Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra Platinum K7VX4?

[LizardKingdom]

Could anyone give me some reasons why I shouldn't buy this board?
Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra Platinum K7VX4..... from tigerdirect.

I really like the extra Ide channels and I'm looking to upgrade my mobo and cpu for 150-200 dollars.Probably go with an xp 2600 from directeron to go with this board.

Has anyone who has purchased or knows of someone who has, had any issues with this mobo.

If so,could someone recommend a mobo in this price range.

Thanks in advance....

J

[bombledmonk]

What is the price of the board? Edit** Nevermind it is $85 + shipping which is ususally around $10 for Tigerdirect.

I can give you lots of boards that are better, and I suspect a better price.

Also what will the system be used for.

This
EPoX "EP-8KDA3J" nForce3-250Gb Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...123-219&depa=1

and

AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 256KB L2 Cache Socket 754 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-214&depa=1

This combo will run you right at $197 shipped. In gaming applications it outperforms a P4 3.0Ghz and if you ever want to get into overclocking it can beat out a P4 3.4Ghz by 5% on average.

It easily kills any Athlon XP CPU out there for very cheap.

[LizardKingdom]

Ok, I did some research based upon your suggestion and I thank you for your input. I ended up however going with the gigabyte 7n400 pro.
I am still deciding on the processor though and would like your input on the XP or the Sempron.
Wouldn't a barton 2600+ with the 512 l2cache be better than any sempron? Or does the sempron have some new better features that would make that much of a difference.

Thanks again for your input.
Sorry for so little correspondence but busy with 2 little ones, so my time is limited.
J

[maxiderm]

i thought the XPs were better. the Semptrons are supossed to be a "value" cpu like the durons were, or like the newer Intel Celerons.

[LizardKingdom]

thanks for your input Maxiderm....
From what I've read and researched though, the sempron is basically an xp thouroghbred core. The difference being that the speeds are ramped down; for example a sempron 2400+ is equal to say an xp 2000+. I had read somewhere though that the sempron has some improvements, which I was still unsure if i believe yet or not. I am still looking for some first hand experience with the semprons and for somone to give me a compelling reason to buy one instead of an Xp.

Also how much of a difference does the 512 l2 cache make on the barton cores versus the thoroughbred cores?

[bombledmonk]

Athlons are better other than the 3100+ which is based on the Athlon64 achitecture minus the 64bit power. When it is not overclocked it can overtake a P4 3.0c or e in all gaming applications and quite a few others as well.

While I don't have first hand experience, on man on resellerratings sister site was building a machine with a 2600+ sempron and it outscored his barton 2500+ in most apps. Other than that I also have heard that the Semprons are slow, the ratings are different for each of AMD's line of chips. All things being equal the Sempron line would probably come out with the majority of the real world applications wins.

Personally I'd go with the 2500+ mobile chip as it runs nice and cool and overclocks very well.

[LizardKingdom]

Yeah, I thought about going with an XP mobile chip, but all of them run at 266mhz, or does this even matter when your going to overclock them?

i haven't done any overclocking, but wouldn't mind dabblin a bit. i know that all the regular xp chips since last year are locked, but would probably be satisfied with just using the FSB to overclock anyhow.
J

[bombledmonk]

Nope the 266 FSB isn't a problem. Most of the time you can instantly OC any 2500+ chips mobile or regular to a 200FSB. You can OC higher as you see fit after that.

[maxiderm]

i have a mobile 2400+ running @ 2.3Ghz (faster than a 3200+) stable. ive had it up to 2.5 but i like to keep the heat down to a minimum so i keep it at a rock stable 200 x 11.5 on 1.8v. i think im getting the AMD64 3700+ though. not the greatest OCer, but hey, who needs to OC that good of a chip anway? for you i suggest getting the mobile 2400+ and getting a nforce 2 motherboard since your probably gonna want to OC this baby.


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-400&depa=1

and to get good OCing you'll need a good HSF:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...106-037&depa=1

and of course, a good board to do it all on:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-185&depa=1

wow..... thats actually the same setup i have lol. oh well dont worry you'll be happy with it.