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In the Forums... |
Posted: February 18, 2001 Written by: Tuan "Solace" Nguyen Analysis Remember how I said earlier that I was going to make a comment after all the benchmarking was completed? Well, here goes. The winner in speed is the A7V133, but I’m sure you’ve already noticed that. However, let’s say we compare both boards with the exact same processors at the exact same FSB speed, who would come out first? Neither board would show any tangible improvements over the other. Do you want to get the top of the line system? Are you going for one of those high-end 266FSB Thunderbirds or are you trying to build a kickass Duron gaming system? That’s the question that begs to be asked. Do you have an obscene amount of money or are you on a tight budget? If you’re looking to build a gaming machine and have no use for RAID or you don’t see a need to shoot for a 266MHz FSB processor, then you might as well save some money by going with the A7V. It basically has more than most people need and doesn’t break your bank account. Also, since the A7V133 is out the price on the A7V has dropped. Remember, the A7V133 is basically the A7V + RAID 0 + 266FSB support. All of the other features are the same. In fact, it even has 2 less USB ports! Conclusion If you want to talk about protecting your investment and being prepared for the future, the A7V should last you just as long as the new A7V133. We’re talking GHz power here and a 1GHz processor or one overclocked to it, should last you longer than any previous generation processor has lasted with you. Realistically, for applications, a 1GHz is really ahead of its time. All my applications run perfectly on my old Pentium 3 450MHz. It still has a great deal of strength left in it. If you really want to squeeze performance out of an aging system, you may want to look to alternative operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, QNX, among others. My point is, choose a device based on what you will be using that device for? For example, everyone hates the AMR slots; you have to pay for it even though you don’t even use it. Well, if you don’t use RAID, why would you want to pay for it? Some features are tangible while others are expendable. Manufacturers should pay more attention to what users don’t want as well as what they do want. I want RAID, but please that AMR slot just needs to go. The A7V133 is definitely a board for those wanting cutting edge. Stability, performance, functionality, the A7V133 has it all. For those who want to save money, the A7V cuts through the fat just as well. A7V Overall Rating: [ 8.8/ 10.0 ] Once again, thanks for reading and make sure to stop by channel #tweak3d on Undernet (IRC) if you have any questions or comments. |
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