Got my Epox 8KTA3 (KT133a) Mobo today! =)

[G3DN]

Well I got my Epox 8KTA3 motherboard today...too bad I didn't get my AMD Thunderbird 1.2GHz to try it out with. (using a Intel setup right now) I was holding out for the Abit KT7a, but from the reviews I read on the Epox board it seems just as good. I guess I just couldn't wait to get a new KT133a motherboard. Any way, so far I'm very impressed with board. It looks very well built, and the package it came in is really cool. The manual is very nice too, and I can't wait to see how well it overclocks! =)

 

[fergus]

Where did you get it???????????????? I want one. Let us know how it goes when you get it running.

 

[G3DN]

I got it from www.bunta.com for $129. I ordered one from paragoncomp.com too along with a Thunderbird 900MHz at the same time, hoping one would show up soon. I don't think my items from paragon have shipped yet, but I know my 1.2GHz will be here tomorrow for sure. As soon as I get home from work, I'm going to rip out my P3 700E and Abit SE6. I'll be sure to post my results...it might be a little late though since I'm in the Alaska time zone. =)

 

[NforSa]

cool
let us know what FSB you can get it up to!

 

[Crashedout]

Got mine yesterday from mwave.com for 124.00. Good board, was surprised they had the fan on the southbridge on this model, I thought that would be for the plus version. So far, so good and my chrome orb fits. Need to close the l7 bridges for 1.85 but other than that I am impressed, now if MS gets SP2 out soon I will be in heaven.

 

[Davegod75]

fire that sucker up and report back

 

[Stang46]

Wohooo I'm getting mine in today along with a 1 GHz Thunderbird and 256 MB RAM. I got a great price on this bundle from www.mwave.com so hopefully everything turns out all right

 

[Crashedout]

So far I am at 7x136 on a duron 700. Would not post at 7.5x133 but I am still messing with voltages. I am quite happy so far, but a gig would be great. Will post back if I can get further.

 

[heng1028]

good to hear that

kee pus update with your tweaking

i am waiting for the Turbo

 

[bluesky]

Heng, what's going to do with your pro2a board? Did you still looking for the RMA information?

 

[heng1028]

i have no problem running with the capacitor chip off

i think i will just keep it

what do you think?? should i repair it??

 

[breeze]

I too am considering the same motherboard...
Have fun

 

[huh!!]

Have to been able to compare kt133a scores to kt133 benchmarks. What sort of increase if it?

 

[heng1028]

760 ddr vs kt133a sdram

which is better??

if someone wanna upgrade to amd 760 system he or she has to get a new sticks of ram as well

if they just upgrade to kt133a system, they just need a new mobo and that's it.

it makes the kt133a more interesting

 

[bluesky]

heng.
Well, if you have no problem, why bother. But you can check it out with them. One thing I found with MSI is hard to get some support.

There are not much difference in the test score to justify you invest the money for DDR system, if you have a fast system right now.
I bought lots of Sdram to stay with this setup for couple more years. I'll just go for kt133a soon.

 

[G3DN]

Well I just got home...my shine new 1.2GHz Thunderbird came while I was at work..I'm going to log off now, and install my new Epox motherboard and Thunderbird. =)

 

[tran1981]

LMK about the results. My epox suspose to come this Thursday. I think the epox will o/c just about the same as abit and less expensive. I read some reviews.

 

[G3DN]

I wasn't able to get my 1.2GHz cpu and Epox 8KTA3 to run at the 133MHz no matter what I did...I even down clocked all the way down to 550MHz just to make sure the CPU wasn't the problem. I tried all 3 motherboard bios's. The oldest one gives you the most FSB choices....it's pretty weird they limit you to 120MHz bus with the new bios, unless you jumper it to 133. The board is very nice, except it seems to be a dog at overclocking. Maybe I have a crappy board I dunno...I just ordered a Abit KT7A-Raid and I'll see what I can do with a trusty ol Abit board. Anyone wanna buy an Epox 8KTA3? I got two....one used for one day and another still in the box.

 

[StuieG]

G3DN,
I had the same problem with my 8KTA3. My 900 T-bird would not do 133 no matter what I did. I'm also going to get a KT7A.

 

[fergus]

Bummer to hear that. Did either of you try Epox tech support? I hope that's not a stupid question. Maybe there is something funky going on that they can help with. I hate to see you give up so soon. The Soltek is sounding better to me now--though they are unknown. Maybe the Abit, but their RMA for the KT7 was high for my taste.

 

[dingdongdingdong]

hey G3DN how much you want to sale for the unopen box?

 

[Geist3]

Seems I remember in Anand's article about OCing with the 133 FSB that Durons can do marvelously, but that T-Birds cannot. Something about the L2 cache not being able to take it, I believe. So, maybe don't blame the board.

A Duron 750 was used in the PC Review test on the Soltek
A Duron 600 was used in the OC Workbench test on the Soltek
A Duron 650 was used in the BX Boards test on the Soltek

OTOH, Hard OCP on the Abit KT133A board used:
"750 TBird at 750MHz and 1120MHz (8*140), 1200 TBird at 1200MHz"

 

[tjll11a]

Anyone use a Duron 800 or 850
Do you have unlock the duron for you to get 133 fsb. I've heard you don't have to do anything just flop the thing in hit 133-140 fsb and your over a gig.

That would be great if it true. I will be getting MB any day now. I will post my results.

Love those AMD's

 

[tran1981]

Maybe you should try to up your voltage till it is stable then up the fsb, repeated for different settings till u reach ur max.

 

[whitey]

Anyone know where the raid version of this board is in stock? I saw bunta has it on backorder but can't find any other place selling it