Which Gigabyte motherboard?

[NBM]

Long story, but i have a choice between 2 gigabyte motherboard, for argument's sake lets just pretend these are my only options. I can more money if i get the GA-7VRX board, it uses the VIA KT333 chipset, 200/266 CPU, 3 DDR slots and takes up to 333mhz ddr ram. Or i could get the GA-7VAX it uses the VIA KT400 chipset, 333/266/200 CPU, 3 DDR slots, but it takes up to 400mhz DDR, it also has onboard lan. Anyone know much about gigabyte boards? is the GA-7VAX all that much better? is the kt400 chipset that much better than the kt333? The fact that it can take up to 400mhz ddr is negligible because i already have tons of 333mhz ddr. Or would you recommend the GA-7VAX because it allows more room to upgrade my processor, doesn't it?

Thanks

 

[Froggermon]

400 mhz DDR is useless right now. The FSB on your mobo is lower than the speed of the ram. In order to take advantage of DDR 400 you need an 800 mhz FSB.

 

[NBM]

so is the ga-7vax any better than the ga-7vrx? Im not talking 'technically' but realistically?
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NBM on 03/24/03 09:00 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[gitrman]

Well I've had the GA-7VAXP since last year and it's by far the best motherboard I've ever had the pleasure to own...

6xusb2.0, firewire, RAID, support for 333fsb CPUs (including Barton), onboard LAN, 5.1 sound (digital, analog, & optical), 8xAGP...loads of room around the cpu socket for a great big beefy hs/fan...board layout close to perfect for optimal cooling of components...

...but most important of all in my eyes exceptionaly stable...it's never crashed on me despite my fondness for swapping things around and changing components.

well worth the money IMHO

 

[Rubberbband]

I run a 7VRXP and it's been stable as a rock. i would get the KT400 chipset because it will allow you to upgrade the CPU in a year or so (166 FSB vice 133). If you're simply building for today go with the KT333. You can use your PC2700 Ram on a KT400 board by running it at 333 (synchronously with the CPU).

The aim of military training is not just to prepare men for battle, but to make them long for it. <A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=327&s" target="_new"><b>MY SYSTEM</b></A>

 

[NBM]

So the GA-7VAX will top out at a faster processor? when compared to the GA-7VRX correct? Anyone know where the GA-7VAX tops out processor wise?

thx

 

[Rubberbband]

THe 7VAX is set up to handle a FSB of 166 (333 CPU FSB) while the 7VRXP officially only handles a FSB of 133. Some users were able to get the 7VRXP to run at 167 FSB but it's a software adjustment as there is no dip switch. Also the 1/5 divider ensuring your PCI slots run at 33 Mhz and the AGP slot at 66 Mhz is not officially supported.

The aim of military training is not just to prepare men for battle, but to make them long for it. <A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=327&s" target="_new"><b>MY SYSTEM</b></A>