Please Check this SETUP before I buy

[novon]

Any predicatable problems\suggestions with this setup? I'm gonna order from newegg soon.

Thanks!

-Enermax / Antec, BLACK, 10-Bay, Enermax 330W P-4 PS, Server Tower Case
-ABIT KG7-RAID AMD761 ATX MOTHERBOARD - RTAIL
-VGA PNY|GF3/TI200 64MB DDR TV/DVI LIFE TIME REPLACEMENT BY PNY
-AMD Althon XP 1600+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - RETAIL
-2X CRUCIAL MICRON 256MB 32x64 PC 2100 DDR RAM - OEM
-2X WESTERN DIGITAL WD400BB CAVIAR 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive -OEM

 

[John]

Nice selection. Any reason you aren't looking at a KT266a mainboard?

 

[novon]

After the KT133 I vowed never to buy VIA again

 

[novon]

or is that Apollo?

 

[John]

To each his own I suppose. In that case look at the Epox 8K7A+. Do a search in the motherboard forum for feedback. I have (2) of them.

 

[John]

<< or is that Apollo? >>



Via = Apollo

 

[novon]

so how is the stability of the KT266A? Any known problems?

 

[bustone]

i duno man, been hearing many a great things about the epox 8kHa+
when coupled with an athlon xp. i'll let you know when mine gets here

 

[Ausm]

<< i duno man, been hearing many a great things about the epox 8kHa+ when coupled with an athlon xp. i'll let you know when mine gets here >>




I can verify this quote...I have built several systems using this board and it rocks!!. Very fast and stable and no problems with hardware conflicts


Ausm

 

[novon]

hmm...no raid though. What about this:

MSI K7T266 PRO2-RU

It sounds like it has every feature I'm looking for, any problems though?

 

[John]

<< hmm...no raid though. What about this:

MSI K7T266 PRO2-RU

It sounds like it has every feature I'm looking for, any problems though? >>



Sure, it's MSI. MSI has had a slew of problems with their KT133 boards failing after 4-12 months of usage. In fact MSI is allowing the end user to RMA directly thru them instead of the reseller. I give MSI 2 thumbs down at this point, not to mention the money I have lost replacing their products.

 

[kreno]

If you're gonna get a new motherboard and based on a KT266A then get the K7V Dragon+ dude. I hate VIA personally but KT266A from what I've read and tested is quite a viable solution!

I was pretty amazed! Anyway only other critique I'd make is that you're only getting the PNY GF3 Ti200, I'd get the Leadtek Ti200 because of the 2D Quality... I've seen the Ti500 version and it's got 2D that's on the same level as Matrox video cards! It's nuts! Only runs like 20 bucks more and so totally worth it for the image quality.

 

[AMDPwred]

<< so how is the stability of the KT266A? Any known problems? >>



My Shuttle has been rock solid so far. Great board for $85

 

[novon]

Over at athlonmb.com teh Soyo Dragon has a lot of problems, check the forums

 

[kreno]

Thanks for the heads up Novon, I was going to make that my next board lol!

 

[tornadobox]

i've got the MSI K7T266 Pro2 (non-raid) board, no problems at all. before this I had the MSI K7T Turbo Limited (KT133A) board, again, with no problems at all. seems that the OLDER MSI boards had problems with dying (KT133) but as of yet, I haven't heard of any of the newer MSI boards having any problems.

 

[Warin]

I had the original MSI Socket A K7T-Pro motherboard. It ran rock solid for me (well, after a BIOS update in the first two weeks) for over a year. The guy I sold it to has had zero complaints in the last three months.

I never experienced any problems, even running USB devices and SB Live.

Maybe it was the a stepping of the KT133 chipset, I dont know. But my experiences with VIA have always been pretty positive.

Could it be that when you push the PCI Bus out of spec with overclocking, this chipset is less stable? I have no idea as I am not really an avid overclocker.