Which Gigabyte Motherboard?

Chip33az · n00b Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 9

I will be upgrading my system next week and would like to know which Gigabyte motherboard to purhcase. These are the ones a local store sells.

Gigabyte 7VKMP, 7VAXP, 7VA-C or 7VAX.

I had done some reading on these forums concerning the KT400 chipset and I can't tell if they are still an issue. The posts had to do with an older kernel and I thought I read the 2.4.20 kernel fixed the issues with it.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Liathus · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2003 6:38 pm Post subject:

Get the ASUS one... Seriously the nforce2 chipset is the way to go.

[url]
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-d/overview.htm
[/url]

If you have to get a Gigabyte for some reason get one based on the via kt400 chipset, as the dont make one based on the nforce2. You will be missing out on the duel ddr boost though :(

just my .02

Chip33az · n00b Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 9

I looked over the price listings and do see an Asus A7N8X deluxe version listed.

Is it hard to get Gentoo installed on it? Any driver issues?

Malakin · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2003 7:22 pm Post subject:

Here are the product pages for the boards. The 7vkmp has onboard video, you probably don't want this one.

Note that the 7va, 7vax and 7vaxp are the pretty much the same boards but with more features.

X = onboard Lan, dual bios.
P = bracket for 6 channel sound (otherwise you have to use your mic and line jack as outputs), firewire, raid.

I might be missing something but that's what I can think of as differences.

http://tw.giga-byte.com/english-web/products/7va.htm
http://tw.giga-byte.com/english-web/products/7vax.htm
http://tw.giga-byte.com/english-web/products/7vaxp.htm
http://tw.giga-byte.com/english-web/products/7vkmp.htm

The Asus nforce 2 boards are better boards but they're also more expensive. Note there's a deluxe model with extra features.
http://www.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x/overview.htm
From my supplier the 7vaxp-deluxe is 36% more then a 7vaxp.

Main differences between 7vaxp and a7n8x-deluxe - nforce 2 is a little faster, asus board has a heatsink instead of a fan on the the board (quieter and more reliable), sound quality out of the Asus board is excellent but don't forget you'll have to use 2 sticks of ram to get the performance benefits.

I've used all boards mentioned here and I say either get a 7vax (if it has enough features for you) or if you can afford it get an a7n8x-deluxe cause it rocks ;)

Malakin · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2003 7:29 pm Post subject:

Chip33az · n00b Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 9

I think I will get the ASUS motherboard. I don't upgrade for a while and I think it has the best features that will keep me current for the time being.

Thanks for the help.

Sarlok · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 98

I'm looking into an upgrade pretty soon too.
As it so happens, I'm looking at getting this mainboard:
http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-7VAXP

For some reason, ubb wouldn't parse the url, no matter how hard I tried, sorry. (Why can't people just stick with good 'ol html? Geeze.

)

From what I can tell, it's better than any of the nForce boards that I've come across. Am I missing something obvious?

edit: Aargh! Since when are urls automatically parsed? *grumbles*
_________________
Four-thousand, six-hundred and ninety-one Irradiated haggis.

Malakin · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 3:44 am Post subject:

Liathus · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:34 am Post subject:

Actually the a7n8x-d has raid... albeit on the serial ata bus.

The specs page says it supports raid0 and raid1

http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?langs=09&m=A7N8X%20Deluxe

Sarlok · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 98

Alright, thanks. I think my parts list just got changed.

Pitty the ASUS one doesn't 'look' as good as the Gigabye. Ahwell. the price you pay for progress I suppose.
_________________
Four-thousand, six-hundred and ninety-one Irradiated haggis.

Malakin · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 9:25 pm Post subject:

Chickpea · l33t Joined: 03 Jun 2002 Posts: 846 Location: Vancouver WA

Me too! I am looking to upgrade as well and am looking at the nforce2 motherboards.

Is Asus all that wonderful of a motherboard? What about MSI? My local store carries the MSI nforce2 motherboards(cant remember model numbers).

I am not a power user so maybe looking at the lower priced MSI is why I ask.

Liathus · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2003 12:59 am Post subject:

MSI usually makes decent boards IMHO. I guess if it is available locally and at a reasonable price I wouldn't hesitate in getting a MSI

rbonthond · Apprentice Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 190

i have got theGigabyte 8pe667 Ultra with a intel P4....

got a lan, usb, soundcard, and raid onboard...

pretty happy with it

Malakin · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2003 9:08 am Post subject: