Which KT333 board support the 1/5 PCI divider!!?

[meson2000]

Hey all,
I am just trying to get a straight answer. I want to buy a KT333 board
that can run the FSB at 166mhz while keeping the PCI bus at the standard 33mhz.
I heard that they all can do it. Is this true, because I want to buy the shuttle
KT333 board.

 

[AnAndAustin]

I heard all KT333 can do it too.

But I bet they'll be the odd manu that'll either stuff up or skimp on it!

I'd suggest seeing the best price you can get a KT333 mobo for and then contact the manu or outlet and just get them to confirm it (or accept an exchange if it can't).

I wouldn't get too carried away with hoping for a great speed boost from a 333+333 (FSB+RAM) setup. In theory it should give a big boost, esp 100% stable with 1/5 divider and unlocked AthlonXP, but the last time I checked it out the actual boost isn't very significant at all. Possibly a limit of the V-Link, if so then the new KT400 is meant to overcome this. However, the SiS745 uses a single chip design and thus isn't limited by a 266 N-S link and these have shown poor 333+333 perf too.

One big note; The KT333 ARE NOT and DO NOT all run a 333FSB, the KT'333' refers to the mobos' ability to run asynced 266+333 not a 333FSB.

I'll get the links for you ASAP!

 

[AnAndAustin]

AnAndTech AthlonXP2000+ with 333mhz bus & 333mhz RAM:

Review Start
Review 333+333 section

X-Bit Labs AthlonXP running 333 synced RAM & FSB

Review of o/c to 333+333

IIRC The perf averaged out over both apps and games is thus; 266+266=100% 266+333=102.5% 333+333=105%.

That means after the hassle or expense of unlocking the AthlonXP and getting a mobo which is stable at 333FSB the perf gain of 5% over 266+266 isn't worth the extra cost. Esp when you consider most modern mobos hit an o/c FSB of 290+290 anyway!

If you go ahead with it let us know how you get on, I'd like to see what a 'real user' finds from 333+333.

Another article you may find of interest is the diff in memory, esp with an unlocked AthlonXP:

PC2700/3000 compared on an unlocked AthlonXP2000+ with RAM bought as a consumer NOT reviewer

Whatever you decide get a good gfx card to go with it!

 

[AnAndAustin]

With reference to the 333+333 links I gave, I would say that the AnAndTech are certainly less biased, esp with their tests.

Obviously it is important to remember that any reviewer wants to make something seem as good or bad as possible in order to create interest (just like the newspapers).

It seems to me that X-Bit are a little over-zealous in their 333+333 praise. If you take a closer look at the benchmarks that matter I think you can see the real picture though. Thoses tests being SysMark2002 and Encoding. Although 640x480x16bit does show the memory throughput clearer, I think you'll agree that it is a bit silly to go to the afore-mentioned time, trouble and expense to achieve 333+333 just to run your games at 640x480x16bit so you can see a difference!

Make up your own mind, that's why I wasn't brief. It's a complex area which does involve time, money and hassle and if I'd simply said, "Only expect to get about 5% extra perf from 333+333 over 266+266", I think I would have been shot down pretty quickly!

Obviously take all reviews with a pinch of salt, but I was thinking of 333+333 myself but decided it didn't seem worth it.

 

[MetroRider]

as for what i heard, NOT all KT333 mobos have the 1/5 divider.

and the one that i heard and read that didnt have it was the Shuttle KT333 mobo.

mobo's which i have tested that DO have it are:

Asus A7V333, Epox 8K3A+, and Gigabyte GA-7VRX

if any of my info is incorrect, i would appreciate it if someone would correct me.... thx

 

[Technonut]

In the AT7, the option is in the BIOS. I have it set at 5:2:1.

 

[lbmcleod]

da epox 8k3a+ is da best

ja

manchmal

 

[Herkulese]

I, recently, read a review that stated that the ABIT KX7-333R had up to 1/7th PDI dividers.

Sadly, I can not remember who's review it was.

 

[Boonesmi]

the epox 8k3a/8k3a+ have the 1/5th divider... and not just that, but in the bios when you change the fsb it shows you what your pci and agp speeds will be

at 166mhz you get to see the pci and agp drop down to 33mhz and 66mhz respectivly

 

[Vette73]

So what KT33 boards do and don't have the 1/5?

Does anybody know if the SOYO Dragon Ultra KT333 has the 1/5, that is the board I am looking at.

Thanks

 

[Boonesmi]

ive no personal experience with the dragon ultra

but the one review i read showed that it didnt have the 1/5th pci divider (but since the kt333 chipset does support it maybe it can be added in a bios update)
here is a link to the review i mentioned... if you scroll down to where is says "bad" no 1/5th divider is one of the things listed