Asus A7V and the Abit Kt7-R

[MidnightClocker]

Hey, im interested in learning what people think about the Asus A7V and the Abit Kt7-R.
Im really new to this, I havent even put together my first system yet, and want to know what the best board would be to learn on. Im thinking about the Asus with a T-Bird 1GIG. If you could just inform me on what to get, what you have, and how it has turned out. I think it would help out a lot of newbies and me thanks.

 

[Rob Cork]

I've got both boards so that ought to put me in a good position to tell you which one to buy... problem is I can't really decide The A7v has loads of space around the socket, which is great for big-*** hsf's like the FOP38 - the KT7 has a few big capacitors around the socket which can make fitting large heastinks difficult - I doubt you could get the new swiftech on it: http://www.swiftnets.com/MC462.htm . However, I think for your first board, the KT7 would probably be the better choice. Some people complain that it's a pain to get it working (but once it does it's great), but I didn't have any problems. It's got a few more bios options than the A7v, and the big plus of course is the bios option to change the mutliplier - no opening the case to fiddle with dipswitches like the A7v

I would suggest getting the KT7a - as a few people have said, it doesn't make much sense if upgrading from a KT133 board, but seeing as you're building the system from scratch it'd be a good idea.

 

[Eriksson]

If you want to read arguments about this you can check this tread

http://forums.overclockers.ws/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=4&TID=13&SID=71205

However this discussion is really out of date, and irrelevant if you are looking for a new board.

You should go for one of the new boards with the KT133A chipset instead of the "old" KT133.

The only diff is that the Abit KT7 and Asus A7V are 100mhz fsb units (both using the KT133 chipset) , but the new ones like Abit KT7A-(raid or not) are 133mhz units (KT133A chipset).

This gives a little better performance but more important better support for future cpu's, in case you want to upgrade one day, but for few more bucks of course.

 

[MidnightClocker]

H

 

[MidnightClocker]

UnlimitedSpeed (Jan 17, 2001 05:43 p.m.):

Eriksson (Jan 17, 2001 07:10 a.m.):
If you want to read arguments about this you can check this tread

http://forums.overclockers.ws/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=4&TID=13&SID=71205

However this discussion is really out of date, and irrelevant if you are looking for a new board.

You should go for one of the new boards with the KT133A chipset instead of the "old" KT133.

The only diff is that the Abit KT7 and Asus A7V are 100mhz fsb units (both using the KT133 chipset) , but the new ones like Abit KT7A-(raid or not) are 133mhz units (KT133A chipset).

This gives a little better performance but more important better support for future cpu's, in case you want to upgrade one day, but for few more bucks of course. [/q

OH CRAP, IM I STUPID. I GOTCHA. YEAH I THINK IM GOING WITH THE Abit KT7A, Via Apollo KT133A Chipset. HEY THANX GUYS. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT RAM TO USE OR JUST THE MAJOR NAME BRAND CRAP, WHATEVER ITS CALLED?

 

[MidnightClocker]

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION WHATS THE DEAL WITH THE CPUS. SOME OF THEM ARE OEM AND SOME ARE RETAIL. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BESIDES THE PRICE?