I've been building quite a few ABIT platforms from KR7's to the KX7's, and the board that impresses me the most right now is the AT7-MAX2. I normaly do NOT like the built in periferials, but the ones on this one are hard to beat.
Since you do not have to pay additional cash to get the sound, extra USB, Firewire, and Lan (NIC) - the shift in financial expenditures should allow you to afford more processor. The 333FSB capability, 8X AGP, and 5 PCI's allows and accomodates a lot of future of expansion possibilities. It has everything the KD7's have - and more.
I see this board as the last motherboard that would be needed until "Hammer" equipment becomes available.
When it comes to a system build it is wiser to skimp on a processor than on a motherboard, as if the motherboard
doesn't have the capability to perform, it doesn't matter what the processor can or cannot do. If you get this
AT7-MAX2, you can even runit with a $52 XP1600+ (Which are screamers) untoll the XP2800+ come down in price
to an acceptable price level - and then that CPU is a drop-in on this board.
Price looks pretty good too:
NewEgg@ $168 Free Freight.
The KD7's have a lot of these same features, but I think the AT7-MAX2 is a better setup.
It's really hard to find a better motherboard than an Abit.
There are tons of Asus out there, and Epox has come a long way for overclocking,
But Abit is still the performance standard you have to compare to - Thats the 'BIG 3'
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