Commando vs QuadGT - My Experience

[EtheAv8r]

Way back in early January I posted that I was ready to build a new PC, had the CPU, and was just pondering the motherboard…. “….So I decided to settle on an ASUS P5b Deluxe, but am also tempted by the ASUS P5W64 WS Professional which is superbly built, and then I see the ASUS Commando and the abit AB9 QuadGT, which both appear to be rev 2 965 boards and should be really good. I would order either TODAY if anyone had one!”

Well the first of the two to hit the shops was the Commando, so I pre-ordered with SCAN and got one of the first available…. The rest is history, many tails of woe on this forum from others, though I did not have to RMA mine, and at stock it was fine, but who buys a board like that to run at stock? I could not get it fully stable over 3.1GHz, which was OK ish… but disappointing. I did get it to 3.3GHz, but experienced frequent crashes and any moves to resolve only made it run hotter.

So I decided to replace it with a QuadGT – which had it been available first, or even at the same time, I would have bought originally – being an existing long time abit user.

My experience with the QuadGT has been wholly positive. I have relatively easily got it rock solid at 3.55GHz – 3.6 is not. I could probably get more by increasing volts – and temps, but am very happy to have a stable system I can now just use day-in, day-out that is fast and reliable and I am using the beta BIOS 11.B6R.

Given my experience with the Commando and the M2V which I bought at the same time for a low-cost AMD system for my daughter, I doubt that I will ever buy another ASUS product. Their support ranges from non-existent to unbelievably poor. The ASUS support web site is a nightmare – and often impossible to use of download updates from.
The Commando is a potentially brilliant board let-down by poor quality control and very poor support. It is a pity – it looks great! It is now in a system for my daughter with an E4300 and running happily at 2.4Ghz, so a 33% overclock so not a shabby ending, with her M2V/AMD CPU having been given away to a friend – it works OK but her Commando system is way faster!

So of the Commando and the QuadGT, which is the best? No doubt in my mind, it is the QuadGT, it is faster, easier and nicer to get along with, and is a fair bit cheaper. Don’t get me wrong, there are problems with both ASUS and abit…. But with abit you get wonderful help and support right here on the abit.care@HEXUS and on the abit.US forum. The only thing I miss about the ASUS boards is the Alt/F2 to flash the BIOS – that is a brilliant facility.

At less that £100 abit AB9 QuadGT is a bargain, and is difficult to beat at any price IMHO.

[excalibur2]

Well I've been waiting since xmas for you guys to sort me out a motherboard, no one picked out a winning must have new board so finally decided to go on a safer, cheaper, older bet...the DS3P rev 3.3 (£76) with E4300 (£64), should get it this monday to start overclocking, hope it works ok with Geil ram that was going cheap (2X1gig for £65).

[EtheAv8r]

Damn... well thats life, but the QuadGT rocks....

[Agrippa]

It's a shame really; ASUS seems to hit the nail squarely on the head with some of their boards - and miss the plank completely with others at times. That said my *only* really good MB experiences have been with ASUS boards, whilst I've found all other manufacturers to suck to certain degrees. Mind you, I'm sure its changed now, since both Abit and Gigabye for instance seems to have some really sold items out. Also, my last MB purchase was around 3 years ago....

Always nice to hear a (partial) success story anyway - there are few more frustrating things (for a single man) than a crappy motherboard.

[excalibur2]

Originally Posted by EtheAv8r

Damn... well thats life, but the QuadGT rocks....

The mention of P35, by someone on Hexus, made me decide very quickly...rather than keep up with the Jones's, decided to step back.

[daza]

Cant beat the quad gt, stable at 450fsb and functions without a hickup, my next board will certainly be the p35 version.

[Clunk]

I couldnt agree more about the commando, I really hated the 3 I had (as everyone probably knows ), and was glad to see the back of them. I think I was a bit more unlucky than you, but you know when a board just isnt right, and the commando just wasnt right in pretty much every department.

As far as asus's quality control goes, Ive had another 2 models since, and they have been solidly built, and even the heatpipes fitted properly, it just seemed to be the chinese built commandos that were the duffers.

I do agree about the support, it is terrible. My post is still on the asus forums about the commando unanswered...well apart from a couple of people from here with similar problems

[EtheAv8r]

Well Clunk - you are a real enthusiast - you seem to get through more motherboards and CPUs than I get dinners in a week.

I am just an old duffer who though building systems for many years, am new to overclocking - and this QuadGT is my first reall sucess, the Commando was a moderate sucess, so I guess that was the first.

I just want a fast, reliable system I can use day-in day-out without fuss and bother - overclocking computers is not a hobby per se for me, just a means to an end - and I keep my systems for a couple or three years.

[BUFF]

Originally Posted by EtheAv8r

The only thing I miss about the ASUS boards is the Alt/F2 to flash the BIOS – that is a brilliant facility.

haven't tried on the QuadGT but with most abits

"Using the ALT-F2 Method - This could be the simplest way of flashing your bios and is pretty much a no brainer. Follow the steps below to flash using the ALT-F2 method of flashing your BIOS.

1. Use a freshly formatted floppy disk.
2. Download the BIOS you wish to flash.
3. Extract the files (The BIOS files usually come as a EXE file, just double click it and it will extract)
4. Find the .bin file and the awdflash.exe file and put them on the freshly formatted floppy.
5. Reboot the computer and quickly hit ALT-F2 when you see the option on the bottom left of the screen.
6. You will be prompted to insert the floppy disk that has your files on it, do so at this time and hit enter.
7. The system will automatically find the awdflash.exe file and begin flashing your bios from the .bin file you put on the floppy and reboot when its done.
8. You can hit the delete key upon the reboot to enter BIOS setup. Just go ahead and turn off the computer when you get into BIOS setup. At this point follow the same procedure as outlined in steps 7 to 9 above."

[Supershanks]

I was with EtheAv8r & like him got the commando, for exactly the same reason. 2nd generation 965, why buy p5b when this gave better specced current regulation etc.,
Commando was out 1~2weeks ahead of quad.

1st board went back due to stabilty issues, this may have not been down to the board as the symptoms continued, eventually being traced to cpu. Since new cpu things have flown.it's run 24/7 @3465 & since adding wc 3600 memory @4:5.

i'd say it's an ok mobo but isn'y great.
Main grouse is the twitchy bios. That is if adding or changing some hardware the dmi pool doesn't seem to rebuild/refresh & u get the oc failed message crap. Easiest solution i've found is to reflash bios which must force dmi rebuild & it works again.

I don't have a quad gt so can't say definately which is better board, my own feeling is there's not much difference.

But:-

Asus QC Is crap seen endless stories of problems especially it seems with made in china boards, may improve but not holding my breath.


Asus Support have to agree abit support is light years ahead of asus & again i'm in agreement on what's been said. Asus seem to work on the mushroom theory of support- keep em in the dark & feed them.... (i forget the rest )

I just want a fast, reliable system I can use day-in day-out without fuss and bother

Yep but also with the max stable speed i can ring out of it

So all in all i'd have to give abit the nod.

I'm not saying i won't buy another asus board, but it will only be if there's no proven alternative.

[No.72]

The abit seems to be a batter board, they all seem to be very solid. My commando (second one) is at least 7 hours stable @ 3.5ghz with artic 7 (v core: 1.36), 60 degrees full load (e6300). So from that it cant be that bad.

But if I was asked by a mate what to have I would say the abit.

[Agent]

Glad to see the Quad GT getting the credit it deserves, its really a solid board.

Any major problems have been solved quickly by Abit, although they do tend to have loads of BIOS betas (they have all been 100% fine though), but they need to have them made into official stable releases quicker.

The linked NB / PWM heatpipe is a PITA though for watercooling

QuadGT is by far the best p965 board ive used though. Really hassle free.

[Supershanks]

they do tend to have loads of BIOS betas

that's part of the fun of having an enthusiasts mobo, together with trying everyone to see if u can get an extra few MHz

[BUFF]

i think that the difference is that Asus release betas onto their site as apparently finals ...

[Supershanks]

i think that the difference is that Asus release betas onto their site as apparently finals ...

have only ever picked up 2 commando bta's both from xtreme forum, cos asus ftp is 2 slow to browse

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by BUFF

i think that the difference is that Asus release betas onto their site as apparently finals ...

oooooh bitchy