Abit KT7A-Raid

[\/\/|ZarD]

Well I have my AMD system running just fine, the only thing is that the overall quality of stuff is lower than it was with my Intel system. I can even hear a difference in the quality of my music. And trust me I can't pick up sound difference all that well.

I started to read up on it, and I guess it isn't really Abit's fault. Lots of websites say that AMD has so far not been blessed with the most stable/quality chipsets. VIA is not anywhere as good at chipsets as Intel. I don't know about the AMD 760 chipset, but the 133A isn't that great.

I am comparing a KT7A-Raid with 900mhz Athlon to a CUSL2-C with 733mhz P3. All the other hardware is exactly the same for both systems. So it's not the hardware's fault.

My advice to everyone is to stick with iWILL, ASUS, and EPOX if you are going to buy any motherboard.

[psycho-]

I'm using a KT7A-Raid....yes there are problems occasionally, but it's okay overall..

[psycho-]

I like how Abit is very chinese-y

[\/\/|ZarD]

psycho-
I like you
You put a nice swing on everything

I don't like the problems I have "occasionally" but I don't have the money to go out and buy anything else. So I will deal with the problems. I already know there is no way to make a computer work 100%. It's like a house, no matter how much you fix it there is always something else to fix.
I can survive with the problems I have now, but I wish it was as error free as my CUSL2-C. I'll live :)

[\/\/|ZarD]

BTW I just can't get enough of Rat-Chicken that is so fun :)

Actually your whole site is great!
Kudos to you :)

[Chinpoko_Mon]

What kind of problems do you get "occasionally"?

I've had none..

[\/\/|ZarD]

My biggest problem/complaint is that when I am playing music (with WinAMP) and my computer access my HD I get static. I can actually watch the little HD light, and it is perfectly in tune with the static. I suppose the problem could lie in the HD, but I kinda doubt it.

Other complaint is that I am using the 3C bios, and whenever I overclock (even to limits I know are ok) the computer gives me a "Error CMOS" screen when it starts up, and the only way to get it working again is to reset the CMOS (done by holding done the "INSERT" key during booting)

[Kami]

If that is a big deal go for the a7a266 it runs both sd and ddr
I have had one for the past 2 months and I have not encountered any problems that could not be easily fixed and have never come up again. It works great, and the option of ddr is there if you ever want it

Kami

[\/\/|ZarD]

Yes I would highly recommend ASUS as the choice for mothermoboards.
So for the P3 chip wait for the TUSL2-C (sounds a lot like CUSL2-C for a reason) and for your AMD chip, I would suggest skipping the AMD 760 chipset, and going for the nForce chipset. In test it has a lot better performance than both VIA and AMD. ASUS will be making a very nice nForce equiped Motherboard!

[\/\/|ZarD]

Lately I have gotten a lot of help @ the AthlonOC Forums (http://www.forumoc.com/) about my KT7A-Raid and the system is already working 200% better. If you go for a AMD system I highly suggest going over to AthlonOC to get help for your problems.

I plan on getting Tualatin equiped computer, I am amazed at the first review (http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q2/010612/index.html) of it, and I am sure it'll be able to shatter everything AMD has done. Now only if Intel would make a 266mhz fsb for the P3. That would really bring out the power of P3. I think that Intel needs to keep the P3 around for "low" end, and sell their P4 (which is doing great things with the 1.8ghz (http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1499) chip) to the higher end computers.

I still have a deep longing for a 1.5ghz P3 system, and I know the Tualatin will provide.

You won't be let down by P3 or AMD, I think both systems have a lot to offer. I really like both of them equally.

Man until July last year I was using a P1MMX 200mhz computer, and I survived.

[sbp]

Did you read Herr Tom Pabst's preview of the SDRAM Pentium 4 chipset? http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010702/index.html

His conclusion:
"There we are. The first look at Intel's initial version of 'Brookdale' the 'value' Pentium 4 chipset i845. The question now is, who will be interested in it? It is true that it will make Pentium 4 much more affordable due to its PC133 SDRAM support, but its lackluster memory performance impacts Pentium 4 so badly, that it makes AMD's Athlon an even more attractive solution than it already is. I also don't expect board prices to be that low, since Intel has a long high-price history for its chipsets, even when they are carrying the 'value'-tag.

I personally would consider everyone as close to crazy if he should choose Pentium 4 plus i845 and PC133 SDRAM. Intel will try to use the blue men and the rest of its marketing machine to capitalize on the Pentium 4 nametag for i845-systems. However, this sad performing solution is just another sign that Intel is running out of ideas. I have to say that I am more than tired of half-baked solutions that are sold as new products.

Why does nobody at Intel have the guts to come out with the obviously functional i845 for DDR? Pentium 4 sales are far from great right now and I don't see how i845 with PC133 is supposed to change that. Intel will continue making a fool out of itself if it continues to hold on to the sinking Rambus ship instead of showing some guts and release i845 with DDR-SDRAM. Dear Pam Pollace, please spare us with even more 'Blue Men' commercials that try to sell i845 to the poor uninformed masses, and tell your bosses that they should try coming up with reasonable products instead.

The i845 is not a bad chipset. Once it is teamed up with DDR-SDRAM it will most likely be what most Taiwanese motherboard makers call it: the new 'BX'. However, as long as Intel keeps the DDR-version from us, I wouldn't even touch an i845 motherboard."

Ouch!