IWill KA266-R or EPoX EP-8K7A+

[Wa11y]

The next computer I'm going to build is slowly starting to take shape on paper (or on my Palm Pilot, as it were!), and I'm trying to figure out which motherboard to use. I know for sure that I want to use an AMD processor, I want IDE RAID support, and PC2100 DDR support. Thus far, I've narrowed it down between the KA266-R and the EP-8K7A+. Reading some past posts, I get the idea that both the KA266 and 8K7A are stable, beefy boards. But what about their RAID counterparts? Other than RAID on them, are they any different? And would it pretty much be a wash placing the boards head on? What are your opinions?

 

[foggy]

If you read my past posts m8 i had a really bad experience with the iwill ka , ive now got the 8k7a+ and its runnin sweet-as. The iwill wasnt a stable overclock for me, and i tried 3 different boards !ive had my system runnin with the epox for abouit 4/6 weeks and boy does it perform.

Epox 8k7a+
1.4g t/bird ahyj @ 1553 39 idle 42 loaded (high cos of hot weather .....lol)
elsa gladiac 920 220 core 500 mem
sound blasta live player 5.1
digidoc
coolercase"extreme"
enermax 431 psu


6092 mad onoin 2001 ( not bad i think )

 

[Wa11y]

I was actually leaning towards the 8K7A+. I think that's the one I might go with. Slap a 1.2G AXIA T-bird and 512mb PC2100, and I'll be good to go! Now I just need to win the lottery....

 

[Da Whip]

Being a fan of Iwill boards, I have to give it to Epox 8K7A+. Seems every reviewer loves it.;

http://www6.tomshardware.com/mainboard/01q3/010711/index.html

http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/mainboards/epox/8k7a/

 

[el]

yeah I would go 8k7a if not get teh non ddr kk266r not the ka266r.

 

[Wa11y]

Thanks for that as well, Da Whip. Having info to compare side by side just cemented my desire for one of these beasts.

My only thing is: why is everyone complaining about only two SDRAM slots, and a total of 1GB RAM total? Is anyone actually going to get 1GB of DDRSDRAM? And if they are, could they send me some?

 

[Da Whip]

Anything over 256mb is overkill. Most O/S's don't need more than that. I think you will like the board, a friend got on a week ago and is bragging his a$$ off about it. Might have to shoot him and take his puter.

 

[Wa11y]

Hey, if you shoot him and take his 'puter, can you send me the mobo? Save me $170. I'll pay for shipping.

I know that most OSes don't use more than 256, but since memory is so cheap right now, I'd almost rather get the 512MB, and have bragging rights. I think Freud called it something like, "compensation."