What is the best motherboard for the Duron?

[Wilan Wong]

What is the best motherboard for the Duron? I heard that some Gigabyte motherboard provided the most stable and most bang for the money m/m is this true? Also is the FIC AZ11 any good?

[gyoung]

I just got the Abit's KT7-RAID yesterday. I am putting the PC together this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

This is my first try in assembling a PC. I'm using the parts from my old PC.

I used to have:

AMD K6-2 400 @450
PCChips M598 Board
Diamond Viper 550 PCI Video (TNT)
40X CD-ROM
2x2x6 CDRW
8.4GB Western Digital Caviar HD
128MB PC100 RAM
Diamond MX300 Sound
19" Optiquest Q95 monitor

Going to:
AMD Duron 600 unlocked
Abit KT7-RAID
Diamond Viper 550 PCI Video (TNT)
40X CD-ROM
2x2x6 CDRW
8.4GB Western Digital Caviar HD
128MB PC100 RAM
Diamond MX300 Sound
19" Optiquest Q95 monitor

I bought the first system on Ebay. It was a pretty good deal for $485 (minus monitor) when I bought it in May 1999.

I really just wanted to put together a machine (to see if I could do it), plus get a little faster. I'm going to a computer show this weekend just to browse. In a month or so I am going ot pick up a GeForce MX (maybe sooner). I also want to get a new IBM Deskstar drive, probably 30GB.

[Missing the point]

I got my Asus A7V last Thursday, and I am loving it with my Unlocked Duron 650 http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif


It is soo easy to overclock with this mobo, but I have never used the KT7, so I can't tell ya which is better.......

Those are the only 2 really, the ABit KT7, and the Asus A7V WOA (without Audio)

[thompjo]

I would never buy anything with on board sound. I don't care if you can disable it...It just gives me the creeps! Buy an ABIT or ASUS for your Duron. I have a Non Raid KT7 Abit board and it is awesome. Both Asus and Abit are good for overclocking. Go to anandtech.com for a review.

[AuraEdge]

The Gigabyte was the king out of the socket A boards before The Asus A7V and Abit KT7 (RAID) came along. They are both exceptional boards. I used an Asus A7V in building my friends system this summer, and an Abit KT7-RAID in my personal system.
With the KT7-RAID, I clocked my Tbird 750 to 1.05Ghz. I didnt clock my friends Tbird 700 on the A7V, so I dont know how that would have worked, but it was exceptionally stable, as is the KT7

[RobRich]

I am currently using the Asus A7V in my personal system, and I definitely believe it to be an extremely stable and high-performance motherboard. Here's more info:

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/reviews/asus-a7v/index.html

I also just received an Abit KT-7 RAID a few minutes ago, and the board looks extremely impressive, especially for overclocking. I should have it up and running this weekend, so expect more information in the near future.

Later,
Robert Richmond

[RedRaider]

MSI K7T Pro is very stable for my Duran 700@805. Although you can not change the mutiplier on current version of BIOS, they will release a new version pretty soon to fix this. It has a lot of add-on features like D-Led for one.



[This message has been edited by RedRaider (edited 09-15-2000).]

[Dputiger]

I've got an ABIT KT7 RAID coming. Looks good to me!

[Missing the point]

If you are getting the A7V DO NOT get the one with onboard sound.

That is the one WITHOUT the Mult. Switches, so you cannot change the mult. on the chip.

You can ask for the Asus A7V WOA (without audio)

[Morden]

I have the MSI 6330. May be a budget board but if you're getting a Duron rather than a Tbird then it may be what you want. Mine is very stable and has overclocked on the FSB nicely.

Redraider where did you hear about a bios update to support multipliers. That would be cool.

[RedRaider]

<A HREF="http://www.dw3d.com" TARGET=_blank>www.dw3d.com</A> reviewed the board and the bios update stroy was first heard from them. It turned out that it was made-up, by either them or MSI.

MSI released a new K7T Pro/2 MB to enable the multiplier, and I assume that there will be no more BIOS update to fix the multiplier lock on original K7T Pro.

My Duron 700 was doing fine in a open full tower @805 and now in its new home - a closed mid-tower it can only do 777 or maybe 793. Too bad I can't adjust multipiler on the MB.


[This message has been edited by RedRaider (edited 10-18-2000).]

[otheos]

Check the EPoX 8KTA+ (note the + at the end). Cheaper then the ASUS/Abit, with multi/FSB/VIO dip switches and if you desperately need ATA100 then look at the 8KTA2.

Epox are great performers, very stable, and AFAIK they are the only ones who provide support (yes they reply to emails!)

I use the A7V but for my second system I definetly go with the Epox.

[surrealchereal]

YooHoo,,, Robert...
??
I also just received an Abit KT-7 RAID a few minutes ago, and the board looks extremely impressive, especially for overclocking. I should have it up and running this weekend, so expect more information in the near future.

[Hellmund]

Lol, surreal got ya rob, that was 8 day's ago so weekends passed http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, I've had a non-raid KT7 for 8 months now, havn't had a good enough HS/f yet to really test the cpu but's it's been exceptionally stable. I like abit boards, my ol BF6 was an amazing step-up from the PC-chips board I had before.....it only had 66/100 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif the Bf6 had 66-200 in 1mhz increments http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Had my cel400 happy at 533mhz. So far the board was extremely stable at 110mhz, I've temporarily had mine @115mhz but the duron was going to o/h and stall, it was already @60C.

[RobRich]

WTF, this post is from 2000.....

Any rate, wonder who wrote SysOpt's KT7-RAID review? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Hellmund]

Whoah, didn't notice the year..... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[sunofwolf]

Been running a duron 700 at 1050-1067mz for 8 months now on a kt7 raid model using bios YP and alpha pep 66t with duel fans copper spacer. know plans on upgrading but would like to throw in a 1000 althon. Does everything I need, but one problem the mouse port is dead- using the usb instead for mouse.