Asus A7V133 or Abit KT7A-Raid?

[MrGrim]

I've been trying to find a review on the new Asus A7V133 but I can't find any. I'm building a new Duron system and I'm between these two boards. I know that the Abit one is completely jumperless, but how about the A7V133? Does it still use dipswitches for the multiplayers like the older A7V? I'm also looking for stability, that's why I'm hasitant (sp?) getting an Abit.

In other words ... which one would you choose and why?

 

[Phuz]

A7V133.

Both boards have recieved reviews, and the A7V comes out on top.
Essentially they are the same boards, but te A7V has a promise ata100 controller, while the KT7A has a highpoint controller.
Also, the A7V doesn't have an ISA..

 

[MrGrim]

Were can I find this review for the A7V 133? Also I know that the A7V (not 133) had dipswitches for the multiplyer, is that the case for the A7V133?

 

[Zipperhead]

i would go with the asus

 

[Sunner]

I dont remember any links to the A7V133 but I remember a review stating that it was entirely jumperless.

 

[MrGrim]

Thanx.

 

[LXi]

Phuz;

I would like to know in what areas does the Asus come out on top. They dont look like the same board to me, the layout is completely different, and the Asus only has 5 PCI slots.

 

[Biggs]

Slide under here.

 

[Cubensis]

I would go for an MSI board.
Pro2 or that turbo board

 

[A2KLAU]

I would go for the Asus mobo because stability wise it is higher than the Abit, IMHO. If you want to OC easily then Abit is easier to OC becasue you can do it via the bios and not using the dipswitches. Then again Asus OCs well and is one of the best boards available. For a Duron CPU you should OC it, to get more "Bang for the Buck." So if you do plan to do that then Asus will OC very stabily and you will be getting what you payed for and maybe more if you got a good mobo and CPU.

Hope this helped you out.

Albert.

 

[Wickedmeister]

Personally, I have an A7V133 and it is stable as heck. I only have to install all drivers once and it is running without a crash since last night. Ofcourse, it is also running the 1Ghz TB at 1100.
Only question is, can't I go higher? I have the Taisol HSF.

 

[Dulanic]

I own the Asus and it's a great board all around. It is fully jumperless 100-166 (I think) FSB selections. I personally run 7x150. I prefer not to have ISA on my board Its a memory of bad times LOL. Tom has about the only good review with it so far. The GamePC review is just so bad its not even funny, its facts are wrong, and in that review the A7V outperforms the A7V133 LOL that cracked me up considering Ive owned both

 

[Dulanic]

BTW Im working with the guy from OCWorkbench, hes using the beta 1002 BIOS thats not even on Asus site... he can't get good scores because he cant get optimal to work over 140FSB with 1002.... well neither can I, but I can get 150 with 1001D.... So Im TRYING to tell him, hes been responding. He does seem a bit slow it took me 3 emails just to get him to understand how to turn on Optimal. He should be doing more testing with the latest offical BIOS... not a crappy beta that even Asus hasnt put out on their german site.

 

[ToBeMe]

KT7-RAID....had both and the KT7 was much better at O/C'ing and much more stable for me!

 

[hans007]

msi k7tpro turbo... yeah... or if youwanna actually save some cash the epox 8kta3. But really between those two boards you dont even have to ask. The asus is more reliable, a better brand, cheaper!!!, and has a much better raid controller too.

 

[MrGrim]

I'm not even concidering the MSI boards, because of all problems that they have been causing to the ppl in these forums. I also like the mobo to be completely jumberless so epox is out of the question too. Plus I've been using Asus boards for years now and none of the have failed me. Could be just luck, I don't know. Anyway, the place that I'm getting the stuff from only has Abit and Asus boards.

I'm getting the Asus one for two reasons, first of all it has a promise controller instead of a highpoint one (some people say that highpoint controllers really suck) and also because the Abit board has a bunch of capacitors right next to the CPU slot which may be a problem with large heatsinks.

Thank you all for your replies

 

[blindspot]

Hey, go for the KT7A-Raid! The difference: KT133 vs KT133A. Trust me. I've been building systems for quite a while now, and had experience on these boards. ASUS is stable, but limited in terms of overclocking compared to the other. However, you can use the cyclone fan on an A7V because of better space. A7V is also cheaper than KT7Raid or KT7A-Raid. But no RAID. Go for the KT7A-Raid. With that board you can OC with higher memory settings, e.g. you can decrease the multiplier and increase the bus speed (very limited on the old KT133 boards), thereby you may decrease the core voltage. Less voltage, less heat, more stable. Buy a KT133A based motherboard.

 

[ToBeMe]

Good Luck!

 

[MrGrim]

Dulanic just set it to OPTIMAL SETTINGS and then press F10. Then exit the BIOS without saving changes. That should do it. (a workaround I found while doing my research )

 

[Dulanic]

Damn straight! Now only if the guy from OCWorkbench was as smart as you MrGrim and could figure out where the F10 key was




<< ASUS is stable, but limited in terms of overclocking compared to the other. However, you can use the cyclone fan on an A7V because of better space. A7V is also cheaper than KT7Raid or KT7A-Raid. But no RAID. Go for the KT7A-Raid. >>



He said Asus A7V133 (KT133A) which has optinal Promise RAID, tho Ive never seen one being sold without it.

As for OCing the Asus does just as well as a KT7A.... both are full jumperless and my CPU maxes the same wether on a KT7, MSI, or A7V, or A7V133. I max at 1050, I run 7x150 on my A7V133 (/w Promise RAID)

 

[Dulanic]

<< Dulanic just set it to OPTIMAL SETTINGS and then press F10. Then exit the BIOS without saving changes. That should do it. (a workaround I found while doing my research ) >>



Oh wait wait I was the original person who found this override, so I have to fix what you said

Set &quot;System Performance&quot; setting to Optimal, then press F10 which WILL save and exit... dont exit without saving! I meant dont exit that SCREEN to save and exit... just press F10 to do it.

 

[Mem]

MrGrim go here for a review Tom`s Hardware it`s small but is around up of 6 KT133A boards,also I thing MSI K7T Turbo would be better,I remember when the ASUS A7V first came out there was loads of problems with it then everybody changed to the MSI K7T PR02A boards,what I`m trying to say is when there is a favourite motherboard &amp; lots of Members buy one you suddenly get problems appear here with it,but is it really the board or the user?

 

[Dulanic]

<< They dont look like the same board to me, the layout is completely different, and the Asus only has 5 PCI slots. >>




Some people have no problem with no ISA and 5 PCI. I prefer it myself... less PCI IRQ sharing, and it gives for more room by the socket and DIMM sockets. Alot of boards are cramped and you can't even take out a DIMM without taking out the AGP card, I like having alot of space up there over an extra PCI I won't use. Its all personal prefference Very few people actually use even 5 PCI, let alone more.

 

[Dulanic]

That is true Mem. But the A7V133 is very very similar to the A7V so its really already a matured board AND BIOS... I can use a A7V BIOS in a A7V133 (Ive tried hehe).

 

[Mem]

Dulanic,Don`t get me wrong the ASUS boards are great infact my top two favourites are MSI &amp; ASUS,it`s just sometimes the boards like ASUS or MSI get unfair stick.