What I don't like about the 8k7a.

[DARRIN]

1. Can not change multiplier in BIOS.
2. Can not change the CPU voltage in bios.
3. IF you turn up fsb too much and it will not post it will not go back to default settings. You have to clear cmos to get it to turn back on.

Seems to be a good and stable board though. I need to get some better RAM so I can crank up the FSB.

 

[LXi]

Well, everybody who knows about the 8K7A is ought to know its disadvantages. After all, its still the best tweaking board right now.

 

[DARRIN]

I agree but it is hard to get used to opening up you machine every time you want to tweak around. I'm used to my Asus A7V133 where everything could be done in the bios and if you went too high it would set fsb back to default.

 

[pac1085]

Sell it off in the FS/T forums and get the Abit KG7 if its out yet, its the best socket A ddr board I've seen yet.

 

[MichaelD]

OMG! I was about to click "reply" when I saw ICSVortex's post...I was gonna say the same thing.

Everyone Ooooh's and Ahhhh's over this Epox board. I know it's a great, stable board, but in a thread I started last week, I commented about "who want to mess with DIP switches everytime they want to fiddle?" Got my butt flamed for it to! Bah. I refuse to buy a board that requires me to open up the case to mess with voltage, multiplier or FSB...too primitive.

The KG7 or the KR7 (depending on how Via does w/the revised chipset) will be my next mobo. DDR by 2002. Oh yeah!

 

[LXi]

Just because you lazy butts dont feel like tweaking with jumpers doesnt mean that people should sell their Epox and get Abit. And yea, I dont see how you would want to modify your settings on an hourly basis?

 

[StarHawk]

What's so great about the KG7? The few reviews I've read it is coming up short on people's expectations.

I have the 8K7A. I hate jumpers too but it is a very good and stable board. Where they located the jumper for the clock multiplier is a real pain in the a$$ though.

I had a P3 800 and wanted to go ahead and upgrade thinking I would upgrade again to the KG7 when it came out. After reading about it I will just wait for the Nforce boards.

 

[smp]

I like dips better too.. and jumpers.. there's something that is just cooler about them...

 

[wfbberzerker]

While I agree with DARRIN on his opinions of the dificulty of changing jumpers and stuff on the 8k7a, I like it personally, for several reasons. First of all, I don't mind the jumpers (he is right, though), because I don't go nuts changing my processor speed and fsb every day. Also, I like the 8k7a because it is cheap, stable (for overclocking), and has been recommended by a lot of people, both on and off the AT forums.

 

[MichaelD]

No, no, no. NOT bashing the EPOX, here! I know darn well it is one of the top three stablest AMD DDR boards out there.

The comments I make about this board take into account my own personal situation. My pc case sits inside a desk. Heavy desk. The wires all come out the back (no duh) For me to disconnect everything, take out the case, carry it to my kitchen table (aka workbench ), make the adjustments, carry it back, put it into the desk, crawl behind the desk, rehook everything then boot up...only to find it locks on bootup b/c my dumb butt clocked the FSB too high...then do it all AGAIN is a major PITA! This isn't a time-effective means for me. I prefer a totally jumper-free board. Any board that advertises itself to be jumper-free...but you still have to set the FSB range, voltage and multiplier via jumpers is not a jumper free board. I wish manufacturers would stop making false claims like that.

 

[VBboy]

Wtf, this piece of **** cannot go into Sleep Mode!!! Well, it's 8K7A+, but still.. I get a blue screen assuring me that indeed an error occurred.

 

[heffe734]

DARRIN:

1. At least you CAN change the multiplier...asus a7m doesn't allow this i heard.
2. At least you CAN change the CPU voltage...unlike some other boards
3. You can crank up the fsb high...especially with the new bios that has a pci 1/5 divider...i haven't seen many asus owners with 189 fsb...(insane3d).

All in good spirits...

EDIT: I admit...there isn't a board out there that is VERY GOOD...but the epox is a good mobo...WAY BETTER then the asus a7v for that matter. Trust me, i had that board b4 and compared to the epox...it doesn't stand a chance. It's older i know...but if you are comparing those two boards...no contest.

ALSO: for those who are lazy and or have a setup which involves pulling out the case and putting it back in...etc...what i did was i left the case out of the original area where i put it...left the side panel open so i can easily access the inside. Work around problems...saves you the hassle of buying a new one just cuz you were lazy and didn't want to bend over. hehe.