nd22 wrote on 2025-03-20, 08:42:

Thank you very much.
Contrary to you my favorite retro system for the last 9 years, the only one that remains permanently fully assembled, is the nforce2 one: Abit AN7 with 2gb of RAM and geforce 7800gs plus Athlon XP 3200 -that CPU changes as I need to run the tests on different models - runs every single game from 2000 up to 2004 perfectly. In fact all of my gaming is done on this system! It runs incredible well XP and all games that I have installed, even games made for Windows9X such as Undying - I am talking about original release not GOG release!

Yeah, but, nostalgia factor aside, an Athlon 64 or even a Core 2 Duo system paired with the same (or even more powerful) GPU would achieve the same results (and they would be more efficient, easier to cool with modern coolers and, even better, no need for a PSU with a powerful 5V rail).

I've found Geode NX to be great CPUs regarding cooling/temps and PSU requirements. Plus, they have software configurable multiplier.

bloodem wrote on 2025-03-20, 09:18:

Yeah, but, nostalgia factor aside, an Athlon 64 or even a Core 2 Duo system paired with the same (or even more powerful) GPU would achieve the same results (and they would be more efficient, easier to cool with modern coolers and, even better, no need for a PSU with a powerful 5V rail).

The performance part is correct, a Athlon 64 on socket 754 provides better performance for 2000-2004 games! However you do not need a PSU with a powerful 5V rail for Abit AN7. I tested it with the Corsair RM650 which has a 120W combined on the 3.3 and 5V rails and has 24A on the 5V rail and it still runs just fine!

stef80 wrote on 2025-03-20, 09:34:

I've found Geode NX to be great CPUs regarding cooling/temps and PSU requirements. Plus, they have software configurable multiplier.

Those are great CPU's when you look at their TDP, do not require good coolers and the configurable multiplier is a great asset in Windows games sensitive to speed! There are many games released before 2000 that are really sensitive to CPU speed!

I think you cannot go much below 600Mhz (min multiplier is 6). It's more dependent on the chipset min FSB.

nd22 wrote on 2025-03-20, 10:27:

The performance part is correct, a Athlon 64 on socket 754 provides better performance for 2000-2004 games! However you do not need a PSU with a powerful 5V rail for Abit AN7. I tested it with the Corsair RM650 which has a 120W combined on the 3.3 and 5V rails and has 24A on the 5V rail and it still runs just fine!

Right, I keep forgetting that many nForce boards have the CPU 12V power connector. 😀

stef80 wrote on 2025-03-20, 10:53:

I think you cannot go much below 600Mhz (min multiplier is 6). It's more dependent on the chipset min FSB.

I have a Geode but never actually tested it. However, I do know that an Athlon XP-M can go as low as 300 MHz (FSB100 x 3).

Maybe, if you can force it via BIOS. In software it works in range x6-10.5, at least on SiS chipset (ECS board).

stef80 wrote on 2025-03-20, 16:53:

Maybe, if you can force it via BIOS. In software it works in range x6-10.5, at least on SiS chipset (ECS board).

I was referring to software (using setmul & co), on KTxxx boards (tested on KT133A / KT266A / KT400 / KT600). It works between 3x - 24x (if you unlock the higher multipliers with the L6 bridge trick). But lower multipliers such as 3x are definitely available without any modding.

Before continuing onto the next subject, which is testing performance of 266 and 333 MHz processors at the same frequency, I shall make a conclusion regarding all chipsets that I tested. I am sure that are many people on the forum who are much more knowledgeable about socket A/462 and have done far more testing so I welcome any critique or opinion!

All socket A chipsets for which Abit manufactured a motherboard have been tested. I specifically selected tests with a focus on 3d performance because I believe socket 462 is and will remain a favorite for retro gaming and not much else. It took me 7 long years but I managed to test the following processors in the following boards/chipsets – not all CPU's have been tested in all the boards as they are not compatible with many of them! I did not put up all the screenshots with all the CPU/boards as they are literally over a thousand!

Processors tested:
1. Athlon 1200B
2. Athlon 1200C
3. Athlon 1400C
4. Athlon XP 1600 Palomino
5. Athlon XP 2000 Palomino
6. Athlon XP 2000 Thoroughbred B
7. Athlon XP 2200 Thoroughbred B
8. Athlon XP 2400 Thoroughbred B
9. Athlon XP 2800 Barton
10. Athlon XP 3200 Barton

Motherboards/chipsets tested:
1. ABIT KT7 – RAID with VIA KT133
2. ABIT KT7A – RAID with VIA KT133A
3. ABIT KG7 – RAID with AMD760
4. ABIT NV7 – 133R with NFORCE1
5. ABIT KR7A – RAID with VIA KT266A
6. ABIT AT7 – MAX with VIA KT333
7. ABIT AT7 – MAX2 with VIA KT400
8. ABIT KD7A with VIA KT400A
9. ABIT KV7 with VIA KT600
10. ABIT KW7 with VIA KT880
11. ABIT NF7 – S 2.0 with nforce2 ultra
12. ABIT AN7 with nforce2 ultra

Practically the only chipsets missing from testing are the SIS chipsets. Considered a low cost alternative, Abit did not manufacture a single board with them so I did not test them!

I will split the chipsets in several groups based on performance and discuss a few positives and negatives about them – please note that I will take into account the fact that all systems have been tested with XP as I consider it being the best suited OS for all socket 462 chipsets supporting DDR.

Group 1 – VENI … and that’s it!
1. VIA KT133 – boards used for testing (primary board/ secondary board for checking the results obtained with the first): ABIT KT7 – RAID/KT7
2. VIA KT133A – boards used for testing: ABIT KT7A – RAID 1.2, ABIT KT7E, KT7A 1.3
3. nforce1 – boards used for testing: ABIT NV7 – 133R/NV7 – 133R
SDRAM and performance does not fit in the same sentence and system! In absolutely all cases SDRAM affected negatively the results in every single test. I can not recommend a system with SDRAM as you will leave a lot of performance on the table! Another negative aspect is the lack of the auxiliary power connector; you will need a PSU with a strong 5V rail!
SDRAM based systems are far better suited for Windows 9X and games from the 90’s. I do not consider VIA KT133A to be the actual looser, I think when used correctly, as it is meant to be, a Thunderbird with ABIT KT7A can provide one of the best possible experience under Windows 98 when playing games such as Quake 3 and so on.
Nforce1 is the most disappointing platform I have tested. At first I could not believe the numbers so I rerun the results 5 times before putting up the screenshots. Practically nforce1 is on the same level of performance as the SDRAM – only VIA KT133A! Another negative thing to note is the memory compatibility which is awful!
On a positive note the presence of the P4 power connector lets you use a modern PSU; despite that I simply can not recommend any nforce1 boards for a retro system with Windows XP.

Group 2 – VENI, VIDI … and lost!
1. AMD760 – boards used for testing: ABIT KG7 –RAID/KG7
Abit may have manufactured the best AMD760 board but it is behind every single board with DDR, nforce1 is simply not worth mentioning, VIA is better than AMD760 in 95% of all tests, plus it does not needs special BIOS settings to work with bridged AGP cards!
Another negative aspect is the lack of the auxiliary power connector so; again, a PSU with a strong 5V rail is a must; however the cool factor is there!
Too many negatives for AMD760 to earn a recommendation!

Group 3 – VENI, VIDI, VIA …
1. KT266A – boards used: KR7A, KR7A - RAID, KR7A – 133R
2. KT333 – boards used: AT7 – MAX; KX7 – 333
3. KT400 – boards used: AT7 – MAX2; AT7 – MAX2
4. KT400A – boards used: KD7A; KD7A
5. KT600 – boards used: KV7; KV7
6. KT880 – boards used: KW7; KW7
VIA has a strong presence in the socket 462 with a lot of chipsets. However the main problem is the lack of performance improvement in successive chipsets: between a KT266A, the first chipset with DDR and KT880, the last socket 462 chipset, the performance improvement with an Athlon XP 2000 is ONLY 2%, within the margin of error. Yes, you get compatibility with late CPU’s, SATA support, audio as good as sound storm in the case of ABIT KV7 but performance does not improve!
Positive things about VIA chipsets are quite a lot: AGP compatibility is excellent – not even once any bridged AGP card tested refused to work on a VIA board; memory compatibility is also excellent – any 2 sticks of DDR worked from the get go; ABIT boards starting with VIA KT400 has the P4 power connector; they work with any PATA hard drive – some as large as 500gb.
Something that I can say is definitely a negative and I think I should mention is the SATA implemented in the VIA VT8237 Southbridge: supports all SATA1 drives and all SATA2 that can be jumpered to SATA1 but no SATA3/SSD – so beware!
For all intents and purposes VIA has second best performing board on socket 462: ABIT KV7 – equipped with VT1616 audio codec which is on the same level as the much vaunted sound storm.
From the availability point of view and price to performance ratio VIA is actually the winner! As of March 21, 2025 there are many socket 462 boards with a VIA chipset available on EBay at relatively good prices!
If you want a motherboard for your socket 462 machines and do not have deep pockets I fully recommend any VIA board with KT600/ KT880 chipsets – particularly ABIT KV7 for which there are multiple listings on EBay!

Group 4 – VENI, VIDI, VICI!!!
1. nforce2 ultra – ABIT AN7/AN7
2. nforce2 ultra – NF7 – S 2.0/NF7 – S 2.0
You have seen ABIT AN7 in hundreds of screenshots in this topic; an excellent board with many good things: POST code display, excellent AGP compatibility, exceptional SATA compatibility – the board takes an Intel SSD without any problems; and most of all – an insane performance level unmatched by any other board!
Abit NF7 – S 2.0 is a legendary board in the retro community that is considered by many as the best socket A board! When I started testing I did test both NF7 and the AN7 to see which one to keep. In absolutely every single test AN7 is 1-2% better than NF7 which is well within the margin of error; what is striking is the consistency of the results: AN7 is always in front. For that reason all subsequent tests with different CPU’s and GPU’s have been done on AN7.
The only negative thing I have to say about both nforce2 boards is the memory compatibility: plenty of kits tested before finally settling on a Corsair one.
For the performance, compatibility and of course for the cool factor shown, I consider Abit AN7 the best socket 462 motherboard ever made! Still waiting for DFI lanparty nf2 ultra B owners to show themselves 😀

You need to get yourself a Socket A motherboard with the Irongate chipset. I think only one was ever released, the Gigabyte GA-7IXE4.

That Gigabyte board is a real gem! It should be interesting to test AMD750 against VIA KT133 as both chipsets support only 200 MHz CPU's.
As for me, an Abit fan, I collect only Abit boards - thank you for your recommendation sir, but I will stick to Abit.