ABIT KV7 (KT600): Budget Performance in a Small Package
by Evan Lieb on September 7, 2003 10:42 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Final Words
After considerable testing, it is quite obvious that the ABIT KV7 is an excellent value motherboard, but nothing more. Considering the formidable tweaker/overclocker friendly BIOS options and onboard Serial ATA, the KV7’s current selling price of $80-$90 at several online vendors is an excellent deal. The main strength of KT600 motherboards in recent months has been their low prices. Paying more than $100 for a KT600 motherboard really isn’t necessary when other great motherboards based on nForce2 chipsets are on the market. So, an $80-$90 motherboard, like the ABIT KV7, should be up anyone’s alley when it comes to a good, cheap enthusiast motherboard.Still, it’s hard to recommend the KV7 when there are other similarly-priced nForce2 Ultra 400 motherboards available with similar BIOS features, similar onboard features, and most notably, better overclocking ability than the ABIT KV7. These motherboards include Epox’s 8RDA+, Soltek’s NV400-L64 and ABIT’s NF7, among several others. Again, the ABIT NV7 is not a bad buy by any means if you’re an average overclocking enthusiast looking for a good overclock (210MHz FSB or somewhere in those whereabouts). But for performance enthusiasts and extreme overclockers, we still recommend nForce2 Ultra 400 motherboards.
Stay tuned as we take a look at more Socket A motherboards and some next generation AMD products very soon.
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Anonymous User - Monday, September 8, 2003 - link
I am getting tired of the constant advocacy of NForce2 Motherboards. I personally bought an NF7-S 2.0 and I consider it a lemon. I have since returned to the Soyo KT333 based solution I used to use. I still have never seen the BSOD under that board. I wish I could say the same for NForce NForce implements far to much of its functionality in software to be rock-hard trouble-free. VIA implements almost everything in hardware, making it the most durable, reliable, dependable and trouble-free platform around.Anonymous User - Monday, September 8, 2003 - link
A nice review of a nice board. I got me one and don't regret passing over the nForce alternatives. VIAs drivers are hassle free nowadays, whereas certain others are still struggling to even make releases.I have a question though on something that you could perhaps clarify. The RAM speed settings in the BIOS does not seem to have a setting for "same as FSB" if you get my meaning. If I raise the FSB to say 210 and leave the RAM speed setting to "DDR 400", what actually happens with the RAM frequency? Is there some way to verify that it does follow the FSB speed? I'm curious since running FSB and RAM frequency out of sync with eachother has typically been somewhat detrimental to performance on Athlon DDR boards.
Anonymous User - Monday, September 8, 2003 - link
This review fails to state the complete RMA policy for ABIT. If you are missing your sales receipt, there's a $25 charge. If you want to cross-ship, there's a $7 charge for processing, plus $15 if you want 2nd-day instead of ground, plus they will charge you $150 (that's actually a charge up front via Paypal, not just a charge if they don't receive the bad one), and if the motherboard is received by them in good condition, then they'll refund the $150 by company check.Anonymous User - Monday, September 8, 2003 - link
Im very happy to see more staff besides Wesley starting to contribute again. Anandtech article rate has increased dramatically since Wesley came on board, I just wish Anand would do something. He's like a shadow in the wells doing nothing.