Which Motherboard?

[Guest]

I am in the middle of ordering everything I need to build my first computer. I've spent lots of time reading around on the various reviews and forums on the net, but I keep coming to a personal dilemna on what motherboard I should actually buy. I can't determine which one (MSI K7T Pro series, ASUS A7V, Epox 8kta, or Abit KT7 series is best for me). Everything but the motherboard and processor are ordered (because I can get them locally the cheapest).

Can I get some input on what would allow me to have the best setup for what I'm using?

128mb pc133 cl2 Crucial ram
IBM Deskstar 45gb HardDrive
Elsa Erazor x2 DDR video card
Soundblaster Live! Value

I'll be swapping out my current DVD player and CDR to put into it and I also plan on getting a Zip drive within a month or two, and I have no intentions of overclocking anything.

Since I only have one hard drive (I might also swap out my current 6GB ATA66, but that would be for mp3 storage probably) I don't know if I really need the Raid setup, but I've also read where that might be needed so I didnt' have to put one of the CDroms or Zip drive on the Hard drive IDE cable. Would the Abit 100, Epox or MSI mobo be better. Also, I think I might fill 6 PCI slots, so I've halfway ruled out the ASUS board. I am somewhat tight on cash for this, so I don't want to spend any extra money on features I won't need...

Can someone give me some insight as to what I should probably do?

 

[yoda271828]

This is a very good roundup of socket A mobo's. Check it out:
<A HREF="http://www1.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1374" target="_new">http://www1.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1374</A>

 

[Guest]

Don't go with an A7V. Mine has been a nightmare. There is no tech support and you are out of luck if you need help. I was considering buying the new MSI KT7pro2. Its cheaper than both the asus ans abit and has all bios settings. Think its like 110 online.
No experience with the abit.
When my A7V was working it screemed, tho.

 

[Guest]

I have to agree with ThomScott. My a7v has be crap from day one. I have spent more time trying to make it go than on any other board over the past 8 years. I also have a KT7-Raid which worked perfectly from day 1. I took all the components from the KT7-Raid and put them on the a7v, formatted the hard drive, put in a new o/s and it still kept locking up. There were no irq conflicts, but it just kept crapping especially in ie 5.5. I put in new bioses, new promise drivers and it was the same story. I put in other spare components and the story was the same. I think there is some thing wrong in the switching between the promise and the ide controllers. Just a few hours ago I put in bios 1005a and I'll see how this performs.

You may get lucky with the a7v - as some have. Or you may get a piece of crap like I did. It's your money though, so beware.