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ASRock 939 Dual Sata-2 and 939 Dual VSTA

Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
227 (0.04/day)
Location
Cornelius, Oregon, US
Processor AMD's 6400+ Black, 5000+ Black
Motherboard MSI K9A2 Platinum, MSI K9A2 CF
Cooling Scythe Ninja, both of them
Memory 2 X 2 Geil PC6400, 2 X 1 Patriot PC6400
Video Card(s) MSI HD 3870, and ATI X1900 XT
Storage 500 Gig Seagate , and 320 Gig Seagate
Display(s) ACER AL2216W LCD, and Hyundai L90D+ LCD
Case Antec P-160 (Aluminum), and Antec 1650
Audio Device(s) Onboard AudioMax, and Audigy 2 Value
Power Supply Antec 850 Quatro, and Seasonic S-12 500
Software Vista Ultimate 64; Vista Home Premium 64,
I had two of the Sata-2 boards and am very happy with them. I switched my main machine to a VSTA version for two reasons, 1. Vista RC 2 was luke cool toward the Sata-2 board (Ran well but hated my video card in the performance figures) now that is not enough of a reason for me to change, but I received a Abit UL8 back from RMA and it won't post.... so I thought I would just use my existing , good Dual Sata-2 board for it and possibly clear up two problems. I made the change last night and I don't have my sound sorted yet, but I'll get it.

At first blush you would think nothing is different between these two boards, (939 Dual Sata-2 and 939 Dual-VSTA) but look a little closer.

The six capacitors nearest the CPU are the same height, but a smaller diameter. The CPU Fan header now has four pins (Easy to use a normal 3 pin connector) The onboard sound is different and has three fatter capacitors, where it had two smaller one before.there are a few other small changes too.

Now for the worst thing I found, it(VSTA) only has one USB header where the 939 Dual Sata-2 had two.

(Sigh) but I'll live with it.

I am using Win XP Pro X64 modified with a beta SP2 and the only driver I installed was the Audio. I am just using a cheap Logitech gaming headset, but I have had no luck with audio on the front panel and yet to try the rear, but I lose interest in tracking it down, pretty fast. I'll get it sorted or re-install my Audigy 2 Value. I wanted to try the onboard

Okay how do I have it set up. I am using a Seasonic S-12 430 W PSU, X2 4400 (240 x 11, 2.640)(45 C while folding), Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, X850 Pro flashed to X850XT PE (12 pipes)(AC Silencer cooler), 2 X 1Gig GSKill PC3200 (2.5, 3,3,6) going to a Old 955 DF CRT. It is in a Antec "Sonata" Case.

I do have VISTA RC2 Build 5744, 64 bit, on the machine, but yet to try it I will get the sound sorted and then try Flight Simulator X (A real test for any system) and "A Company of Heros" when I do get sound.
 
Joined
Apr 23, 2006
Messages
3,558 (0.54/day)
Location
Enschede, The Netherlands
System Name Lian Li Carbon fiber ed.
Processor Intel i5 2500k 4.6Ghz 24/7 Max OC 5Ghz
Motherboard Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
Cooling Swiftech blocks, 360 Xflow rad, Swiftech 120 rad, Liang with XSPC res/pump top.
Memory 8Gb Mushkin 1600Mhz 8-9-8-24
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD6950 2Gb
Storage OCZ Vertex 4 128 / Western Digital 160
Display(s) ASUS 25,5" wide VW266h
Power Supply Corsair HX620 modular
Software Windows 7 64
Great for you.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
227 (0.04/day)
Location
Cornelius, Oregon, US
Processor AMD's 6400+ Black, 5000+ Black
Motherboard MSI K9A2 Platinum, MSI K9A2 CF
Cooling Scythe Ninja, both of them
Memory 2 X 2 Geil PC6400, 2 X 1 Patriot PC6400
Video Card(s) MSI HD 3870, and ATI X1900 XT
Storage 500 Gig Seagate , and 320 Gig Seagate
Display(s) ACER AL2216W LCD, and Hyundai L90D+ LCD
Case Antec P-160 (Aluminum), and Antec 1650
Audio Device(s) Onboard AudioMax, and Audigy 2 Value
Power Supply Antec 850 Quatro, and Seasonic S-12 500
Software Vista Ultimate 64; Vista Home Premium 64,
I suspect Vista 64 did not like my old system because of the flashed AGP card, but XP X64 loved it, hard to buy a 939 Dual Sata-2 locally, now all they stock are the 939 Dual-VSTA, the differences are mostly transparent to the user. I think the onboard sound is a bit better, but I like the extra USB header as I use the front connections a good bit. With my Card reader I only get one USB Port and my two front case ports are unconnected. Limits easy use of your USB Thumb drives.
 
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