AMD 760 vs. KT266A

[Fastball]

Where would you notice "real world" performance difference between these two chipsets? I know that the benchmarks show the KT266A to be the clear leader, but when would it actually make a difference?

The KT266A seems to have way too many problems in WinXP. I'm thinking about switching to an AMD 760 platform.

 

[neutralizer]

High memory usage, and if you hate the KT266A, go for the SiS735, but I'm running an EPoX EP-8KHA+ fine with WinXP.

 

[limsandy]

I second the EPoX EP-8KHA+.

 

[Fastball]

<< I'm running an EPoX EP-8KHA+ fine with WinXP. >>



Either you are lying or you are EXTREMELY lucky. Look over at amdmb.com, it's page after page of problems with XP and this board.

For the most part, my Gigabyte 7VTXH is okay, but USB doesn't work.

 

[neutralizer]

I guess I'm extremely lucky... BTW, I'm running an Athlon XP 1600+, Geforce3 Ti200, and an SB Audigy in it. I think it works great... Gotta love this board.

 

[Adul]

tried the PCI latency patch?

 

[Doomguy]

<< Either you are lying or you are EXTREMELY lucky. Look over at amdmb.com, it's page after page of problems with XP and this board. >>



Page after page of incompetant system builders. I frequent the Epox forum at amdmb.com .

 

[Bovinicus]

The real world difference will not be overwhelming, but perhaps the KT266A will bring a little extra snap to Windows operations. Plus, the KT266A gets significantly better memory performance. This probably helps considerably in applications which require a lot of memory bandwidth. The solution is also more future proof. If you are skeptical, the ABIT KG7 seems to be a very popular AMD760 board. I would go KT266A however. I just got my 8KHA+ a week ago. I am completely satisfied. I run Win2k, but still...

 

[Fastball]

<< Page after page of incompetant system builders. I frequent the Epox forum at amdmb.com >>



Incompetant system builders, huh? That's funny. As much as you probably try to convince yourself, this ain't rocket science.

 

[Fastball]

<< I run Win2k, but still... >>



That's probably the reason you're satisfied. The problems begin when you throw XP in the mix. Almost all of them are stable in Win2K.

 

[RanDum72]

Well, I have WinXP Pro and the Epox 8KHA+ and not a single problem. Perhaps I'm lucky then?
However, if in doubt, the AMD 760 chipset is a proven chipset, not the fastest but stable as hell. I still have the KG7 on my other PC
and it has not crashed once in about 4 months of heavy, almost 24/7 usage.

 

[anime]

not sure why peeps have probs with winXP--I've been running kt266a boards with xp for the last 3 months w/o probs.

 

[CAMS]

Hi

I have both a Asus A7M266 (AMD760) & ASUS A7V266-E (KT266A) both with XP loaded.
Only bench marks can tell the difference between the two, I cant.

Both have run great from day one.
Dont get fooled about the problems you read on these boards thinking its a chipset OS problem, testers didn't find them. These boards are for complaining not praising.
The AMD760 also had/has heaps of posters with problems, but it is an old chipset now get the KT266A.

 

[Pabster]

Neither.

I'd go with SiS 735, or await SiS 745.

AMD760 is only bundled with VIA's infamous 686B south bridge -- taking it out of the race, IMHO. And you are absolutely correct about the issues surrounding KT266A -- although I don't believe it has anything (specifically) to do with WinXP. People are having issues with all operating systems and a variety of components. Don't listen to the "incompetent system builder" mumbo jumbo either. That's far more likely to be true with a board like K7S5A (at the $60 price range) than a KT266A board at the $120 price range.

What I still cannot understand around here is this: why do people keep making excuses for VIA's faulty core logic?

 

[NFS4]

<< That's far more likely to be true with a board like K7S5A (at the $60 price range) than a KT266A board at the $120 price range. >>


Shuttle KT266A, $80
ECS KT266A, $69
Gigabyte KT266A, $88
Epox (value model), $89

And each one would make a better choice than the ECS K7S5A. And please get off your Anti-VIA soap box please:| We all know that you can't be objective about anything b/c ANYTHING that VIA does isn't good enough for you:disgust:

And I have a Shuttle AK31 Rev 3.1 running WinXP just fine. No problems to report. I guess I'm lucky too

 

[Mem]

<< << I'm running an EPoX EP-8KHA+ fine with WinXP. >>

Either you are lying or you are EXTREMELY lucky. Look over at amdmb.com, it's page after page of problems with XP and this board.

For the most part, my Gigabyte 7VTXH is okay, but USB doesn't work. >>



I`m another one that has a rock stable XP & Epox 8KHA+ rig ,also my friend as the same rig with no problems,I guess we are ALL lying .

 

[AlucardBelmont]

I don't have any problem with my MSI KT266 pro2. It works perfectly.

 

[Pabster]

NFS4 wrote:

"And each one would make a better choice than the ECS K7S5A."

To each their own I know I'm not alone in saying the K7S5A is a better choice than ANY of the KT266A boards.

 

[John]

<< To each their own I know I'm not alone in saying the K7S5A is a better choice than ANY of the KT266A boards. >>



You are in the minority for sure.

 

[Pabster]

John wrote:

"You are in the minority for sure."

Not according to the pages of PMs I've received from much less vocal forum users', expressing their frustrations with VIA-based boards in general -- KT266A in specific.

Just remember that not everyone considers a few points in benchmarks and a few hundred patches and fixes to be the idea of the "fastest" AMD platform. There's zero real-world performance difference between SiS 735 and KT266A. Anyone who says otherwise obviously hasn't used both platforms. (Hell, there are people who swear there is no 'real world' difference between AMD760 and KT266A. But that's a moot point for this conversation.)

I'll also be interested to hear how much ECS "sucks" when they merge with Shuttle. In fact, it has been reported that ECS has been manufacturing Shuttle boards for quite some time now -- allowing them to sell in the sub-$100 price range. I suspect the opinions of more than a few forum users might sing a different tune.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

i think they are talking about the overall quality of the k7s5a.

(poop, that is)

 

[John]

I use a lot of K7S5A's in system builds, and they all seem to do just fine. In addition you don't need to apply any more patches for a VIA chipset vs. other AMD chipsets. Some people aren't meant to be techs, hence the frustrations. You should purchase an name brand OEM computer if you don't have the skills to troubleshoot and maintain a system.

 

[Innoka]

AFAIK, the problem with the ECS 735 based boards is getting it to boot due to problems with the memory. Some people get a good board, some don't, but what they have in common is that their memory works fine on other boards. Looks like corners in QC are cut to get the price down to $60.

 

[murphy55d]

I have an EPoX Ep-8K7A(AMD 760) on WinXP Pro and it runs like a charm.

I couldn't be more satisfied.

 

[Pabster]

John wrote:

In addition you don't need to apply any more patches for a VIA chipset vs. other AMD chipsets."

That's funny... I don't recall having to load 4-in-1 "fix" packs or PCI latency "patches" for AMD or SiS chipsets...

"Some people aren't meant to be techs, hence the frustrations."

And, again I ask, WHY do people keep making excuses for shoddy VIA core logic? Why?