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Asus A7V8X-X 3
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Now that depends on what you want from a motherboard!
The A7V8X-X is a Micro ATX form factor, an all in one "integrated" motherboard based on Via's KM400 integrated video chipset with Unichrome S3 built in graphics chipset, built in sound, built in lan.
333fsb takes upto the XP3.0+ CPU.
Usually suited to those on a tight budget, they make a nice stable platform for users requiring a budget internet/office desktop.
Don't even think about playing any modern games on it or carrying out any hard core number crunching.
But for 95% of users (not the likes of us lol) this mainboard is perfectly adequate.
Martin
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The A7V8X-X is a Micro ATX form factor, an all in one "integrated" motherboard based on Via's KM400 integrated video chipset with Unichrome S3 built in graphics chipset, built in sound, built in lan.
333fsb takes upto the XP3.0+ CPU.
Usually suited to those on a tight budget, they make a nice stable platform for users requiring a budget internet/office desktop.
Don't even think about playing any modern games on it or carrying out any hard core number crunching.
But for 95% of users (not the likes of us lol) this mainboard is perfectly adequate.
Martin
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Don't let Paparazi fool you, I have 2 of those motherboards and I game with anything out there just fine. Games which include, but are not limited to Doom 3, EQ2, City of Heroes.
Biggest mistake on Paparazi's post is that he says its the KM400 chipset and in fact, it's the KT400A chipset.
My current setup on my main PC is:
Asus A7V8X-X (which btw is a KT400A chipset, NOT the KM400)
Athlon XP 2700+ (OC'd to 2.275GHz)
CL2 Corsair XMS 1GB PC2700
Nvidia 5950 Ultra Video Card 256MB
The second system with this motherboard is the same except it has an XP 2500+ and a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB video card. It too, performs very well on every game I play.
Now, some of this hardware is getting old since there is a lot newer and better out there, but for the money it's a very affordable motherboard.
However, all that being said, I think I saw over at compgeeks.com that they have a Chaintech Nforce2 Ultra motherboard for $38 (new, retail boxed). Which is a very good buy and will probably out-perform the A7V8X-X. But, if you have your heart set on an Asus board, then this is a very stable and viable motherboard. Just low on the overclocking potential.
Take that for what it's worth. If you are going to get an Athlon XP based system, I would strongly suggest you get an nforce2 ultra motherboard for Overclocking and stability.
My 2 cents...
Well, I did want to say that Paparazi was merely mistaken, there is a board with the KM400 chipset, which IMHO is kind of a waste and kind of crappy.
Asus makes two of them:
A7V8X-MX SE (based on KM400 chipset supporting up to 333MHz FSB)
A7V400-MX (based on KM400A chipset supporting up to 400MHz FSB)
Anyway, just wanted to clarify that those do in fact exist, I got a call during my last post and wrapped it up fast without laying it all out as I should have...
Cheers!
n25
Thats called being complacent and in my defence it was late at night and I didn't bother checking the model numbers![[sleeping2]](/data/assets/smilies/sleeping2.gif "[sleeping2] [sleeping2]")
lol we've been using the A7V8X-MX for sometime in our low end builds (which is the one with built in graphics) thought it was the same Doh!
What a differance one letter makes lol
Infact edemiere is correct, Asus list this board as having the KT400 chipset (not KT400A) Although there is little differance.
My verdict however doesn't change much, despite not having built in graphics and this board is a full sized ATX form factor (not mini) it is rather old now and there are definately better choices.
KT400 was rock solid and a reasonable performer but if it's the best gaming performance for socket "A" then you need to be looking at a motherboard equipt with Nvidia's Nforce 2 ultra or 400 chipset.
Also worth noting* the full MCP-T chipset version, has the excellent sound storm audio implementation.
Late to the game! but reported to be every bit as fast as the NF2 400 is Via's KT880, Asus actually use this chipset in their excellent A7V880.
But if price is at an absolute premium then there are many Via KT600 chipset equipt boards available, perhaps not quite as fast as the above mentioned but fully equipt, brimming with extra's and at very low price point.
Sorry if I mislead anyone (slap on back of hand) I'm actually typing on a Via KT400A chipset equipt PC as we speak.![[2thumbsup]](/data/assets/smilies/2thumbsup.gif "[2thumbsup] [2thumbsup]")
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Thats called being complacent and in my defence it was late at night and I didn't bother checking the model numbers
lol we've been using the A7V8X-MX for sometime in our low end builds (which is the one with built in graphics) thought it was the same Doh!What a differance one letter makes lol
Infact edemiere is correct, Asus list this board as having the KT400 chipset (not KT400A) Although there is little differance.
My verdict however doesn't change much, despite not having built in graphics and this board is a full sized ATX form factor (not mini) it is rather old now and there are definately better choices.
KT400 was rock solid and a reasonable performer but if it's the best gaming performance for socket "A" then you need to be looking at a motherboard equipt with Nvidia's Nforce 2 ultra or 400 chipset.
Also worth noting* the full MCP-T chipset version, has the excellent sound storm audio implementation.
Late to the game! but reported to be every bit as fast as the NF2 400 is Via's KT880, Asus actually use this chipset in their excellent A7V880.
But if price is at an absolute premium then there are many Via KT600 chipset equipt boards available, perhaps not quite as fast as the above mentioned but fully equipt, brimming with extra's and at very low price point.
Sorry if I mislead anyone (slap on back of hand) I'm actually typing on a Via KT400A chipset equipt PC as we speak.
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- #7
Thanks! I was a bit confused on the nforce 2 chipset, I thought it was the built-in video. I'll be searching for those motherboards.
By the way, what's the deal with the new Sempron processors? What are its differences between the Athlon and Duron?
By the way, what's the deal with the new Sempron processors? What are its differences between the Athlon and Duron?
Paparazi:
Yeah, they did originally make the A7V8X-X with the KT400, but then during manufacturing of the boards they moved to the KT400A when it was released. Both my boards are KT400A, though the website says KT400, I just don't think anyone bothered to update the webpage since saying KT400 is ok if its the bit better KT400A, but if you only got a KT400 and the website said KT400A, someone would call and complain, lol.
n25:
I wouldn't bother with a Sempron. Personally, I don't see any real advantage to them if you want to do any gaming. I think you'd be better off with a Barton based XP CPU for gaming.
As for the nforce2 chipset, that is the chipset on the motherboard (yes, Nvidia branched out and started making motherboard chipsets too), and it is probably THE best for Athlon XP based gaming systems. It's a fast chipset out of the box and will allow more flexible overclocking, should you choose do mess around with it.
Also, if you are looking for a good CPU, I'd recommend getting the Athlon XP 2500 Mobile, it overclocks up to Athlon XP 3200 speeds and runs cooler because of the lower base voltage.
Cheers!
Yeah, they did originally make the A7V8X-X with the KT400, but then during manufacturing of the boards they moved to the KT400A when it was released. Both my boards are KT400A, though the website says KT400, I just don't think anyone bothered to update the webpage since saying KT400 is ok if its the bit better KT400A, but if you only got a KT400 and the website said KT400A, someone would call and complain, lol.
n25:
I wouldn't bother with a Sempron. Personally, I don't see any real advantage to them if you want to do any gaming. I think you'd be better off with a Barton based XP CPU for gaming.
As for the nforce2 chipset, that is the chipset on the motherboard (yes, Nvidia branched out and started making motherboard chipsets too), and it is probably THE best for Athlon XP based gaming systems. It's a fast chipset out of the box and will allow more flexible overclocking, should you choose do mess around with it.
Also, if you are looking for a good CPU, I'd recommend getting the Athlon XP 2500 Mobile, it overclocks up to Athlon XP 3200 speeds and runs cooler because of the lower base voltage.
Cheers!
OK!
Sempron CPU's are basically Thoroughbred "b" core Athlon's but instead of 266front side bus they are 333!
Now thats the good part, only trouble is AMD have changed their rating system to reflect the Semprons performance in relation to Intels Celeron "D" processors.
Let me give you an example:
The old Athlon XP2.4+ CPU had a clock speed of more or less 2.0GHZ
But the new Sempron (remember, now compared to the Celeron) has an actual clock speed of only 1.667GHZ
which I believe was the clock speed of the old Palomino XP1.9+ CPU
So although the Sempron range has greater bandwidth than the Thoroughbred XP's at the same rating, they loose out miserably because of the much lower clock speed.
Now then!
Things are even worse when compared to the last XP core, the famed "Barton" not only were Barton's 333fsb (upto 3.0+) but they had twice as much level 2 cache.
Be quick though, it is becoming ever increasingly dificult to buy Barton core Athlon XP's as I understand they are now defunck and out of production.
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
Sempron CPU's are basically Thoroughbred "b" core Athlon's but instead of 266front side bus they are 333!
Now thats the good part, only trouble is AMD have changed their rating system to reflect the Semprons performance in relation to Intels Celeron "D" processors.
Let me give you an example:
The old Athlon XP2.4+ CPU had a clock speed of more or less 2.0GHZ
But the new Sempron (remember, now compared to the Celeron) has an actual clock speed of only 1.667GHZ
which I believe was the clock speed of the old Palomino XP1.9+ CPU
So although the Sempron range has greater bandwidth than the Thoroughbred XP's at the same rating, they loose out miserably because of the much lower clock speed.
Now then!
Things are even worse when compared to the last XP core, the famed "Barton" not only were Barton's 333fsb (upto 3.0+) but they had twice as much level 2 cache.
Be quick though, it is becoming ever increasingly dificult to buy Barton core Athlon XP's as I understand they are now defunck and out of production.
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
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- #10
Thanks for the help guys! Basically I'm planning on building a new system based on an AMD processor due to price concerns. For now, I'm leaning towards on getting an Athlon XP 2500 on an nforce2 motherboard as you guys suggested (although I'm not into OC). Are there any other good motherboards besides ASUS that has the nforce chipset?
n25:
From everything I have seen on Newegg.com and other sites you might as well get an Athlon XP 2600+ with the Barton core, the 2600 is actually a bit cheaper and will give you just a whee bit more MHz, though not significant, why not when its the same or less money.
Good luck!
From everything I have seen on Newegg.com and other sites you might as well get an Athlon XP 2600+ with the Barton core, the 2600 is actually a bit cheaper and will give you just a whee bit more MHz, though not significant, why not when its the same or less money.
Good luck!
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- #12
wantstolearncfm
IS-IT--Management
I have an Asus A7V8X-X it dosnt have integrated graphics (thank the lord).
It plays the most recent games without too much fuss
Doom 3, UT2004, FarCry, Halo, Pandora Tomorrow, Call of Duty
Just leave the settings at medium and im fine!
Now i wouldnt reccomend the V8X its a bit well odd, it worked fine for about 5months, then suddenly if i rebooted from windows it crashed to the bios screen. Others have had this issue, it suddenly stopped and hasnt happend for a few months now.
However i dont like unpredictable faults! i have built several systems using the MSI KT4AV-L (i think it was this model)
i have had NO issues regarding motherboards in any of the 20 units i sent out with these inside.
I would thoroughly reccomend this board to anyone.
My personal system is as follows
Asus A7V8X-X
AMD Athlon Barton 2500+ (clock at 1.83ghz)
512mb Kingston Ram (333mhz DDR 2700)
GeForce 5600XFX with Svideo Out
NEC 1300a DVD+-RW
as i said this runs the latest games at standard settings, i am however looking to upgrade to an AMD 64 3500 in the future but at the moment this is doing me well!
Hope this helps
CF Reference
The links of my knowledge
It plays the most recent games without too much fuss
Doom 3, UT2004, FarCry, Halo, Pandora Tomorrow, Call of Duty
Just leave the settings at medium and im fine!
Now i wouldnt reccomend the V8X its a bit well odd, it worked fine for about 5months, then suddenly if i rebooted from windows it crashed to the bios screen. Others have had this issue, it suddenly stopped and hasnt happend for a few months now.
However i dont like unpredictable faults! i have built several systems using the MSI KT4AV-L (i think it was this model)
i have had NO issues regarding motherboards in any of the 20 units i sent out with these inside.
I would thoroughly reccomend this board to anyone.
My personal system is as follows
Asus A7V8X-X
AMD Athlon Barton 2500+ (clock at 1.83ghz)
512mb Kingston Ram (333mhz DDR 2700)
GeForce 5600XFX with Svideo Out
NEC 1300a DVD+-RW
as i said this runs the latest games at standard settings, i am however looking to upgrade to an AMD 64 3500 in the future but at the moment this is doing me well!
Hope this helps
CF Reference
The links of my knowledge
- Thread starter
- #16
In gaming, the Athlon Barton was always more or less equivelent to the same "RATED" Intel P4 800 but overall the same rated P4 was always marginally faster over a complete set of benchmarks.
The saving grace has always been price, where the Intel chip has always been between 25 and 50% more expensive thus allowing a higher rated Athlon XP to be purchased at the same price.
So basically AMD's number rating was always considered fairly reserved against the older 533fsb P4's but when the Northwood 800 P4's came out things changed, it was hard for AMD to justify their number system as Intel equivelents were always slightly quicker overall.
Things have changed again now that 754/939 Atlon64's are on the scene, AMD are beating Intel in most benchmarks, even in some of the benchmarks that have always been Intel strongholds.
So your question:
XP2.5+/2.6+ around the same as an Intel P4 2.4 800fsb
Martin
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The saving grace has always been price, where the Intel chip has always been between 25 and 50% more expensive thus allowing a higher rated Athlon XP to be purchased at the same price.
So basically AMD's number rating was always considered fairly reserved against the older 533fsb P4's but when the Northwood 800 P4's came out things changed, it was hard for AMD to justify their number system as Intel equivelents were always slightly quicker overall.
Things have changed again now that 754/939 Atlon64's are on the scene, AMD are beating Intel in most benchmarks, even in some of the benchmarks that have always been Intel strongholds.
So your question:
XP2.5+/2.6+ around the same as an Intel P4 2.4 800fsb
Martin
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