ABIT or EPOX.. What do buy?

Nasti · 28th August 2002, 9:28 PM

I've had an Abit BX 6 Rev 2.0 and a KT7A-RAID 1.0
Loved them both very much.
But now is the time for me to take my trusty AHYJA 1.33 TB to the DDR level.

I was looking here:
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...threadid=83874
And all people were doing were throwing comments and slurs back and forth about the Abit and Epox. Although these were more in favour of the Abit i still want some hard facts to discourage me from buying the (Epox) which seems to be a pretty good board.

I was initially choosing the 8K3A for it’s low price and strong performance. But with my RAID setup and personal preference, I am always led towards the more stable performer. My KT7A has never done me wrong and I want a board like it.

Im basically open minded and would like ANY SUGGESTIONS. Slight performance difference do not bother me at all to narrow this down I’d say im mainly looking at Abit and Epox.

I noticed the KX7-333R is 291$@eyo. I also noticed Coney has thw 8K5A-2 for 235$ (more like it). I would like an Abit more for their performance and I really wouldn’t mind a KR7A at all (they are tanks we all agree). Can I still buy these? Any other suggestions?

Dr Dremel · 28th August 2002, 9:55 PM

MSI KT3 Ultra 2 RU

It's easy eh.

Jacaranda · 28th August 2002, 10:14 PM

abit is a good board

epox can be a good board, but you have just as much chance of getting a dud.

GreenBeret · 28th August 2002, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Dremel
MSI KT3 Ultra 2 RU

It's easy eh.

Pffftttt

MSI sucks big time when it comes to OCing.

Go for the Abit board (btw the price from eyo = rip off, it's about 260 for the RAID version in many shops in Melbourne). This is coming from a previous Epox fan

I've owned 2x 8K7A+, 2x 8KHA+, 1x 4G4A+ (P4) and have played with quite a few 8K3A+. Those boards have these common problems: there are many nice options in the BIOS for OCing but the board isn't engineered well enough to cope with them -> you can get very good OC for a short period of time (enough for benching and bragging) but you can't keep that OC stable for 24/7 use; I also hate all the fluctuating voltages on Epox boards.

Get the Abit board. You won't regret it. It's only "a bit" more, it's worth the money.

Bravo · 28th August 2002, 10:34 PM

I agree.

Abit is better in the long term (with regards to performance, stability, and overclocking), while the Epox is cheaper, and offers maybe the same (or less then 1% difference) performance. The 8K3A cannot be beat for what it is.

Nasti · 28th August 2002, 11:06 PM

Can i still purchase the KR7A?

GreenBeret:

Quote:

Get the Abit board. You won't regret it. It's only "a bit" more, it's worth the money.

Bravo:

Quote:

I agree.

Abit is better in the long term (with regards to performance, stability, and overclocking), while the Epox is cheaper, and offers maybe the same (or less then 1% difference) performance. The 8K3A cannot be beat for what it is.

Which board are you two talking about? the KX7-333R?

GreenBeret · 28th August 2002, 11:10 PM

KR7A, KX7 (raid or non raid) or AT7 or AT7-2 or KD7 for AMD. Anything Abit

MCWB · 28th August 2002, 11:26 PM

I've had the EPoX 8K3A+ for a while, and have had no stability problems running at high clockspeeds and high voltages (not high FSBs though, it has issues with video tearing above high-190 MHz).

The only annoying thing I've found is that it will not boot between 147/8-166 MHz, regardless of settings. To be honest I'm not sure whether it's anything else crapping out (1/5 divider kicks in over 166), but it seems to be a very common issue with the board.

The other good thing is that it has high Vcore and Vdimm possible with no voltmods needed

I'll be going Abit very soon though (when's it coming Bravo?

), I'll be able to tell you better about them in a few days

Can't say I've disliked the EPoX though if you can live with its shortcomings!

Coney · 29th August 2002, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MCWB
The only annoying thing I've found is that it will not boot between 147/8-166 MHz, regardless of settings. To be honest I'm not sure whether it's anything else crapping out (1/5 divider kicks in over 166), but it seems to be a very common issue with the board.

Thats easily fixed with a BIOS UPDATE

MCWB · 29th August 2002, 12:13 AM

So they say, didn't seem to work for me...

Sayajin · 29th August 2002, 6:46 PM

i have a KX7-333 and i love it!
i can run at 200Mhz FSB 24/7 if i liked...the board is very stable,
other members have also had problems when running at high FSB for a long period of time, as greenberet said, the board has great ocing options and overvoltage but it cannot take overvoltage and a high FSB for a long time,

BTW the biat also has better bandwidth at high FSB speeds, id say Team Green, Abit All The Way!! eheh

Dr Dremel · 29th August 2002, 7:11 PM

MSI not good overclockers eh ?

Without embarrasing your Abit, imagine an actual mhz number roughly in the middle between 2,000 and 2,500 with a lowly xp2000 in the guts of a "red one".

Besides I have logic that no one can disspute, mines a red one, and all should know, red ones go faster.

Anyway all the latest good name 333 boards are much the same for performance, relyability and stability, toss a coin or go by your bank balance..

Those that can pick a 1/10 of a nano second difference, buy that one.

Knowing what your doing helps a bit, and excessive o/c will always cause problems on any board.

ArcTan · 29th August 2002, 7:22 PM

Gonna be picking up a 8k3a+ soon
picking it up for $187

I won't reveal the retailer till I pick one up
and yes it's the + version

Mjollnir · 29th August 2002, 7:40 PM

187 is not cheap lmao

at one stage they were 180 here in Melbourne..

Dr Dremel · 29th August 2002, 7:43 PM

It's all relative, you get what you pay for, a cheap board for me is $250.

28th August 2002, 9:28 PM	#1
Nasti Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: syd.nsw.au Posts: 265	ABIT or EPOX.. What do buy? I've had an Abit BX 6 Rev 2.0 and a KT7A-RAID 1.0 Loved them both very much. But now is the time for me to take my trusty AHYJA 1.33 TB to the DDR level. I was looking here: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...threadid=83874 And all people were doing were throwing comments and slurs back and forth about the Abit and Epox. Although these were more in favour of the Abit i still want some hard facts to discourage me from buying the (Epox) which seems to be a pretty good board. I was initially choosing the 8K3A for it’s low price and strong performance. But with my RAID setup and personal preference, I am always led towards the more stable performer. My KT7A has never done me wrong and I want a board like it. Im basically open minded and would like ANY SUGGESTIONS. Slight performance difference do not bother me at all to narrow this down I’d say im mainly looking at Abit and Epox. I noticed the KX7-333R is 291$@eyo. I also noticed Coney has thw 8K5A-2 for 235$ (more like it). I would like an Abit more for their performance and I really wouldn’t mind a KR7A at all (they are tanks we all agree). Can I still buy these? Any other suggestions? Last edited by Nasti; 28th August 2002 at 9:50 PM.

28th August 2002, 10:14 PM	#3
Jacaranda Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 920	abit is a good board epox can be a good board, but you have just as much chance of getting a dud. __________________ Jac The liver is evil and must be punished.

28th August 2002, 11:10 PM	#7
GreenBeret Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,870	KR7A, KX7 (raid or non raid) or AT7 or AT7-2 or KD7 for AMD. Anything Abit __________________ Doctore: Crixus! What is beneath your feet? Crixus: Sacred ground, Doctore. Watered with tears and blood.

28th August 2002, 11:26 PM	#8
MCWB Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,905	I've had the EPoX 8K3A+ for a while, and have had no stability problems running at high clockspeeds and high voltages (not high FSBs though, it has issues with video tearing above high-190 MHz). The only annoying thing I've found is that it will not boot between 147/8-166 MHz, regardless of settings. To be honest I'm not sure whether it's anything else crapping out (1/5 divider kicks in over 166), but it seems to be a very common issue with the board. The other good thing is that it has high Vcore and Vdimm possible with no voltmods needed I'll be going Abit very soon though (when's it coming Bravo? ), I'll be able to tell you better about them in a few days Can't say I've disliked the EPoX though if you can live with its shortcomings! __________________ P4 2.8C @ something GHz, EPoX 4PCA3+, 2 X 512 MB Kingston HyperX 3500, 9800 Pro OCAU Extreme Cooling Club Phase Change Member

29th August 2002, 12:13 AM	#10
MCWB Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,905	So they say, didn't seem to work for me... __________________ P4 2.8C @ something GHz, EPoX 4PCA3+, 2 X 512 MB Kingston HyperX 3500, 9800 Pro OCAU Extreme Cooling Club Phase Change Member

28th August 2002, 9:55 PM	#2
Dr Dremel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: On An Island Somewhere Posts: 805	MSI KT3 Ultra 2 RU It's easy eh.

28th August 2002, 10:34 PM	#5
Bravo Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 10,051	I agree. Abit is better in the long term (with regards to performance, stability, and overclocking), while the Epox is cheaper, and offers maybe the same (or less then 1% difference) performance. The 8K3A cannot be beat for what it is.

29th August 2002, 6:46 PM	#11
Sayajin Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 795	i have a KX7-333 and i love it! i can run at 200Mhz FSB 24/7 if i liked...the board is very stable, other members have also had problems when running at high FSB for a long period of time, as greenberet said, the board has great ocing options and overvoltage but it cannot take overvoltage and a high FSB for a long time, BTW the biat also has better bandwidth at high FSB speeds, id say Team Green, Abit All The Way!! eheh

29th August 2002, 7:11 PM	#12
Dr Dremel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: On An Island Somewhere Posts: 805	MSI not good overclockers eh ? Without embarrasing your Abit, imagine an actual mhz number roughly in the middle between 2,000 and 2,500 with a lowly xp2000 in the guts of a "red one". Besides I have logic that no one can disspute, mines a red one, and all should know, red ones go faster. Anyway all the latest good name 333 boards are much the same for performance, relyability and stability, toss a coin or go by your bank balance.. Those that can pick a 1/10 of a nano second difference, buy that one. Knowing what your doing helps a bit, and excessive o/c will always cause problems on any board.

29th August 2002, 7:22 PM	#13
ArcTan Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,699	Gonna be picking up a 8k3a+ soon picking it up for $187 I won't reveal the retailer till I pick one up and yes it's the + version

29th August 2002, 7:40 PM	#14
Mjollnir Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Melbourne, VIC3104 Posts: 5,879	187 is not cheap lmao at one stage they were 180 here in Melbourne.. __________________ OCAU Extreme Cooling Club H2O / Phase Change Member

29th August 2002, 7:43 PM	#15
Dr Dremel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: On An Island Somewhere Posts: 805	It's all relative, you get what you pay for, a cheap board for me is $250.