HELP- NEED ADVICE ON BOARD SELECTION!! Edit-- Is Soltec the right choice???

[BlueMysticWarrior]

This place has thrown me for a loop. Every time I think I found a board I am going to get, I read something that makes me reconsider that board or compare it to a new one. At this point I am lost.

I want the fastest chipset (I heard it was the KT266A)

I'll probably will be OCing a little, but I really don't think think that I will be needing RAID.

I saw the Shuttle AK31 referb for $59 shipped, and was about to jump on it, but I heard that these referbs are trouble, and it got a "lackluster review" at Tom's hardware.

Then I saw the Soltec that apparently came highly recommended, but then then someone said that the alpha fan doesn't fit on it(which was what I was considering) and this board cost $50 more, but that is not a big deal.

Also, I can't stop hearing about this SOYO Dragon+ (with a name like Dragon it has to be bad @ss). Which has tons of features, but I am not sure I will ever use them, (but you never know).

So, finally I need to know (the only advice I really value is you ATers) is should I splurge and get the SOYO, Go with the Soltec , or get the AK31 cheap solution.

Oh, and already have an GF3, SB Gamer, and LAN. I ordered an AMD 1700+. And I was going to order the Evercase case or Cheiftec (1030x) @newegg. (Ya'll feel free to comment on which of these cases I should get too, but the 1030 is $35 more)

Thanx All

UR the best

 

[BrianBBB]

Have you considered the EPoX 8KHA+? It's a great board, also a KT266A, and the price is nice ... that'd be my advice

 

[Strawberrymom]

the 8k7a is a sweet board fast as a mofo and way stable.

you couldnt tell teh diference

 

[silentbobrocks]

Hows it going

Check out this review.

http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2002q1/syk7v-dragon/index.x?pg=1

I have not read a bad review about this board... also look it up on www.newegg.com. Good price very good service.

I am very picky when it comes to buying online and they won me over. My board, mem, cpu, case are on their way. It took them only 2 days to ship it now I am just waiting on fedex.

good luck... This is what I went with AMD 1700+ 256mg DDR ram, and a case that will blow your socks of. Nothing to special but it has a fan on the top and also on the side of it. Overclockers dream for only $47.
Later

 

[silentbobrocks]

Oh yea I am also getting a Soyo Dragon Plus in that shipment....

 

[BlueMysticWarrior]

I really feel like getting the SOYO, but I don't see myself using the raid anytime in the near future, I already have a good sound card, 2 extra lan cards, and use that extra $50 to get that evercase case. Plus I found out the Soltec it comes bundle with some useful softwarm ( PC-illin, partionmagic, and something else). I guess I;m going with the Soltec, and definetely from newegg.

Thanx ya'll

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

KT266A is the fastest chipset out right now. Especially if you're concerned about memory performance. The Shuttle board is excellent, and Tom's Hardware had so many errors on their KT266A roundup it was a sin. If I were to recommend a motherboard though it would be the Epox 8KHA+ simply because Epox makes a more fully featured board than Shuttle (as far as overclocking) and the BIOS "feels" more mature.