ECS K7S5A vs MSI K7T Turbo 2 (need help asap!)

[jacktesterson]

Which board is the better board...Im buying a new motherboard, not really to upgrade mine...putting my K7VZA in my fathers machine so he can put a 1 Ghz plus processor in it.......so I am getting a new board for mine, and plan on using ol regular SDRAM. So, I can get these two boards for a similar price. The K7S5A is a DDR board, with 2 SDRAM slots for those who still want to use it (like me, cant afford DDR right now).....and the MSI K7T Turbo offers overclocking capabilities......Which would be worth more to you, DDR support or good overclocking capabilities? Just how much can a socket a Athlon Thunderbird 1.2 GHZ (fsb =266) be overclocked? Right now Im leaning to the ECS board. Please help!

 

[teknodude]

I have the ECS K7S5A, but I can't comment on the MSI K7T as I've never had one! The ECS is a good solid board, and very stable (I had some problem with DDR to start with, but I believe this was because it was cheap DDR :-S) I now have some SDRAM and the board runs smooth as anything

On the question of overclocking, I'm not sure how good the K7S5A is for that. Because it's a budget board I've heard that it ain't that great while I've been looking up stuff on overclocking my own. So, unfortunately I can't comment on this much.

Maybe a post in the OCing forum and a search of all the forums with "K7S5A" would help clear up this issue

teknodude

 

[Adul]

I use the turbo and turbo 2. Great solid MB. No issues with it at all

 

[teknodude]

Here's what one guy on the AnandTech forums had to say about the ECS K7S5A board:

"I've used this board in three systems, using both Durons and Athlons. No problems in 9 months. AMD=Quality. The K7S5A is a great board, except for the lack of OCing."

So, there ya go! If you're desperate for some overclocking, then the K7S5A ain't the board for you (although it's got some good options if you use an official BIOS flash from OCworkbench Forum). But if you want a good, stable, quality board for a great price then I would go for it!

teknodude

 

[joe4324]

I own and use both boards, I use the K7S5A alot more because its in my own computer. But my companion uses the MSI. My personal preference is the K7S5A, not because there is anything wrong with the MSI but simply because the K7S5A has DDR capability and I believe supports higher processors. (does the turbo even support XP's?) I believe the sis735 to be a faster chipset then the KT133A. but it will offer more overclocking. (how much overclocking you will need to do just to break even with the sis735 I do not know just something to think about)

All in all it is my opinoin that the K7S5A will have more longevity then the MSI, mostly because of the newer chipset. Hell I'm probably not going to upgrade mine for 6 months or more. I've on a xp 1600 in it right now and If I recall it can hold 2200+ (higher?)

just food for thought.

 

[Fulcrum]

I have the ECS in my second system. No problems with it at all.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

My dad had at least 3 of those MSI boards fail in the last year (possibly more) out of probably 12 computers. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Judging just by specs, the K7T Turbo is a 'better' motherboard. But with the K7S5A you get onboard sound and LAN I have the K7S5A, love it to death.
-- mrcodedude