motherboard search [Archive]

robin801

05-09-2001, 08:31 AM

i want to use an athlon thunderbird 1gb cpu. i want to know is this compatible with an a7a266 and if this is the best board for this cpu? also when searching the prices at pricewatch do i need to see everything i want in the motherboard or cpu listed. for example some say 6 usb ports and some don't. the ones that don't means its not going to be with the order? i bought all my parts for my first computer at the comptuer show. got burned not going that way this time. thanks for help.

Bovon

05-09-2001, 09:23 AM

Robin, I am not familiar with this mainboard. Who makes it?.

When doing a search at Price Watch for mainboards (or anything) the vendors only put in a very few things about the item. They assume you already know, and have studied the item you are interested in, and only want to know the price and shipping charges.

Ok, I just went to Price Watch, entered a7a266 into the search engine, and I see it is an Asus mainboard. So, now I will go to Asus's website by clicking on Asustec in the left hand box.

Ok, now at the Asus web site, I did a search for the a7a266. I find that it is indeed a socket A mainboard for the Athlon (Tbird/Duron) processors.

Read this at the site:
http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/a7a266_text.html

Now, searching a bit further at the site, I have discovered that the A7A266 mainboard has the Ali chipset. This new technology is designed for the new DDR Ram (high speed stuff) It will not work with the older SDRAM.
http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7a266/index.html

This new technology is not really matured enough, and is being analyzed by some GOOD users that are experienced in setting up systems, and know how to work out problems. I have read where a lot of new comers have jumped on some of these new DDR ram boards, and lack the knowledge to properly get one running.

If you are primarily looking for a good motherboard that is 'somewhat' trouble free, has been on the market long enough for the guys/gals at the forums to be of some assistance when you have a problem, I suggest perhaps you go with the more common KT133A chipset board that uses the regular SDRAM, like the Iwill KK266 (or KK266-R, the RAID version). There are several mainboard manufacturers that make this board, including Asus. The A7V133 is Asus's KT133A chipset for the Athlon socket A processors.
http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7v133/index.html

There are several mainboards that support the Athlon Tbirds/Duron. I have chosen the Iwill KK266 primarily because of stability. Please note that all of the KT133A chipset boards use a 686B southbridge, that still causes some minor problems, but is being worked out at this time. The worst problem is when using the SB Live! soundcard.

The Iwill KK266 and Raid version has a very good onboard sound system, that most people regard as very sufficent, if you do not need the sound to be studio quality.

Hopefully some of the above will assist your choice, if you have more questions, someone will be happy to try to assist.