Going AMD to build a nice temporary system until dual-channel P4 boards are released - need mobo recommendation

[DevilsAdvocate]

Any recommendations on a KT400 board? I have read all of the differences, and I think I'd rather go that route... Strangely, I also only have 6 screw mounting points in the case I am recycling....

 

[gsethi]

Going the same way as me i also switched to AMD for part time to come back to intel when dual channel ddr and Presscotts come out.

i dont know too much about KT400 boards but Epox boards seems the best for KT333.

 

[Insane3D]

Personally, if I had a choice between the KT400 boards, and a KT333 board, it would be a KT333 board by far. I would personally go with the Epox 8K5A2+ . I have two of these and they are one of the nicest boards I've used to date. I have two paired up with $50 1600+ that both run 166mhz FSB, 1.75ghz @ default vcore.

I am actually going to sell off my 1.6A and Epox 4BDA2+ and 4G4A+ for now, and maybe get a higher speed P4 with a dual channel DDR setup down the line. Generally, at best, the KT400 will have less than a 2% performance advantage running DDR333 over the nicer KT333 boards. If you run DDR400, they are actually slower.


The Epox is quite a board for under $100. It comes with RAID, 5.1 sound, 6 USB 2.0 ports, onboard LAN, and o/c's like crazy. A few review sites have had it as far as 231mhz (462mhz DDR) FSB!

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Why is there all the dislike for the KT400? I do not overclock - at all...

What are the reasons to go KT333 over 400 ?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
Why is there all the dislike for the KT400? I do not overclock - at all...

What are the reasons to go KT333 over 400 ?

From what I've read and been told by the pros (you know who you are! )...chipset maturity, proven reliability, chipset flexibility, performance and price. I had a choice b/t both. I bought a KT333 today. I bought an Epox 8K5A2+ from MWave.

Will be pairing it up with a 512mb stick of Corsair XMS3200 (the CAS2.5 stick...CAS 2.5 @ 200MHz, but CAS 2 @ 166MHz) and a AGOIA-stepping 1600XP.

Without even trying, I'll have a 1.74GHz CPU for $53. Beat that w/a bat! That's at CAS2 w/the fastest memory timings. I'll bet (I'll find out for sure in about a week when the mobo gets here..) that I'll get close to 180MHz FSB w/the fastest timings too.

 

[Zepper]

I wouldn't so quickly rule out different solutions. I really like the new SiS based socket-A solutions. For example the AOpen AK75 or AK75 Pro when it finally shows up in the States. The AK75 is only $63. on Newegg.
.bh.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
Why is there all the dislike for the KT400? I do not overclock - at all...

What are the reasons to go KT333 over 400 ?

.


There are not that many KT400 boards out yet, and you can get a Epox KT333 board with the 8235 southbridge, so the only thing you really lose is AGP 8x which is not really a lose.