Epox (8KTA3) good or bad?

[terisk]

I'm thinking about getting this, because i broke my FIC Az11 trying to add multipliers , $100 down the drain. I'm not too financially sound right now, so I wasnt to stay under $100. The Kt7 is just too expensive. I just want it to be stable, any known problems out there?

 

[JML]

I have this board and like it a lot. Current known problems can be fixed by flashing the bios with a newer one. You may also want to put some thermal grease under the hsf on the northbridge. Lots of multiplier, FSB, and Vcore choices.

 

[wild_andy_c]

I've had a few of these and have never had a single stability issue - they have been a real credit to the continuing success of the Socket A platform.

They also kick butt at 166Mhz FSB once you've greased the northbridge (as stated above) and remain stable provided your memory and peripherals do also.

 

[klosters64a]

I'm muling over this one, too. Epox 8KTA3--or--Iwill KK266? The Iwill seems to be pure gold. However, the Socket A placement on the Iwill is too close to the top of the mainboard. And the Epox 8KTA3 comes with a North Bridge fan, the Iwill doesn't. The Iwill has one Mhz FSB selection, the Epox doesn't.

The Iwill costs $112, shipped. The Epox, $100, shipped, both from Newegg. I don't even want to OC it. For now, anyway. I think Iwill is a smaller outfit, so they need the money more. Decisions, decis..

 

[Megahurtz]

Kloster's, I've seen your statement about socket placement at several review sites, and I can only see it being an issue if you're using a smallish case.

It hadn't even occurred to me that this could be an issue, but I can certainly see how it could be.

I called Newegg today, because yesterday their KK 266 boards were 112.00 shipped. Now they're 127.00 shipped. I called to verify. Perhaps by the end of the week, or early next, they will have brought the price back down.

It's good to hear some positive comments on the Epox board. I may get one.

If I'm not mistaken Epox is issuing a KT133A motherboard with Vcore adjustments to 2.4v..It's called the 8TKA3Pro, or some such thing. I hope that this comes to pass.

EDIT: The Iwill KK266 is now $120.00 shipped from newegg.com
T

 

[OpenFriday]

klosters64a (Jun 20, 2001 06:53 p.m.):
I'm muling over this one, too. Epox 8KTA3--or--Iwill KK266? The Iwill seems to be pure gold. However, the Socket A placement on the Iwill is too close to the top of the mainboard. And the Epox 8KTA3 comes with a North Bridge fan, the Iwill doesn't. The Iwill has one Mhz FSB selection, the Epox doesn't.

The Iwill costs $112, shipped. The Epox, $100, shipped, both from Newegg. I don't even want to OC it. For now, anyway. I think Iwill is a smaller outfit, so they need the money more. Decisions, decis..

Im havin trouble deciding on a mobo myself, i was lovin the KK266 then saw the KA266 but looks like thats not too hot and ive liked the Epox for a while now, gonna be a tough choice.

 

[wild_andy_c]

The voltage modification to a standard 8KTA3/+ is so easy to do that it's untrue.

I can get 2.4v from my 8KTA3's just with the use of a potentiometer and a screwdriver!!

Whatever happens - don't buy an 8KTA3L!!!! They are cut down in features somewhat.

 

[ripper]

I have recently purchased an EP-8KTA3 along with a 1.0GHz T-bird (266). After putting one together for a friend of mine.

I updated the BIOS to the most recent one available and am now rocking along at 1.4 GHz )(10x140) and 1.85v. It's even working fine with an SBLive Value sound card installed.

The only problem I have had (nothing to do with stability) is that the board does not like to play with the NEC Zip 100 OEM drives. Reading the zip is no problem but writing to the disk is messed up. I understand this is a known problem with the 8KTA3 board in particular and the KT133a chipset in general.

I got around the problem by installing the Zip drive on my old Promise Ultra-66 card as a slave to an extra ata66 hard drive.

I'm also running a dual boot system (WinME/Win2k Pro). I installed SP2 and have had very good results. ATA 100 support is finally there and Win2K is nice and stable.

Overall I am very pleased with this board and would recommend it to anybody.