Performance Increase?

[KurtD]

Just curious, in practical terms what would be the performance gains, assuming everything else is equal, from changing my motherboard from an A7V (KT133) with an ATA100 drive to either
- KT266A with ATA133 (I'm leaning Soltek @ $115 on Newegg)
or
- SIS with ATA100 (Leadtek or ECS)

The price difference between the two is substantial. In addition, I don't have to purchase new memory in order to upgrade to a Sis, allowing to save $ and spread the cost of upgrading to DDR and XP out in phases as I can afford it. However, I have a nagging suspicion that the Soltek is going to be easier on my blood pressure.

Any opinions or guesses as to the performance gain contributed from the MB/HD/RAM only? Thanks.

 

[sean2002]

I just upgraded from an ECS K7S5A (sis 735) to an Epox 8KHA+ (KT266A). In benchmarks there is a noticeable difference, 7446 3dmarks on the ECS to 7889 on the Epox board. It has also cut 10 minutes from a Seti WU.

 

[Duvie]

The kt266a has better bench performance in many areas...memory, 3dmark, and harddisk benches....However in many areas those synthetic benchmarks fail to materialize into noticeable real world performance...

I know nothing about seti so I can't comment...

I lean away form via for several reasons I wont get into...you do the research...I like sis...leadtek gets better memory scores and allows for more ocing features...

As for ata133 to ata100...haha...You won't notice crap!!! Drives today barely do sustained ata33 standards....

For you many current boards offer a upgrade that you may see performance enhancements...either sis or via or even ali xp333 board you will see improvement, but mainly due to the increased memory bandwidth...

 

[Wind]

There will be at least 10-20% increment in performance moving from KT133A to KT266A chipset. The increase memory bandwith coupled w/ a better memory contoller on the chipset help. Real world performance is "noticeable"...but then again its a very subjective area.

The ATA100 & ATA133...didn't really bring real world performance under current technologies.

 

[Mustanggt]

you will see difference in real world going to the KT266a.

 

[Stevem627]

The difference is noticable, but you'g get a nice bump by investing extra into a nicer video card or a faster processor first. I'd go with these things first and get a new board later...but if you've got the itch for a new board, try a KT266A if you want to buy DDR memory. If not the Leadtek is a solid chioce and one I considered highly before buying a new MSI board.