This a good deal?

[EvilAngel]

Here.. http://www.bzboyz.com/product1350.html

[the_mp3_refuge]

I don't think it is. Of www.pricewatch.com you can get a 1.4Ghz T-bird with mobo for a lot less. I'm pretty sure the 2 dimm version support DDR memory. Anyway here's the link. Peace

http://www.pricewatch.com/1/306/3368-1.htm

[EvilAngel]

Ok I went to the site you posted and seen this.. (Keep in mind I have no clue as to what the details enatail, but I am getting alittle more familiar with whats, what)

KT7A 6P/1I/1A/ VIA KT133 for Socket A KT-7 Retail Box 2 yr warr. Complete Set with cpu - AMD Athlon Tbird 1.4GHz (266 MHz FSB) - HS & fan - Full one year warranty on kit KT7-A $ 311 $12-$18 UPS Ground Insured 7/3/2001 11:49:48 AM CT Micro-Pro, Inc.
888-881-0231
216-661-7218
Online Ordering OH MBABITKT7-11


Abit KT7A VIA KT133A for Socket A KT-7, 6PCI, AGP 4X, 3DIMM, ATX Retail Box Complete Set WITH CPU + FAN 1.4GHz ATHLON 266MHz SOCKET A & Coolermaster Fan Full one year warranty on kit. $ 311 $12+ 7/6/2001 3:24:37 AM CT PartsPc.com
866-427-9283
562-427-9284 CA KT7A 1.4


Abit KT7A VIA KT133A for Socket A KT-7, 6PCI, AGP 4X, 3DIMM, ATX Retail Box Complete Set Price for PHONE ORDER MUST MENTION PRICE WATCH - with cpu - AMD 1.4Ghz 266 FSB Athlon Tbird Socket A, 3DNow! (K7) & Big Fan/Heatsink $ 312 Starts @ 16.75 7/2/2001 1:52:27 PM CT ECONOPC, Inc.
888-326-6660
847-967-2222 IL



I want DDR support from the mobo and , for some reason, I am stuck on getting an KT7A board ( seems like one of the more expensive mobos out there ) I like the 6PCI slots not that I will use them but I'll have the option to do so.

The northbridge and southbridge are what? For the IDE cables for the HDD's? are those the ATA/66/100 controler ports? (please bare with me ) I will ask more as I learn more so I'll spare yall the headach for now

Thanks for the help

[EvilAngel]

btw I already have

SB live 5.1 MP3+ card

V5 5500 64MB

Promise Tech ATA/66 controler card ( would the onboard ATA/66/100 be better?)

250W PS

30G Maxtor ATA/66 UDMA 7200

13.6G Seagate ATA/66 UDMA 7200

Yamaha 16x10x40 CDRW

Toshiba 6x CD-ROM

1.44MB Floppy

Fan for the HDD's (front of comp in CD bay )

I think that's about it

You guys know if this set-up will work with the new MOBO I want?

Thanks for your time guys

[colour]

Originally posted by EvilAngel
Promise Tech ATA/66 controler card ( would the onboard ATA/66/100 be better?)

id just use the onboard, why waste a pci slot.

[onetrueday]

The abit you were looking at from ohio, is that company micropro? I would suggest going through them if you can. i did read some bad things about that boyz company you wer also looking at. I went through micropro recently to buy an abit kt7a with duron 800 and fan. I was really impressed. I had some problems during installation, so i called tech support from micropro. I ended up talking to them four times, and each time they were fantastic with me. Offering me helpful advice. The problem ended up being my fault, but they were quick to offer to send me a new set after my fourth call. When you do buy, i would suggest using the second day air from them. The difference is so small and it'll give you peace of mind getting it in 2 days instead of six. I paid 20 instead of 13.

The fan they give you is not top of the line, but I think it runs fantastic(it's huge.)

I would also consider getting a new power supply. The 250W would be enough if you only had minimal in your system, but it might not be enough with all you have. Plus, if it isnt enough; how would you know. You'd get lockups and strange errors that you'd blame on your new mobo et.

I would still consider the abit kt7a. It will not support the ddr ram, but that's also one less thing you'll have to buy. That motherboard will support the 266fsb though. Plus, it's go the newer southbridge to support ata100. I had consider the ECS board. While I was not looking at the same model, the company did get some solid reviews for being so small. Go to www.cnet.com and type in the motherboard you're looking at. From there, go to the forums part. Look at the type of problems people are having. That is the best way to see if a motherboard is any good.

[Bababooey]

Originally posted by EvilAngel

250W PS

I recommend you get more power, 300W+.

[downhill]

Evil,

Look for these boards......First if you don't need a RAID.

FIC AD11 Gets great reviews and a great price from NewEgg $109 plus 5 dollars fedex saver shipping...NewEgg is just around the block to speak from you. You'll need to copy and past the board number in the search box. I can't seem to link to the item it'self.

Add a 1.33 266 fsb thunderbird for $170 plus shipping. Your still under the $309 you found on the Gigibite board and IMHO the FIC is a better board...

Still lets look around a bit. The EPoX 8K7A AMD chipset board gets RAVE reviews. Once again no RAID. But if you don't need it then no big deal. Later on that. I may go with this board depended on the reviews comming out the the Abit board. The Abit board is going to be a lot more expensive than the rest of the pack.

Once again pricewatch shows NewEgg as one of the lowest with a price of $120 for the nonRaid version and $148 with RAID for the EpoX board. You can find a Refurbished EpoX at NewEgg also but buyer beware on that one. $99.00

Also the MSI K7Master gets great reviews. I've a friend who I helped install this board. It's a bit more expensive.

All the above boards use the AMD 760 chipset for the northbridge. I'd stay away from any board that use's VIA's or AliMajic as they still need a little refinment.

[Brent]

get a real DDR mobo, Abit KG7-RAID it'll be out end this month in stores...... then hook up with a good CPU, you can grab a 1.2Ghz for like $100 now and the ABit mobo will be $189 retail

[Joe]

sure there are cheaper boards but for what that is its a good price.

[Qwijib0]

Originally posted by EvilAngel
The northbridge and southbridge are what? For the IDE cables for the HDD's? are those the ATA/66/100 controler ports? (please bare with me ) I will ask more as I learn more so I'll spare yall the headach for now

Thanks for the help

The northbridge and southbridge are exactly that-- bridges. The northbridge is responsible for tying together everything that uses the fastest bus speed (The one that's advertised... 66/100/133/200/266). this includes the proc, ram, and any other devices that the mobo may have. the southbridge connects to the north via the pci bus (except in the new p4 and NvIdia chipsets-- they have ANOTHER bus for that) and it connects the ISA, PCI, and onboard devices like ac'97 audio, the serial, parallel, ps2 and bios/system clock.

in short--
North = Main connector for High-speed devices
South = Interconnects slower devices to the high-speed bus.

[onetrueday]

I would stay away from the FIC az11, it's an outdated piece of crap. Do you think they came out with an az11e because the original board was any good? No, they came out with the 'e' because the original board was full of problems. Save the extra money and buy a real board. Sure, it's more money. however, the motherboard is the base of your whole computer. You can have an amazing computer, but without a good mobo; it's not going to run as well as it could have.

[downhill]

Originally posted by onetrueday
I would stay away from the FIC az11, it's an outdated piece of crap. Do you think they came out with an az11e because the original board was any good? No, they came out with the 'e' because the original board was full of problems. Save the extra money and buy a real board. Sure, it's more money. however, the motherboard is the base of your whole computer. You can have an amazing computer, but without a good mobo; it's not going to run as well as it could have.

Errrrr.ummmm........onetrueday.....it's an FIC AD11.....A DDR board. It gets great reviews, and is stable as a rock. Your right about the other board though. I posted about the AD11 because Evil said he was interested in a DDR board.

Have a good day.

[onetrueday]

::shaking my head and covering my face with my hands:: oops! Sorry! I almost bought the az11, which is why my opinion is so strong against it. FIC does make some good boards though.

[downhill]

Nuttin' to shake about...you posted what you felt very strongly about. You were only trying to save someone some grief.....I figured you misread it was all.

I can find no fault with that.

[EvilAngel]

Thanks for the reviews guys.. I am going to look into the [b]Abit KG7-RAID [/i] and see what unvails with that and take a look at the FIC AD11 <--- read some on that mobo and sounds pretty close to what I am looking for )

Thanx again, I will post back after I read a few reviews

Qwijibo, thanks for the explanation, I'm still a bit confused but after I read a couple more reviews I just may get a better understanding

DHD,onetrueday.. thanks for being patient with me guys, I just hope I don't make you guys patients lol

[EvilAngel]

arrrggg..... 250 bones?

Worth it?

[EvilAngel]

Does ATX stand for the design for the back of the tower? format or whatever it is called?

So if I buy a case I should get what type of case ATX? of what type should I get? Sorry for asking so many Q's

[onetrueday]

Ouch, that's expensive. Heck, you could get an abit kt7a WITH a thunderbird for cheaper. But then, i'm cheap. And yes, that's the type of case etc. i wouldnt worry too much about that, most of them are the same now. I would venture a guess and say they're all the same, but I'm sure that's only almost right. Just promise me one thing. Buy a nice BIG case. I made the mistake of buying a smaller one six months ago and I regret it already. Going to be buying a newer case soon in fact.

[downhill]

Hey Evil, don't be sorry for asking questions!!! Heck most folk here LOVE answering them.

ATX is the most common form factor. So most case's you might want to use should work.

As to the Abit board. If you so a search on Price Watch, it's listed there for $189 to $199. I suppose that will come down a little when it actually comes out. That's still high though.

Keep this in mind, if you don't need/want to RAID, then your going to be paying extra for the ABIT board for a feature you don't need. If that's the case, look at a couple of board's I listed above.