Help me pick a mobo!

[The_Lurker]

Hey! thinking of picking up a Motherboard based on the Via Apollo KT133A chipset. now, i'm thinking of getting either the Asus A7V133 or the MSI KT7 Turbo Limited Edition w/ Raid. Any ideas which ones better? And if you have any suggestiosn, that'd be great too!

 

[darth maul]

Is there a reason you want the KT133A chipset?

Cause 266A boards aren't much more but perform oh so better because of the DDR, if its a issue of having PC133 and no where to use it, then the ECS K7S5A based on the SIS735 that supports PC133 OR DDR might be a better way to go. And if its another reason, I would love to hear it 🙂.

 

[The_Lurker]

Well.. here in Canada it's $100 CDN more to get a Asus A7V266 cs a A7V 133. As for the ram problem, t hat's another thing 😀 This mobo and cpu i'm getting is to replace my current BX and P3 900 (it's dying 🙁) and i want to re-use the ram since i'm on a VERY VERY tight budget. So, i can't fork over an extra $100 for the Mobo and then another $100 for 256mb DDR Ram. My whole reasoning behind things 😀 ALso, i can't jsutify the cost of DDR unless i'm getting a whole revamped system. Btw, how do the SIS perform? never liked SIS or Ali Chipsets.

 

[jfunk]

The SIS chipset is acually performing the fastest right now, I believe.

If you want SDRAM and are on a budget, you can't beat the ECS K7S5A...can use your old SDRAM and upgrade to DDR in the future if you want. Will take the slowest Durons all the way up to the newest XP's.


j

 

[vampiro]

I am also going to recommend an ECS board, but I would say go with the K7VZA. It is based on the KT133A chipset you requested, and having just built 32 computers based on this board I can tell you it is very stable. It should also fit your limited budget, I think I got them for $58 a piece.



<< The SIS chipset is acually performing the fastest right now, I believe. >>


Nope, that right now goes to the VIA KT266A. Hard to beat the Dragon Plus! and SloTek!!!

 

[Wind]

Between the 2, I choose A7V133. Been using one myself...solid mobo. Run XP 1500+ & 1600+ (both tested) fine as well. Completely jumperfree is an add features on this mobo.

ECS K7S5A is not bad as well...able to use DDR.

 

[The_Lurker]

Well, just did some research and was wondering, i've heard that the ECS (which i'm seriously looking at now, good price for a mobo 😀) can't change FSB, Multiplier and core voltage.. Just wondering, did new bios updates fix that? I've read somewhere that they did fix it, but im' not sure. If anybody can shed some light on this, that'll be great. Thx!