Great results with EP-8KTA+

[BadBrad]

I recieved my EP-8KTA+ on Friday ($102 + sh). Installed locked 600 Duron, 128MB Crucial RAM, Diamond Monster Fusion, a pair of Western Digital ATA 66 15GB Hard drives, HP8200+ Burner, LS120 floppy all in an Enlight 7237. Loaded Win98SE and all the support driver files and ran Winstone99 10 times without a hitch. Next, removed the processor and gave it a Loctite treatment on the L1 bridges and proceeded to get 900 Mhz without so much as a hiccup. Really stable. But I'm at the limit of this processor. No matter what I do I cannot get past 900 stable.
Bottom line is best MB choice I've made in a long time.
600 Duron @ 900 Mhz 1.70vdc core
MB - 22 DegC
Processor - 36 DegC

 

[Henry Kuo]

congrats! have fun with it

 

[KBtrade]

BadBrad did you get your 8TKA+ from Bunta? if so was it the retail box? I can't decide between the 8KTA+ or wait for the MSI K7T Pro2...Thanks

 

[BadBrad]

KBtrade...
I did get it from Bunta. First time dealing with them. Shipping a little high but even taking that into account still the best price I could find. $114.83. Retail box, version 1.2 MB. No problems what so ever from Bunta. BTW, I was up on the EPoX US web and noticed that all three versions of this MB use the same BIOS. Hum...interesting.

 

[TimeKeeper]

I got mine delivered last Thurs and clean installed win98SE w/ 7 Gig of software. Running T-750@950@1.75V

Stable? I haven't shut it down since last Friday. AND!!!! I loop the Madonion's 3D Mark 2000 for more than 6 hours...(okay, I forgot to quit it and fell into sleep. Hey, but it still running next morning I woke up)

Fast? try this link.....

I had a Abit KT7 before this board!!!! (got this strange green screen, and strange reboot)
(Just wondering how much Abit paid Anandtech????????? Anandtech's BEST CHOICE logo had printed on Abit's KT7 BOX)

Result? I will pick Epox 8KTA+ again over ABIT!!!!!



p.s. Bunta seems to be a good retailer, although shipping is bit high, but they usually ship the product the very same day your order and provide you w/ tracking number right away...I like that!

 

[StickHead]

I decided to go with the KT7 over the Epox. I'm to lazy to use jumpers! I'm sure the Epox is a very good board, I use to have a G5.

I think Bunta is one of the best palces to order stuff online. I have placed about 4 orders with them and never had a problem.

 

[Topher]

Well, that does it for me, the 8KTA+ is on it's way to my parents, now just to decide which processor. (Then I have to wait for them to fly over here in a month! Damn!)

 

[BadBrad]

Topher....
I suspect that your parents will be satisfied with a screaming 900mHz machine. Therefore, I'd recommend getting a lowly 600 Duron for $50 shipped, put a stock Coolmaster HSF on it and make that baby sing @ 900mHz. It really doesn't stress those bad boys because you usually do not have to set the Vcore higher than 1.7vdc. AMD techdocs state the normal operating range for the Durons as 1.5-1.7vdc.

 

[Neos]

I was looking at the Epox ...question, please.
Is it hard to work the jumpers, in your case ...having them so close to the power plug ...and, is there room for a big fan/HS ...like the FOP32.
I have also seen RMA rates from high for the Abit ...to low for MSI.
Wonder where this one falls?
Neos

 

[BadBrad]

The Ep-8KTA+ does not have jumpers. Jumpers are a pain in the neck! It has two banks of switches; one for CPU Vcore selection and one for CPU ratio selection. Switches are easier and usually no problem for most people. It does have a small group of jumpers if you need to change the CPU Vio which BTW most people do not fool with.

 

[wyckedcool]

I debated a long time between the asus, abit, and epox boards. Finally decided on the epox 8kta+. Just got it up and running with absolutly no problems. Everything is running very stable so far. I have a duron 750 with stock HS/f. (until I overclock)

This is my first computer that I've built so I don't have experience with the other boards. But I think I made a good choice with this one. They have been getting really good reviews. And it's a great price. Bought mine at Bunta.com

Anyway if your only looking to spend around $100 buck's then this board would be a great pick.


Antec SX1030B
Epox 8kta+
duron 750
Diamond Viper v770
SB Live MP3+
64mb PC133 Siemen/Infineon memory (soon to be 128mb)
Sony Spressa 8x burner

 

[moolman]

Hi,
I'd pick the epox too if it was between the epox and asus I had the epox slot a and it was a solid board, even accepted crap pc133 ram at cas2 while other boards wouldn't even post with that ram from computer crafts. But I'd still choose the abit because of jumperless and switchless overclocking, I set up 2 abits and 2 asus boards, and the abit is so much more comfortable. Also the abit uses 3 phase power for cooler operation when using high speed cpu's of over 1gig compared to 2 phase for the asus, I'm not sure what the epox uses.

Alex

 

[Neos]

Brad ...I said jumpers ...meant switches. They look to be closed in ...close to the the power supply lead, and possibly hard to manipulate once you get it all together. Is that the case?
Also ...did you use a big heatsink, like the FOP32 ...and does it fit OK? The caps look really close.
Thanks
Neos

 

[BadBrad]

Neos...
Compared to the "old" days of baby AT MBs, this MB is well laid out because of the cable routing etc.. I have an Enlight 7237 mid tower and had no problems changing the switches with a small technitians slotted screw driver. I changed the switches multiple times while checking various clock speeds. I used a stock HSF by Coolmaster which was no problem getting on & off a couple of times. I suspect that the larger the HSF the more difficult it could be. It depends on the design of the HSF and how much overlap there is at the end of the socket where the caps are located.

 

[TidesFan]

I recommended this board to a friend and they are very happy with it. There is a non + board out there, so be careful when you order it, because pricewatch lists both.

 

[TimeKeeper]

I replaced my Abit KT7 w/ 8KTA+ on OCT. 18.

I am so impressed w/ its stability and performance and replaced my wife's Intel set up to D-700@900@1.8V on 8KTA+ 2 days ago.

Switch or Jumper is bit of hassle sometimes, but isn't ASUS's boards were extremely stable before P3B-F????? (introduction of "softmenu&quot


That's just say, I am willing to do head to head comparison in performance test w/ any program you choose.

(T-750@950 / 128MB PC 133/ CL TNT2 Ultra/ Maxtor 30GB 7200rpm) ...yeah..I know I don't have super duper setup, but, just to keep comparison fair.

 

[nairii]

BadBrad where can I find a Duron 600 for $50 shipped. And what kind of cooler do you use on the system.

Thanks

 

[cdrakejr]

Check prices at PriceWatch.
Then be sure to check the stores rating at ResellerRatings.

Duron 600 for $39.00 + 10.75 shipping at icompz.com. I'm not linking to them because you need to check their requirements on Pricewatch in order to get that price. On their site it is listed for $56 so don't just order from there.

Their resellerrating is 5.7/7.0, which isn't too bad. Have not ordered from them so no personal experience.

I bought my Duron from JCShopper and no complaints. Just remember that ther barebones price sites are not going to have all the frills of the bigger sites.

Final thought. If you want to get the best chance at a 1GHz overclock, then you need a week 36 or later cpu. At the low cost places you really can't pick and choose. Might want to pay a little more and go to a site that will guarantee a late week cpu.

You can get an idea of potential overclocks from an Oct. 19th post at
Ixbt-Labs. Just scroll down the page to reach the chart.

Good luck!

 

[cdrakejr]

I'm posting this seperately so it doesn't get lost in the first post.

Gamers Depot has a new review of the 8KTA+. Really nice review with lots of intersting/helpful pics.
Only complaint I have with the review is that he makes a statement about locked cpu's where seems to be unaware of the ease with which you can unlock the Duron or Tbird.

 

[StanG]

Just finished with my sister's kids' setup: Duron 600/8KTA+/64MB generic PC133 memory (all from Bunta). Only have one thing to say:
GREAT! Running at 800MHz (at 1.675 volts) with basic cooler master HS, and after some game playing, the BIOS still reports cpu temperature under 40C. That's better than my Duron/KT7 setup!
Since this is not my system, I don't want to push it any higher, but I am sure it will go much higher.
And the switches are very easy to change, even with everything connected.

Word of advice - if anybody is looking for nice, overclocker friendly board - you should definitely consider this one!
It doesn't hurt either that it has onboard sound. I know it's crappy, but it's still there if you need it!

 

[spencer]

cdrakejr-

I agree with you on the Gamersdepot.com review. I read that and couldn't figure out what the hell the reviewer was thinking. All them "no L1 bridge" hoaxes must have got to him or he just didn't know about the L1 bridge pencil trick.

 

[nairii]

BadBrad what kind of heasink and fan did you use on your Duron that got it OCd to 900.

THanks

 

[BadBrad]

Nairi....
Believe it or not I have a stock HSF on it. Identical to the one that comes on the retail version of the Duron 600. It's a Cool Master DP5-5G11 and you can get them most places for $10. After heavy game play last night (that's why I didn't answer your post) max temp of the CPU was only 37 DegC. The Duron uses much less power than it's bigger brother the Tbird. So, unless you really have to push the voltage up to get the results you want, any approved HSF will do.

 

[BP]

After reading through this thread, it's settled, I'm gonna get a EP-8KTA+ and a Duron 600 and sell my old E-Machines K6-2 300.

*Austin Powers mode on*

Yea baby Yea!

*Austin Powers mode off*

 

[FiDo14DiDo]

Crap! It seems like people are oly getting 900mhz stable outta this board. I was hoping for 1ghz stable.

Well, I got the 700 Duron with a 8KTA+ from Paragon (cheaper for me since no taxes). Also got a Taisol HSF. Will test @ 1ghz and will post results.

Its strange that nobody has posted a 1ghz post yet since at athlonmb.com they tested this board and it ran at 1ghz. They also benched this thing very close to the Asus. But with built in sound and a cheaper price, I just had to choose this baby!!

FiDo