Gigabyte GA-7VRXP: BIOS a problem or not?

[CrazySaint]

I'd really like to buy a GA-7VRXP, but I was discouraged by the number of people posting about having BIOS problems. After continuing to see so many positive comments about them (and high ratings from users), I'm beginning to wonder (and hope) if it was just a few boards that had problems, and I'd be fine in ordering one. I've also noticed that newegg.com has both models of A7V333 boards in its refurbished items section, but no GA-7VRXPs, which also leads me to think most of them really are fine. Also, if the BIOS really is a problem, does anybody know if it will be fixed in revision 2.0, due out in June?

 

[rute1]

Here's what looks like happened.

Gigabyte released the 7VRXP v1.0 motherboard followed by a v1.1 motherboard. When they developped the F6 Bios, it looks like they only tested it on the v1.1 motherboard as it seems to have problems detecting any PCI devices on the v1.0 motherboards.

You can wait for the v2.0 motherboard to come out but there doesn't seem to be any guarantee that Gigabyte won't release a 2.1 and not make the bios upgrades backward compatible for the same motherboard.

I have a v1.0 7VRXP so I am speaking from a slightly biased position but I think my next motherboard will come from a motherboard manufacturer that makes the bios upgrades compatible with all revisions of the same motherboard.

 

[Excelsior]

Get the board. I love my Gigabyte 7VRXP. Its stable, easy to setup (I had no problems whatsoever) and has some nice features.
You wont be dissapointed.

 

[RedRooster]

The BIOS could very well be fine, however I know that a lot of people are having trouble with this board, myself being one of them.
After reading the stellar reviews, I picked one up and had nothing but trouble getting it to work with 3 different brands/speeds of DDR RAM. I couldn't believe what a mess that VIA stuff is(my first foray into the wonderful world of AMD/VIA ). It was the v1.1 board, but for some reason it just wouldn't play nice, and kept blue screening during XP installation.
I'm hoping it's a faulty board, because I'd hate to go on with this impression that Gigabyte makes really crappy boards, even though their P4 ones looks quite desirable. Since I'm going with a P4, I may end up with Gigabyte anyways, but that's niether here nor there.

I would merely suggest to look at a different brand, there's tons of other KT333 boards out there. Do lots of reading on messageboards such as here and HardOCP, etc., you'll be much better off than reading those biased reviews THG and others spew out.

 

[KKiller]

how is thg biased?

 

[Insane3D]

Setup a 1800+ on a GA-7VXRP with two 256mb sticks of Crucial PC2100 a month or so ago. Board runs like a champ and I run it @ 150 FSB @ 1.73ghz (2100+). Board setup was a breeze and I am using all the onboard peripherals except sound. Awesome board...

If you get the board, drop me a line if you need a hand setting it up. BTW, I have the 1.1 revision, and it has the clear CMOS jumper...very nice addition.

 

[SheepWoolie]

My board works fine, really stable with bios f6e and f6. Runnin pc2700 samsung and it hasnt crashed since i bought it.....