SETI - 8k7a vs 8kha+ (kt266A)

[TuffGuy]

i'm currently using the 8k7a. i can trade for an 8kha for free. would it be worth my time, and will i see any improvements?

ps: can the 8kha handle the alpha pal8045?

 

[panhead49]

both the m/b's ..the 8kha (kt266) and the 8k7a (amd761) are about the same ...speed wise......its the 8kha+ model that has the new kt266a chipset.......and really kicks a$$.....
i have one ,with a 1.2 tbird.....i love it.

edit .......i would'nt trade for a 8kha........your m/b runs to good to go through all the bull of swapping out m/b's for no gain....

 

[TuffGuy]

yeah, that's why i put the (kt266A). i thought that the "+" usually refers to RAID, so i was kind of hesitant to put it in the title.

it wouldn't really be a hassle, especially since i need to take my mobo out to put in the new pal8045, but i don't know if the 8kha+ will overclock as high as my current 8k7a. the jumperless multiplier is really tempting me though...

 

[DarkMajiq]

While the + model of the 8K7Ais the RAID version, the + version of the 8KHA is the KT266A version, rather than RAID. I believe the RAID version of the KT266A is called the 8KHA2, but I'm not 100% sure on that one. As for whether there'll be a performance increase, it's hard to say, because the 8KHA+ isn't likely to overclock as high as your 8K7A, but that may be offset by the better performance of the KT266A vs the 760.

 

[panhead49]

im sure you've seen all the post about how high the 8kha+ will go in fsb.......i would say it will go just as high as your 7a in fsb....which is pretty high.
the advantage is you will be getting a new generation chipset.......and again i will say it should go just as high in fsb setting as your 8k7a....

edit....they changed directions in the middle....in the case of your chipset the + does mean raid.....in the case of the 8kha+ ...it means.. kt266a...
when you get it with raid it is 8kha+ with raid......weird huh....

 

[Smoke]

Lane42 and I have 1900+ CPUs. He's using the 8KHA and I have the 8K7A. We are comparing notes along the way.

TuffGuy, what is the best non-water cooler in your opinion? I don't want to go to extremes with this but I'll probably want to OC it as time goes by. Right now I'm a little afraid to Unlock the chip because it would be the first attempt by me to Unlock an AMD and a potential very expensive screw up.

 

[TuffGuy]

<< TuffGuy, what is the best non-water cooler in your opinion? I don't want to go to extremes with this but I'll probably want to OC it as time goes by. Right now I'm a little afraid to Unlock the chip because it would be the first attempt by me to Unlock an AMD and a potential very expensive screw up. >>


the best would be an alpha pal8045 with the delta 80mm 68cfm fan. but i'm getting this kit. performs well, and is quieter than my current cgk760092.

 

[panhead49]

the old relible swiftek 462.......smoky ...go for it...its easy to unlock.....there are even video's on line to show you how..

 

[Smoke]

I guess the Thermaltake A1139 Heatsink and the Volcano 6 CU Cooling Fan sort of suck?

The above came with the MB and CPU as a suggested "good" cooler.

Don't know what came over me, should have taken more time and got the best stuff from the getgo. Found some money in my pocket and was hot to trot and ordered without the proper research. I don't guess any of you "pros" have ever done that? ha

 

[TuffGuy]

<< Don't know what came over me, should have taken more time and got the best stuff from the getgo. Found some money in my pocket and was hot to trot and ordered without the proper research. I don't guess any of you "pros" have ever done that? ha >>


of course not...

so what are the preliminary impressions that you and Lane42 have come to?

 

[lane42]

TuffGuy, do you know if the 8k7a has the 4 way interleave setting, is there a performance advantage to it.

 

[TuffGuy]

no it doesn't, that's only a VIA feature.

 

[Smoke]

Ha ha, thanks for asking about that Lane42. I had PMed him asking him if my MB had such a thing (whatever it is) because I saw no mention of it in the Owners Manual.

edited for the duh factor

 

[lane42]

TuffGuy, from what i can tell so far, the too are pretty close. On Smoke's 8k7a he runs a 3:16 on a .417 ar wu, on my 8kha+ i did 3:15. Smoke's at 12 @ 144, ia'm at 12 @ 142 FSB. Both at 50 degrees c. ia'm running win xp, Smokie what os are you using. I think we both agree a lower multiplyer will kick butt on times, with better cooling

 

[Smoke]

I'm running Win2000 Pro SP2.

What is your cooler, Gregg? Oops, well what the hell...it is in his profile for all to see.

/seems if someone has their name in their public profile you ought to be able to use it...or am I off base here? No intention to offend but I find myself wanting to type the "real" name like I do in PMs.

EDIT:Just had to post the last WU results.

1.822
Smoke 6
2:51

Now, that's the way I like it, ah ha, ah ha!

 

[lane42]

Greg, thats ok with me

Ia'm using a Thermoengine cooler, thats probaly why ia'm at 50 c. Gon'a swap a FOP 32 from a 600 @ 900 Duron. I have a FOP 38 but it's to loud.

2:51 :Q

 

[panhead49]

suprised to see the amd 761 chipset keepin up with the new and "better" kt266a chipset......but the stats dont lie...

 

[TuffGuy]

hey Smokeball, what are your RAM timings?

 

[Smoke]

http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=635408

I've put all the details in this thread (lead post) and some additional stuff as asked further down the thread.

Got a feeling if this baby was in the hands of one of you "experts" we could really see some fantastic numbers. But you'll have to buy your own. HA

 

[soni]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=635408

Link corrected for all non subscripers

 

[Smoke]

Thanks Soren,

I keep forgetting about "subscriber". That is really a PIA. Creating links is already a two step operation...copy/paste would certainly be nicer. And then I have to edit the link once created removing the "subscriber" and replacing it with "forums". Sorry, I forgot again.

 

[TuffGuy]

UPDATE:

This review just wouldn't be complete without mentioning the 8KHA+'s overclocking potential. I have seen a lot of success stories on the net of people reaching speeds of like 180mhz, and I'm sure that is the case, unfortunately the two boards I have had just didn't give those results. The first was bad, like I had said, and the second board just will not do above 160mhz- this is with proven components that would run extremely well at 175mhz on my 8K7a. At 160mhz the board was so unstable that it was useless to even try and run at those speeds, it would reboot randomly and that by itself was extremely frustrating to me. So I wasn't able to run any benches at a higher speed simply because the board would not complete them, it would reboot anytime I tried to run a test, maybe next time Epox will have such a great overclocker as the 8K7a, at the same time maybe I was just unfortunate to get a couple bad boards.

 

[panhead49]

i, for one am sorry to hear these results. this board , as many have witnessed is capable of great o/cing potential...just ask insane3d...who has had this m/b from the start...and can tell of the many sucesses he has had with it...
im sure you went through all the tweaking adjustments.....like the pci timing...to name just one.....a question...is "everything" tested from the old board ..in the new board.??? you would think the 8kha+ would kick a$$ ..just like its little bro.
did.......eirther a bad board..s...or its the new chipset that doesent like something you have in your sys....wish the news would have been better for you..sorry......

 

[TuffGuy]

hehehe... thats' not my board. that was a snippet from one of the reviews that i came across. but i've PMed insane3d to find out what the highest fsb that he's been able to reach on the 8kha+ is.

 

[panhead49]

oh man tuffguy.....i thought it was your comparsion.....shi$......i bet if you get that board you will get as high fsb as your 8k7a.......with all the same stuff from the 7 board....your post had me going!!!

edit...as you know it all depends on your add on cards and menory ect,....yours are already tested tuff in the 8k7a board...as always...think before you jump..(up to you if it will o/c like the 7 board)

edit..edit..where was that review from??