances for both. -- SpeedFan support is unknown. -- Under-volting options not known.
- MSI G965MDH -- mATX / 775 / Intel G965 + Intel ICH8DH -- Passive cooling of chipset. -- 4 pin PWM CPU fan and two system fan headers -- Support for "desired CPU temp" in BIOS -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- Fixed CPU voltage
Socket 775 nVidia Chipsets - XFX 650i Ultra -- ATX / 775 / nVidia 650i Ultra -- Passive cooling of chipset. Automatic control of CPU, 1-100 range and manual control for 2 3-pin fan headers. -- CPU voltages down to 0.8V.
- Asus P5N-E SLI -- ATX / 775 / nVidia 650i -- Passive cooling of chipset. -- CPU and two system fans controllable via AIQuiet or Q-Fan. -- SpeedFan is supported. -- Under-volting options unknown.
- Socket 775 Intel Chipsets
- AOpen i945Ga-PLF -- ATX / 775 / Intel 945G -- Passive cooling of chipset. -- CPU and system fan controlled by SilentBIOS -- SpeedFan support unknown -- CPU undervolting avalible in BIOS
Aditional features: AOpen Power Master allows dynmaic CPU throtteling for all CPUs regardless of Intel's SpeedStep support. - Asus P5LD2 775 -- ATX / 775 / Intel 945P -- Passive cooling of chipset. -- 4 pin CPU fan header controlled by Q-Fan. -- SpeedFan support unknown -- CPU core voltage can be adjusted from 1.275V to 1.7V in 0.0125V increments through BIOS controls.
AMD Athlon Recommended Boards
- Socket 939 nVidia Chipsets
- Asus A8N-SLI Premium -- ATX / 939 / nForce4 SLI -- Passive cooling via heatpipe. -- Two fan headers controlled by Q-fan, control is completely automated; no selections for temp or speeds are made available. -- SpeedFan support for two fan headers -- CPU under-volting possible via RM Clock utility.
- Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe -- ATX / 939 / nForce4 SLI -- Passive cooling via heatpipe -- Two fan headers controlled by Q-fan, control is completely automated; no selections for temp or speeds are made available. -- SpeedFan support for two fan headers -- CPU under-volting possible via RM Clock utility.
- Asus A8N5X -- ATX / 939 / nForce4 -- Active cooling is stock but ample room is provided for large passive heatsinks. -- Q-Fan control for CPU fan header with selectable target temp. -- SpeedFan supported -- CPU voltage settings from 0.800 to 1.650 Volts in 0.0125 V increments.
- DFI SLI-DR Expert -- ATX / 939 / nForce4 SLI -- Active cooling of the chipset is stock with room for passive modification without blocking any PCIE slots. -- Three fan headers controlled through the BIOS with detailed controls for high / low temps, and start speed. -- SpeedFan support unknown -- CPU under-volting unknown
- Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF-9 -- mATX / 939 / nForce 6100 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- No BIOS controls for fan headers -- SpeedFan support for at least one system fan. CPU fan control would seem likely but is unconfirmed. -- CPU under-volting unknown.
Socket 939 ATi Chipsets - Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe -- ATX / 939 / ATi Xpress 3200 + ULi M1575 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- CPU and chassis fan headers control by Q-Fan. Fan start temp and full speed temp can be set for both fan headers with a value between 0-100c. -- SpeedFan support unknown -- CPU vCore adjustable down to 0.8v.
- MSI RD480 Neo2 -- ATX / 939 / ATi Xpress 1600 + ULi M1573 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- CPU and system fan controlled by Core Cell. Temp thresholds are selectable, fan speeds are automated. -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU under-volting unknown.
- Abit AT8 -- ATX / 939 / ATi Xpress 1600 + ULi M1573 -- Passive cooling of chipset via heatpipe. -- Six fan headers controlled by Abit FanEQ. High and low temp thresholds selectable as well as min and max fan speeds -- SpeedFan support unknown. -- CPU undervolting unknown
- DFI Infinity RS482 -- mATX / 939 / ATi Xpress 200 + ATi SB450 -- Passive cooling on north and southbridge. -- Good control over fan headers -- SpeedFan support unkown -- supports BIOS undervolting of CPU concurrently with Cool n’ Queit.
Other: Onboard video features both DVI and VGA as well as S-video, composite, and component output.
Socket 939 VIA Chipsets - Asus A8V -- ATX / 939 / VIA K8T890 -- Active & passive versions exist. There is ample room around the NB for large passive heatsinks for modification however. -- Two fan headers controlled by Q-fan, control is completely automated; no selections for temp or speeds are made available. -- SpeedFan support unkown -- CPU under under-volting options in BIOS
Socket 754 nVidia Chipsets - AOpen n250a-FR -- ATX / 754 / nForce3 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- CPU and System fans controlled by SilentBIOS. Fan start speed and temp thresholds for CPU and system are selectable. -- SpeedFan support unknown -- CPU under-volting unknown
Socket 754 VIA Chipsets - AOpen AK86-L -- ATX / 754 / VIA K8T800 + VT8237 -- Passive cooling of chipset -- CPU and system fan controlled by SilentBIOS -- SpeedFan support for at least the CPU fan header -- CPU under-volting unknown