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Socket A mobo w/RAID & SDRAM? **Now I'm looking at the ASUS A7V133, kt7a-Raid is out.

T

The Dancing Peacock

Diamond Member
My k7s5a went belly up. I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive board that has RAID (for the extra IDE). Looking to balance quality and price.

Overclocking performance is tertiary behind price. I don't do it, but I might look into it in the future. I don't want to spend too much, because it's only a stop gap until the hammer's come out. Plus I don't want to up to a DDR board with RAM prices like they are.

I was checking this article out...AT kt133a article but it doesn't include other chipsets. I'm open to non VIA, SIS735 chipsets. Also open to "get this motherboard and buy a PCI RAID card"

edit-- the Kt7-raid and kt7a were suggested below for a cheap price. What's the difference? Thoughts on them would be appreciated.

thanks.

 
You could try an Iwill KK266PLUS-R. They run about $90. Built in RAID, sound, with SDRAM.

Just read that article, the KK266 is not that much, of course the 'PLUS' version is what you would need. Here's where to get it for a decent price, with 1 year warranty. 😀
 
IWILL KK266P-R seems a nice choice for SDRAM
I used A7V133 before I upgrade to Abit KR7A
and it seem pretty stable too, it pumped my 1.4tbird
to 1.6 (11*145).

but the IWILL is a good choice and have a nive
onboard sound also .
 
I was looking to keep it under $100 shipped, the cheaper the better. That Iwill looks nice, but 120+ for this board is a little steep. I'm thinking about checking out FS/T.

 
I`m using an Abit KT7A and its a very nice board. you can catch the Raid version of this board in the Newegg refurb section for $69 shipped. I got this board from Newegg refurb and it was opened but never used ( no mounting screw marks on it) and it runs fine.
 


<< I`m using an Abit KT7A and its a very nice board. you can catch the Raid version of this board in the Newegg refurb section for $69 shipped. I got this board from Newegg refurb and it was opened but never used ( no mounting screw marks on it) and it runs fine. >>



That's more along the price lines of what I was looking for. I'll check out newegg's refurbs.


 
I bought a refurb KT7A from NewEgg, and had considerable problems with it. Random reboots while in the midst of work, rebooting instead of shutting down, and finally refusing to even POST. I doubt the power supply was the problem, since it still tests fine with another board and it's AMD certified for the processor (an old Duron 750) I was using. This isn't meant to imply that the KT7A is a bad board, but rather to be careful with purchasing refurb items from NewEgg.

The only other refurb item I've purchased from them was a Radeon LE, and it too had to be returned. Appeared to have bad/flaky RAM, resulting in ugly lines and such all over the screen.

If you do buy refurb equipment from NewEgg, be sure to test it fully before your 30 day return window has expired...

P.S. Just noticed that Compgeeks.com has new KT7s for $39.50, new KT7-RAIDs for $49, and new KT7A-RAIDs for $62.75. These are the versions that don't officially support XP processors, of course...
 
Bingo skriefal. Thanks for the great find there.

What's the difference between the kt7a-raid and the kt7-raid? Couldn't tell much of a difference between the product description or the Abit site. I have a 1.2 Duron, so the no XP problem is fine with me. I wouldn't throw an XP on there with SDRAM anyway.

Is the difference worth 13 bucks?
 


<< What's the difference between the kt7a-raid and the kt7-raid? >>



The KT7A-RAID uses the KT133A chipset, whereas the KT7-RAID uses the older KT133 chipset. Thus, the KT7A is the one to get if you want 133FSB support.

Note that "no XP support" also implies that the boards don't officially support Durons faster than 950MHz, since those use the same core as the Athlon XPs. However, it'll probably work fine anyway.
 
<<The KT7A-RAID uses the KT133A chipset, whereas the KT7-RAID >>
Well said........ 🙂


Got the KT7A, the memory controller on KT133A is much faster than the KT133
and a good solutions if you want to upgrade to faster CPU

peace
 


<<

<< What's the difference between the kt7a-raid and the kt7-raid? >>



The KT7A-RAID uses the KT133A chipset, whereas the KT7-RAID uses the older KT133 chipset. Thus, the KT7A is the one to get if you want 133FSB support.

Note that "no XP support" also implies that the boards don't officially support Durons faster than 950MHz, since those use the same core as the Athlon XPs. However, it'll probably work fine anyway. >>



Yea I was checking out something and the rev. 1.2 doesn't officially support the Morgan core Durons or the XPs. So I'm not sure if I necessarily want to get this one.

Any other suggestions for board? I'm going to RMA the k7s5a, but I was thinking of taking the time to get a board with more IDE channels. I don't know if I can justify spending 100+ on a board that I'm going to have for maybe less than a year before I upgrade to a Hammer or Thoroughbred. Plus I want to pick up a tv card and case(this will probably have to wait)
 


<< Get KT7A-RAID. If you don't then you will never be able to upgrade to 266fsb CPU's (Incldues all Athlon XP's) >>



the compgeeks one is rev 1.2 which doesn't officially support XP's or the morgan duron's. I was reading that will work fine on some, and not at all on others. I don't want to risk stability for 70 bucks.
 


<< IWill KK266-R series... only way to go >>



I understand that it's a good board, but as a stop-gap board that is going to be replaced in a year at the most, I can't justify spending $125 on the board.
 
Newegg has the ASUS A7V133 KT133A (refurbed) for $65. I might go for this. The price is good, and I'll just put it through it's paces to make sure it works when I get it.
 
Don't do it! NO KT 133A board is a good choice. If you really want to save $, get Newegg's EPOX EP-8KHA for a mere $54. Biggest bang for the buck I can remember seeing anywhere.
 


<< Don't do it! NO KT 133A board is a good choice. If you really want to save $, get Newegg's EPOX EP-8KHA for a mere $54. Biggest bang for the buck I can remember seeing anywhere. >>



It's a good price and I appreciate the suggestion, but it's a DDR board that doesn't have RAID. I'm looking for a non-DDR board with RAID
 
I went to Fry's the other day and picked up an Epox EP-8KTA3+ It was down to about 80 bucks. Seems to be working well so far. I installed XP on it, and have 2 drives on the RAID channels. Getting my gc68 hsf on there was pretty tight, about an 1/8 of an inch clearance between the sink and the capacitors. I'm going to hopefully get to burn the board in tonight.
 
Those different revisions turned me off of that board, I still haven't had time to play with the epox, which i'm starting right now. but from what I read of it, I like it. Funny part was, I walked into Frys with no intention of buying anything, only to go with my friend to pick up an xp 1800+ and ecs combo. He walked out with that and a volcano 7 I got the new board and the tv card.
 
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