Best ViaKT266A Solution?

[187]

im looking to build a new computer and i am pretty sure KT266a is the chipset for me (not nFORCE because it is expensive and has integrataed stuff i dont need aka geforce2mx, audio etc...) but im still having trouble making the decision which is best cost effective kt266a board that doesnt sacrifice too much performance(this system has to last me 2yr atleast) 120$ sounds like a reasonable price range to me. Useful things but not neccessary would be USB 2.0 and integrated ethernet. Please give me your expert feedback. thank you.


my projected rig looks something like this:

KT266a Chipset
Athlon XP 1600
512mg PC2100 crucial DDR ram
300w PSU
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
ThermalRight SK6
Geforce3 Ti200
60 gig HDD
24x burner
DVD drive

 

[Athlon4all]

EPoX 8KHA+ or Shuttle AK31A I think are da best

 

[187]

the thing is, there are so many new kt266a mobos comin out, my head is spinning. what about asus A7V266 E
and the new abit board comin out. some site needs to do an all out shoot out review and crown a king for best 266a board. other 266a chipset board reccomendations are welcome.

 

[Tweakster]

Definetly the EpoX 8KHA+, its a mid range priced MOBO at about 105-125 but you get lots of BANG for the BUC, and its an overclockers dream. Not to mention more stable than the Shuttle or the MSI or even the SOYO DRAGON!

Its AMD's reference board by the way!

 

[187]

thanks for the reccomendation. it is looking tempting @ 105$ does the epox implement USB 2.0?

 

[CraigRT]

MSI K7T266Pro2-RU

USB 2.0 and IDE RAID 0 (-RU)

 

[Athlon4all]

<< thanks for the reccomendation. it is looking tempting @ 105$ does the epox implement USB 2.0? >>

Nope. The only KT266A board that has USB 2.0 is MSI's K7T266 Pro2-RU. It's a nice board, but 8KHA+ is a tad faster and better ocing, but otherwise it's a good board.

 

[187]

the MSI board certainly does have its features like raid and usb2 but the price is a little steep. around 140$

do you think these kt266a board prices will drob when the nForce is readily available?

 

[jcmkk]

I don't think that the KT266A board prices are gonna drop much since they are already pretty low.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

do you think these kt266a board prices will drob when the nForce is readily available?

Nah, even at current prices they will be cheaper than NForce boards.

 

[187]

the MSI nFORCE is 180$ i hate to see what expensive mobo makers like asus abit etc will charge for theirs.