CHEAP O/C-able motherboard

a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
edited August 2003 in Hardware
Is the ECS L7S7A2 the cheapest O/C-able motherboard? How easy is it to get more vcore to the CPU with this motherboard? In the BIOS you only get to add 5% to the vcore so for a 1700+ that's 1.5 by default you can have up to 1.575 which isn't enough to push the limits on the chip.

Any other dirt cheap boards that have multiplier/fsb/vcore adjustments?

I don't want an absolute pile of trash, but I don't need anything particularly "nice." Just something that will let me push the CPU pretty high (I'm not talking every possible ounce of performance though . . . I want a mobo that's sub $60 really but definitely $80 or less).

I have one L7S7A2 around so I can mess w/ that w/out having to out and make a new mobo purchase.
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Comments

  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Then secondhanded is the only way. Try to get a refurbished Abit NF7. That should settle you for just under $80, maybe lower.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    Thanks Mack.

    Anyone else know of a good board?

    I found <a href="http://www.ocworkbench.com/2003/ecs/l7s7a2guide/modguide/modguide.htm">this</a&gt; on the L7S7A2 but it makes the vcore 1.85v by default which I don't think I would need that much. Anyone know which pins to connect to have 1.7v by default? if I need more than that I could just use the BIOS +5% feature to get ~1.785v
  • shwaipshwaip bluffin' with my muffin Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    you can figger that out here:

    http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/html/workshop/pinmod/amd_pinmod.html
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Is that 1700 a new one with a good stepping?

    If so, it would be a waste to use it on a ECS if you want to overclock. Trust me. With normal to good aircooling, expect 2.4 gig from a new stepping on a Abit Nforce2 board with a vcore of around 1.85-1.9 volt.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited August 2003
    Where's omega to sell more epox boards? The 8rda+ is what $83 now. Not a bad price for a board that gets a decent oc.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    I'm not looking for every possible ounce because I know to get that I'd have to spend a good bit on a HSF and on a good board. I just want good speeds, not mind-blowing speeds. I think I should be able to reach 2.1-2.2, maybe even 2.3 with a decent HSF on the L7S7A2.

    I have two VERY similar nForce2 systems:

    CPU: 1700+ DLT3C 0310XPMW
    Mobo: Abit NF7-S
    HS: SLK-9000U
    Fan: 92mm generic. Forget the CFM, but it's decent.

    I get 2.3GHz on those machine. I guess to get more I'd have to push more volts through them than I'm comfortable doing. I have 1.65v on the first rig and 1.7v on the second. Though, the NF7-S seems to undervolt. The first one really uses 1.6-1.63 and the second uses 1.65-1.68v.
    Mackanz said
    Is that 1700 a new one with a good stepping?

    If so, it would be a waste to use it on a ECS if you want to overclock. Trust me. With normal to good aircooling, expect 2.4 gig from a new stepping on a Abit Nforce2 board with a vcore of around 1.85-1.9 volt.


    Had an 8RDA+, RMAd the piece of trash. Just like every other Epox board I've ever owned, it was garbage. Omega knows not to recommend Epox to me anymore . . . he was the main reason I decided to give Epox one last try and they bit me again.
    Al_Capown said
    Where's omega to sell more epox boards? The 8rda+ is what $83 now. Not a bad price for a board that gets a decent oc.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I owned an 8KHA+ and an 8RDA+, both died spontaneously in the same amount of time with less-than-normal overclocking. I too, will never buy EPoX again...Abit, because my KX7-333R still works 14 months later.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    Great link, shwaip! Thanks!!! :respect:
    shwaip said
    you can figger that out here:

    http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/html/workshop/pinmod/amd_pinmod.html
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Had an 8RDA+, RMAd the piece of trash. Just like every other Epox board I've ever owned, it was garbage.

    Omega is either hiding or he's looking for his shotgun.:eek2:
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    He just says that I have an Epox curse. :D
    Leonardo said
    Omega is either hiding or he's looking for his shotgun.:eek2:
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    the shuttle.. an35n...can oc my 2500+ to 3200+ speeds....is that good enough for you??
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    How much does it run? How high will the FSB go? What chipset? Does it have multiplier adjustment? How high does the VCore go?
    WuGgaRoO said
    the shuttle.. an35n...can oc my 2500+ to 3200+ speeds....is that good enough for you??
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited August 2003
    ;D;D;D;D

    The 8RDA+ (and All EPOX's) are great board, especially since it's ~$80 now. But if you're considering a ECS mobo and you want to OC, you might want to look into a KT400 or KT600 mobo. They're cheap and very OCable.

    Epox 8KRA2+ or Abit KV7

    BUT!! I would recommend the Abit NF7-S v2 ($111 shipped). If your keeping the mobo for at least 12 months the extra $25-50 is well worth it. Even when using single channel (! DIMM) the NF7 will be faster than any VIA or SIS based mobo.
    Al_Capown said
    Where's omega to sell more epox boards? The 8rda+ is what $83 now. Not a bad price for a board that gets a decent oc.

    a2jfreak said
    I'm not looking for every possible ounce because I know to get that I'd have to spend a good bit on a HSF and on a good board. I just want good speeds, not mind-blowing speeds. I think I should be able to reach 2.1-2.2, maybe even 2.3 with a decent HSF on the L7S7A2.

    I have two VERY similar nForce2 systems:

    CPU: 1700+ DLT3C 0310XPMW
    Mobo: Abit NF7-S
    HS: SLK-9000U
    Fan: 92mm generic. Forget the CFM, but it's decent.

    I get 2.3GHz on those machine. I guess to get more I'd have to push more volts through them than I'm comfortable doing. I have 1.65v on the first rig and 1.7v on the second. Though, the NF7-S seems to undervolt. The first one really uses 1.6-1.63 and the second uses 1.65-1.68v.




    Had an 8RDA+, RMAd the piece of trash. Just like every other Epox board I've ever owned, it was garbage. Omega knows not to recommend Epox to me anymore . . . he was the main reason I decided to give Epox one last try and they bit me again.


    Leonardo said


    Omega is either hiding or he's looking for his shotgun.:eek2:

    a2jfreak said
    He just says that I have an Epox curse. :D

  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    Omega: the $25 or so extra ($111) isn't just $25 extra if you're talking about an L7S7A2 that can be had for $53 including shipping.

    I can get two L7S7A2 mobos for $106.
    I just want inexpensive and fast rigs for folding.

    ECS Route:
    Mobo: $53
    CPU: $65
    RAM: $50
    PSU: $40
    HD: $50
    Total: 258

    NF7-S Route:
    Mobo: $111
    CPU: $65
    RAM: $50
    PSU: $40
    HD: $50
    Total: 316

    That's $58 difference.
    That's enough to buy me another ECS mobo. so then all I'd have to spend would be another $200 to put together a second system. NF7-S Route I'd have to spend another $316 to put together a second system.

    I want most bang for buck, not absolute most performance.
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited August 2003
    You said you wanted to OC :)

    Your Abit Machine is only $56 more than the ECS computer. The Abit will be noticably (especially after OCing) faster. And over a 2 yr period $56 is nothing.

    Don't be penny wise and Pound Foolish!:eek3: :eek3:

    If you want basic performance ECS is fine. (I've built 4 ECS K7S5A Pro machines in the last month :)) But your OCing options are going to be limited.


    Also Case & 400 watt PSU is $40 shipped
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    I do. The L7S7A2 will OC.
    You said you wanted to OC :)


    $58 per machine; I'd like to build two if I can afford it, which is $116. I've got very little money right now because I've just purchased a truck and had to put my dog to sleep (God rest her soul) and racked up hundreds of dollars in vet bills before she was gone. Anything I can save is great, even if it's just $58 a machine.
    Your Abit Machine is only $56 more than the ECS computer. The Abit will be noticably (especially after OCing) faster. And over a 2 yr period $56 is nothing.


    Yeah, I don't want to be. But these are just for folding. I won't be using them to edit videos and they won't be playing video games so I really think the added performance of the Abit would be almost completely lost.
    Don't be penny wise and Pound Foolish!:eek3: :eek3:


    I know OCing will be limited, but I don't believe it will be crippled. :)
    If you want basic performance ECS is fine. (I've built 4 ECS K7S5A Pro machines in the last month :)) But your OCing options are going to be limited.



    Thanks for the link.
    Also Case & 400 watt PSU is $40 shipped


    If I went w/ the Abit I think I'd go w/ the NF7 because I don't need the features of the NF7-S and that would let me get a really good board for $86, but that's still $33 more than the ECS. I don't know. I just want a couple of inexpensive folding rigs. Blah.

    /me goes and invents a money tree. :D
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Then i dont see the point getting a new board at all. Get a 2:nd handed KT7 for folding. You should get that board for $20 or less.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    I've not seen any that cheap.

    Any links?

    (I'm not talking e-bay . . . too many burn stories for me to try it)
    Mackanz said
    Then i dont see the point getting a new board at all. Get a 2:nd handed KT7 for folding. You should get that board for $20 or less.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    I can get an AT7 Max from ExcaliberPC for $60 (counting shipping). Anyone here have any experience w/ the AT7? Only thing I saw on it that I didn't like is the lack of PS/2 ports, so that means I won't be able to use my KVM for the keyboard and mouse but since I only want it for folding that's not a big issue.

    Omega, you think this is decent? Better than the ECS?
  • shwaipshwaip bluffin' with my muffin Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I always like to browse the newegg refurbs for a good deal:

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?submit=list&catalog=22&Type=Refurbish&order=price&sort=asc
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    You might try the Albatron KX400-Pro.

    It's $70 at newegg and supports overclocking. Pretty decent reviews, and should atleast allow you 166-180 FSB without much trouble.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    Asus A7V8X, MSI nForce2 boards might be decent...
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited August 2003
    Thrax said
    I owned an 8KHA+ and an 8RDA+, both died spontaneously in the same amount of time with less-than-normal overclocking. I too, will never buy EPoX again...Abit, because my KX7-333R still works 14 months later.

    13 months later for me.:)
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    12 months for me :D
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Right on!

    Abit owned the road with KT333 boards, and they're doin' the same with the nForce2. I can't wait to see what they cook up with the nForce3 Pro chipset.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    ASUS A7V8X-X and A7V8X, both for $45 (including shipping).

    Good deal? bad deal? Which is better? A7V8X-X or A7V8X?


    Thrax: Have you used an Albatron board before? I haven't and I don't (personally) know anyone that has.

    shwaip said
    I always like to browse the newegg refurbs for a good deal:

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?submit=list&catalog=22&Type=Refurbish&order=price&sort=asc


    // Edit: Scratch the A7V8X, it's not in stock unless I wanna pay $54 for the version w/ IEEE1394 (FireWire)
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    I can't see any difference between the two A7V8Xes, so the -X may be a good deal. What about the MSI K7N2-L for $55?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    My friend uses an Albatron board. Specifically that board. Overclocks just like a kx7-333R. Benches like one too.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    A friend of mine has that board . . . he isn't too crazy about it, plus I'd rather save $10 if it's all the same or very close. :)
    Geeky1 said
    I can't see any difference between the two A7V8Xes, so the -X may be a good deal. What about the MSI K7N2-L for $55?


    Cool.
    Thrax said
    My friend uses an Albatron board. Specifically that board. Overclocks just like a kx7-333R. Benches like one too.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I also have a K7N2-L.

    Cheap, effective. My version only had an A2 revision, so it maxed out at about 180 as usual. But it was quite stable...

    Only thing that didn't work right was the onboard sound. Couldn't get it into 5.1
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