Epox Boards/Building New Rig

[ImmortalBlade]

Im building a new computer for my g/f (heheh, well not really, new computers mine, my old one is hers) and looking at the epox website, the selection looks daunting to find. I've been out of the "loop" for too long and i need some serious help. I need RAID first off so that lowers it to + configuation mobos. Um now looking at some of these boards... the only diffrence i see is some misc features like Magic Flash.

CPU:
Planing on getting XP 1900, Wuts a good core for OC? Should i not bother with XP and wait for hammer release?

Via Chipset:
Should i bother with the kt400? i dont need 8X agp. Finaly Should i bother with Via? I hear that SIS is better in most respects.

Sorry if im a bit vauge, on way to buy parts.
K.S.

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Feel free to flame, insult or generaly bash me.

 

[Dulanic]

I wouldnt bother with KT400, Id just grab a KT333, KT400 really has nothing over KT333 except AGP 8X. Id grab a 8K5A2+ or a 8K5A3+ main difference is the A3 has 6 IDE channels, and 4 DDR slots, and the A2 has 3 DDR slot and 4 IDE channels (Both have RAID). IMO Id save money and go with the A2 unless you need the 6 IDE slots, which I cant see. The extra DDR slot doesnt do much, filling 4 slots at 333 just usually doesnt work.

 

[microAmp]

I wouldnt bother with KT400, Id just grab a KT333

Agreed, also if you want to save a little money the KT266A's aren't bad either, had the 8KHA+ from EPoX and liked it a lot. Not as many features as the KT333 boards, like USB 2.0, but got the job done.

 

[jonah255]

my 8k3a+ is solid as diamond. no crashes what so ever. got me a 1900 xp and 512 of samsung 2700 on it. been running it since june.

if this is going to be your main rig though, id wait and see how the nforce2 fares. it has potentioal and youll at least have 8x agp capability.

regarding cores, the day after i bought my 1900 newegg had one with either the 2100 or the 2000 core. cant rememeber. my friend has one of those and it oc's quite nice with his thermalright ax7, i wish i had got one.

 

[Bovinicus]

EPoX is definitely a good motherboard manufacturer to go with, especially if you are into tweaking and overclocking. My 8KHA+ has been going strong at far past default settings for nearly 2 years now. However, there is no reason not to go with the KT333 so that you have the improved memory controller, USB2.0, and the ability to run 166/166MHz FSB/Mem in case you upgrade to a Thoroughbred-D later down the line. The 8K5A2+ is probably the one to go with, as the extra features on the 8K5A3+ most likely won't get used.

 

[xSauronx]

Im buidling a box too, and bought a 8k5a2+
onbaord 6ch snd, lan, usb 2(6ports), raid, and plenty of expansion and ddr slots for me
supposed to OC well, seen a few reccomendations for it around here....going with that and a athlon 1600 AGOIA, a few guys have OCed it to 1700mhz or better, so i bought a TT Volcano 7+ as well.

looked like a great board for the price, i got mine for like 105 shipped(fedex), got it at www.cnetpc.com

 

[ImmortalBlade]

Originally posted by: jonah255

regarding cores, the day after i bought my 1900 newegg had one with either the 2100 or the 2000 core. cant rememeber. my friend has one of those and it oc's quite nice with his thermalright ax7, i wish i had got one.

Would you happen to know the Modle Number? Locked/unlocked? TIA

Thanx everybody for your input. Ill read up on the two boards. Yes i need 6 IDE: well only 4 and 2 raid =P Now all i need to do is find a tower to cram all this stuff in. Got a CoolerMaster ATC 201, nice case but too small for my needs now.

So its a 8K5A2+ or a 8K5A3+. Probly A2. If anybody wants say anything else im willing to listen.
Thnx again everybody.



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DSL: Digitally Slowed Line
Cable: It was built for TV!!!!
OC43: I gotta gets me one of those!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jonah255]

he was running it on the kt266a epox board. locked, we were just modifying the fsb. he was yeilding well over 1000 more marks in 3dmark2001 at more then acceptable temperatures and this was before the 41 detonators came out (he was running a gf3). i happen to have a pic of the core.
it reads:
AMD Athlon
AX1900DMT3C
AGOGA 0206FPBW
Y777663 04S3

 

[cmdrdredd]

I'd take a look at the Abit offerings as well as Asus. Both great...Epox is great too, but maybe you could use some of the features added to the other boards?

 

[HendrixFan]

The best way to go would be to get the EpoX KT333 board and the XP 1600+ from newegg. They have the AGIOA cores, which pretty much go up to 2100+ all the time. Get some PC2700 RAM, and you can run the FSB and RAM at 166. The chip will then run at 1750, which it should do with no additional voltage. The combo should run you about $250 or so.