ecs K7S5A questions?

[psloan]

Group,

I am starting to plan a new system for myself. I would like to use a ecs K7S5A in a EVERCASE E4252WEF25 case. It has 2 front usb and 2 rear usb. Can K7S5A support this or will I have to choose another motherboard or add somthing to the K7S5A?

Evercase site

I see that outpost is currently running a combo special for this mb and a duron 950. Anyone know if this includes the cpu fan? Should I worry about outposts no return policy on ecs mb's? Where would be a good alternate place to purchase that has a good return policy?

outpost duron 950/ecs mb deal

Also this will be my first full system build. I have mucked around with systems for years, but never built one from scratch. I already have a video card, hd, cd rom floppy. What else am I going to need with this setup.

Thanks.

--pat

 

[hojl]

the
ECS k7s5a mobo with lan has headers for 2 extra USB plugs

 

[RGT168]

You might want to check the ocworkbench.com forums as they have a section on the ECS board. I have one and it runs fine. Some people have had issues with the board relating to power supply, etc. It is fairly informative so check it out. Good luck with the project.

 

[pyjujiop]

Don't buy from any vendor with a no-return policy on new items. That's tantamount to saying "we sell junk and if you're dumb enough to buy it, too bad for you."

That's not all that great a deal anyway. Check around on PriceWatch and you can find a Morgan Duron and a K7S5A for about the same price, and with a vendor who will stand by its merchandise.

 

[stingray2]

I have the ECS K7S5A.. and I like it.. but would not recommend it.. I have spent hours trying to get it to work, and then there are the powersupply issues (it only likes certain powersupplies). Do youself a favor, don't get it. add that to really bad customer service, i am still waiting 3 weeks for a return phone call to their tech support line.

 

[psloan]

If the ecs mb is not so good. What are the alternatives in the same price range?

 

[Mltsao]

psloan

I just built a system using the same case, motherboard, and cpu.

If you are running into touble PM/AIM/Email me.

 

[psloan]

Mltsao,

Thanks for the offer. Can I ask where you purchased the equipment?

Thanks.

--pat

 

[jfunk]

Yes, the board may have some issues.

However, in this pricerange, there is NOTHING else.

Next thing up would prolly be the Shuttle for @$80.



j

 

[wyvrn]

I just built a system using that same case and motherboard. The hardest part was figuring out the which pins on the mobo the USB connectors plugged into. The diagram on Evercase's site does not match the pin markings on ECS motherboard, and ECS didn't include any details for it in their manual. It was trial and error for me for about 30 minutes.

The only problems we have had so far is the sound. It was working fine, then cut out when we were playing a game. Going to update the drivers and BIOS tonight and see if that helps.

 

[WageSlave]

I think that most of the problems with the ECS board is due to the fact that many many noobies with NO experience have been using it to build systems. Ive encountered this board a few times already. I disagree with the PSU problem. If you have over 300W and know what your doing you shouldnt have problems. I feel for those of you that have had issues, but as of yet it hasnt taken me more than 5 minutes to get one of these up and running stable...


good luck with your new system, stay away from outpost

try www.newegg.com
www.savingxoom.com
www.tcwo.com

 

[Duvie]

ECS board is fine...I have built many and helped quite a few build them with no issues....

Even ocworkbenches own wording on the topic in the latest sis745 review is that many had problems with ecs but were resolved with tech support at the forum...ie user problems!!!!

1) it does like good power supplies (antec,sparkle,etc)

2) it likes quality ram be it sdram or ddr-ram


I agree get from a vendor like newegg....

Outpost is basically fryes online...The combo deal you are talking about does not include the heatsink and fan....

 

[WageSlave]

I disagree about the powersupply and RAM

Any motherbaord likes a good PSU and RAM, and cheap junk will cause problems on any motherboard, I dont think the ECS is anymore suceptible to that than any other board. Everyone of these I have set up hase been with a generic PSU, and Generic ram

just because you are not using namebrand products that cost 4x as much, doesnt mean you are using junk


my .02

 

[Duvie]

Well I use quality sparkle power supplies that do not cost an arm and a leg...plus I have used crucial ddr ram (mostly when it was a whole lot cheaper)...so price was not 4x by any means or much of a factor...

As for the ps and ram...I agree many have gotten generic to work and that generic can be issues on many platforms ecs aside...However I have seen to many issues be solved with these boards by these factors to blindly brush it under the rug like you have....

 

[wyvrn]

Well I have plenty of experience building computers, I do it all the time. But you cannot argue that there are a lot more reports of problems on this board than many others. Some of it comes down to just running update drivers and bios, but I also think you get what you pay for. The onboard sound of this chipset seems to be a resource hog from all the reports I get. On the system I built (AMD approved 300W ps, 512 Corsair ram, Geforce 2 Titanium, Duron 1 Ghz (morgan)), I used all quality parts and all the correct drivers. There is no reason the sound should cut out in the middle of a game other than poor original drivers or it is using too much resources, I think.




<< I think that most of the problems with the ECS board is due to the fact that many many noobies with NO experience have been using it to build systems. Ive encountered this board a few times already. I disagree with the PSU problem. If you have over 300W and know what your doing you shouldnt have problems. I feel for those of you that have had issues, but as of yet it hasnt taken me more than 5 minutes to get one of these up and running stable...


good luck with your new system, stay away from outpost

try www.newegg.com
www.savingxoom.com
www.tcwo.com >>

 

[foofoo]

i also have a fair amount of experience building systems and there are, in my opinion, issues with the k7s5a mb. do yopurself a favor and get the shuttle, i've owned both and i've only had 1 of 4 of the k7s5a mb work reliably at full fsb spec. the 5 shuttle mb i have put together have worked flawlessly. this is purely anecdotal, but that's my experience. if you are going with a 100mhz fsb duron, the k7s5a is probably ok. otherwise, steer clear.
good luck