Please help with motherboard for xp2000+

[Brandon2000]

Finally caved in and ordered the xp2000 with an antec 1040 case with 400 watt power supply (pp412). I am stuck with the motherboard choices, not sure to go with the msi kt3 ultra 2, the gigabyte 7vrx or the 7vrxp (not sure what the difference), or the asus a7v333, or even the epox board. The choices will be one of those to go with the components with2 sticks of samsung 2100 ddr ram with b0 ending (hopefully to overclock just the memory to 2700). Any comments would be greatly appreciated, thx again for your time.

 

[o1die]

The shuttle boards offer good value. I last used the ak31a, and it worked fine. You might check out the ak35gt2.

 

[Asrial]

I have no hefty complaints with the ASUS A7V333.

 

[AlucardBelmont]

don't buy asus a7v333. It has lot of problems.
I suggest getting epox 8K5A2+.

 

[Brandon2000]

No one really likes the gigabyte or msi? Those were really my top choices. I will have to go and read more about the asus and the epox. Also will the 400 watt case be enough to handle this? Thx again

 

[Insane3D]

Personally, I would go for the Epox 8K5A series. They are pretty much the best Athlon based boards right now..IMO.

Check out here for more information.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Never used an Epox board, but I can comment on the Asus board, setup a XP box with my buddy, easy install, overclocks well, I had zero problems. I've dealt with MSI KT333 boards, no complaints. I built a Duron and Gigabyte combo, didn't care too much for it, some minor problems.

Asus would be my choice.

 

[Mem]

Never used an Epox board, but I can comment on the Asus board,

I`ve and can tell you stability on Epox boards is excellent,I wouldn`t bother with an Asus board, Epox boards are better IMHO and cheaper and superior in overclocking department,MSI boards are also very stable that normally have lots of great added features but not great in the overclocking department,in the end it`s down to price and specs,and what you want the board to do etc but I would go with the Epox 8K5A2 or the plus version if you want RAID,but any of the other KT 333 Epox boards like the 8K5A3+ would be a good choice as well if you`ll be doing some OC.

 

[Brandon2000]

Thx for your time guys, I will check out the MSI and Epox board with great detail. I do have the samsung memory, really PNY 2100 ddr witht he b0 ending, some people had trouble with the MSI board with that, any comments. I have two sticks of 256, thx again.

 

[Asrial]

Originally posted by: AlucardBelmont
don't buy asus a7v333. It has lot of problems.

I've had mine for a few months now and I've yet to experience a single issue that indicates failure of the motherboard.

The only two complaints I have about the board are..

1) location of the floppy drive controller (easily correctable by not using a long PCI card in that slot).

2) Heat issues but I think they're more related to my XP 1600+ than the motherboard.

 

[Brandon2000]

Would everyone agree that the best price to performance board would be the MSI kt3 ultra 2?

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Brandon2000
Would everyone agree that the best price to performance board would be the MSI kt3 ultra 2?

No...

I think the Epox 8K5A2 series are better, but the MSI would be my second choice..

 

[Brandon2000]

My only worry about the epox is that I have pc2100 pny Ram that's samsung with the b0 ending, and the epox requires pc2700 memory, would it be adequate enough to run it?

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Brandon2000
My only worry about the epox is that I have pc2100 pny Ram that's samsung with the b0 ending, and the epox requires pc2700 memory, would it be adequate enough to run it?

The Epox does not "require" PC2700...none of the KT333 chipset based boards do...

You can either run the memory @ PC2100 or PC2700 speeds..

 

[AlucardBelmont]

"reply to Asrial"
about Asus A7V333,
the problems I encountered were
1. I failed to install a clean windows xp without lowering the memory perfomance. maybe my friend get a bad board or bad memory, but the memory he is using are in Asus recommended memory list.
http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/socketa/a7v333/specification.htm
the memory is Kingmax PC2700. (no mushkin or crucial here(taiwan) )
2. My friend told me that whenever he unplugged the power, the board will ask him to reconfigure his bios. It's annoying.
3. that night when I was trying to download the newest bios, drivers from asus ftp, It was down. It's more than enough to make me cursed Asus all night.
4. A7V333 is the most expensive board here (taiwan market) (for non raid motherboard type) .

that's why I say Asus A7V333 has problems and I'm sure my friends is not the only one who got a bad A7V333 board. I've seen some
negative comments about this board. (not all negative though ^^)

 

[rb56]

I've been thinking about changing out my mb also, what memory would you all use with the 8K5A2, any brand preference?

rb56

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: rb56
I've been thinking about changing out my mb also, what memory would you all use with the 8K5A2, any brand preference?

rb56

Samsung or Corsair PC2700 are good choices...

 

[Asrial]

Originally posted by: AlucardBelmont
2. My friend told me that whenever he unplugged the power, the board will ask him to reconfigure his bios. It's annoying.

Yeah, forgot about that one. It IS annoying and I'm not sure what "exactly" is causing it. It doesn't ask me to reconfigure all of BIOS, just the processor speed.