ECS Problems?!?

[mgravy]

I've seen a few negative posts regarding the ECS K7S5A (shun post). I'm building a system this weekend around that board. Any specifics that I should be aware of?!?!

 

[Rickr]

I upgraded from a BX-based intel system to that board and an AMD Athlon XP 1700 with no problems. I didn't even bother to reload Windows 98. It came up, found the new motherboard stuff, and it worked fine. The only thing I had to do manually was install the SIS AGP driver to maximize 3D performance. Get the latest version from the ECS site (version 1.07).

This board is very nice. I just started playing Max Payne, and haven't had any problems at all. Even the on-board sound works great. No glitches at all with that demanding game.

Good luck.

 

[IamDavid]

I'm running an ECS now and have had no problems with the board itseslf, just me doing stupid things to it.
One thing to watch is when installing the RAM be carefull not to put it in backwards. I didn't do this but I seen a couple people that had.

 

[Flatline]

I had no problems, but I did these things:
updated BIOS to latest version
installed latest AGP driver
installed AMD AGP patch
installed latest vid card drivers

 

[Flatline]

Now THAT'S good advice!!!

 

[nortexoid]

from what i've read around here, u should probably be careful, as there are people who have: 1) booted up w/ no HSF on, or half hanging off; 2) touch copper wires to their video cards while it's on; 3) crack the core of their cpus by using their beastly unsensitive force and lack of wit; 4) etc.

other than that, no problem setting one of those up w/ generic SDRAM and GF2 MX...

careful tho, i noticed teh system reboots if u set the memory settings too aggressively (beyond what the chips can take)...in case u're wondeirng why it's rebooting that is, unlike ohters who right away attribute the problems of their failed overclocks to something entirely else...

 

[RossGr]

If you get a good one it is gold, if you start running into problems, RMA it. After you get it going don't throw away the reciept, wait until it has been running trouble free for 2 months that should be long enough to weed out the lemons. GL

 

[thraxes]

built 4 systems with this board and all are going strong without any glitches... unlike my 4 Via KT-133 builds of whitch 3 still have problems -Abit and DFI boards- (2 probably will be replaced by ECS boards soon)... those things caused me so much trouble I have been put off Via for the next year at least.

 

[Jerboy]

<< I've seen a few negative posts regarding the ECS K7S5A (shun post). I'm building a system this weekend around that board. Any specifics that I should be aware of?!?! >>



ummm.. random BSOD's, memory errors, refusing to run properly unless you set FSB to 100MHz....

$50+hassle+hassle+$6 shipping+$5 RMA shipping+$5 RMA shipping for the 2nd time+hassle+waiting in line at post office and did I mention hassle? $66+tons of hassle is no longer an economical solution.

I HATE K7S5A

 

[AncientPC]

I bought a refurbished ECS K7S5A board from Newegg.

Slapped on a T-bird 1.4ghz and OEM HSF.

It's been at least 2 months, no problems.

BTW, no BIOS updates, no AGP updates, nothing.

 

[Vinny N]

I was a bit skeptical but a friend of mine's A7A266 totally went loopy and the ECS board was the only reasonable priced replacement.

I gave him a loaner Celeron 500+D815EPEA and did a clean Win2K install.

When the ECS came in, I removed all the devices but ACPI compliant system from the device manager.

Powered off, swapped boards.

Powered on, picked up everything perfectly.

For paranoia's sake I upgraded the BIOS and installed the AGP driver.

Still running like a champ as far as I know.

"Better lucky than good." as Chris Cades says.

 

[Flatline]

I don't think luck has as much to do with it as some would have you think; having said that, I do realize that a decent number of these boards have shown up DOA. I guess they ARE trying to compete with Abit after all LOL

 

[WhoDeeny]

The only true issue (meaning not created by myself) is, and you can see this on my other thread "At wits ends (K7S5A)" is to get the master drives on both IDE channels operating in UDAM mode. O ther than that it works great, II just eant/need that extra edge UDMA will give. I have my RAM settings maxed out and operatin @ 133 (I had it at one point working @ 138) with Win2k, 512M Crucial PC2100 DDR Ram and a GeFroce three, this baby smokes. I've gotten close to 8000 on default setting with 3dMark2001, needless to say, outside of my drive issues, I'm extatic about this low cost, highspeed board

 

[SUOrangeman]

My K7S5A has done very well in the 3 months I've had it. The only hiccup I witnessed is that the mobo is picky if you first connect a device (IDE drive, PCI card), power up, and then remove that device as an attempt to troubleshoot. I was able to fix this with a decent CMOS clear.

It may be wise to slowly build up, but I guess that's sound advice anyway. Only start with the essentials: CPU, RAM, video, one drive.

-SUO