I've been running the older Rev 2 AK31 for over three months. It's a rock solid overclocker. Here's the details:
Shuttle AK31V2
1.4 AHYJA Y @ 1.618 GHz Vcore @ 1.87V (10.5 X 154 MHz)
Themalright SK6 HS/F with 40 CFM YS Tech fan
256 MB Crucial PC 2100 @ 154 MHz CAS2
WD 30GB 7200 RPM ATA100 IDE HD
Adaptec 2940U2W SCSI Controller
Seagate 18GB Barracuda 7200 RPM U2W LVD SCSI HD
24X SCSI CD-ROM
8x20 S&F (Sanyo) SCSI CDR
VisionTek Geforce 2 GTS Ultra 64MB @ 275/500
SBLive! 5.1 OEM
Intel Ambient HaM 56K PCI Modem
Generic Mid Tower Case with Antec PP352X 350W Power Supply
3-1/2" Floppy Drive
Win2K Professional with SP2 on SCSI HD
Win98 OEM on IDE HD
It's fast and completely stable and was very easy to setup. The Rev 3.1 is the exact same board with the faster KT266A North Bridge chip. For $85, it's hard to beat.
I was just over at amdmb.com at the Epox forum and there seems to be some issues with the 8KHA+ and Enermax 430 watt PS (the Enermax actually, not the Epox board), as well as a seperate, minor issue with the Epox BIOS chip.
check it out before you decide.
...many however, have had absolutley no problems with the 8KHA+ and have gotten great results.
------------------ ...everyone should taste a little bitterness in their lives....
...everyone should taste a little bitterness in their lives....
try waiting for the Iwill XP333 - looks like a nice mobo and DDR333, ATA133(which isnt so fantastic) but really good for OCing Im assuming seeing as they'll be basing it on KA266
The Shuttle rev3 is pretty nice for a VERY resonable price, but it has one very big flaw. It does not use the correct voltage. Several boards are showing below 1.7v at default (instead of 1.75). It is also supposed to be able to .2v higher than default, but most can not get it past 1.8v. I don't know if a BIOS upgrade will fix this, but it really hampers overclocking. You can do an easy voltage mod to run up to 2.2v, but most people don't like to tamper with this.
The Iwill XP333 does look nice, but the performance is not quite up to par with the KT266A boards.
The Epox is pretty good and most places are having good results.
The MSI KT266A board is OK, but there is one small bug. DO NOT enable the emergancy temp shutdown as it kills the performance and stabiltiy for some reason. This will likely be fixed with a BIOS upgrade.
Abit and Asus have both anounced their KT266 board and state they will start shipping in a week or two (I think they both anounced on Monday).
The nForce 420 and 440 should be hitting in the next week or two also and the MSI board will likely be the first one out the gate. Performance is mixed and reports show that overclocking is not the best (especially when using an external AGP card).
Right now I'd say the Epox KT266A board. In a bit I'd say the Abit board. The Iwill also looks nive and likely clock the highest as it supports 166Mhz bus "officially" and has the correct deviders for 200Mhz too. The bus speed can be adjusted up to 233Mhz. The Revision C1 seems to be performing very close to the KT266A boards though and with the ability to hit 180Mhz+ with relitive ease might make it a winner. I do not know about avaluability though and you would need an unlocked CPU aand some REALLY GOOD DDR memory.
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The COMPUTER is your FRIEND!
Happiness is manditory.
AMD Phenom II x4 945 3Ghz | ASUS M4A77TD | 2X WD 1TB SATA 2 hard drive | 2x2GB Corsair XMS3 | nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS | ATI TV Wonder Theater Pro 550 | Antec P-160 case | Antec 650w Earth Watts | LG Blu-ray Super Drive | LG DVD RW | Windows 7 Pro
I switched from an A7V to an AK31A recently. This board leaves a lot to be desired in the realm of stability and overclocking features. I have a two different sticks of RAM I tried (both rated at CAS 2 PC2400, Micron and Corsair). I can't get my FSB above 135 mhz and keep my RAM at 2-2-2. I can run it at 140 mhz 11.5 multiplier and CAS2-2-2 but it crashes in quake, max payne, and the new test of castlewolfenstein.
I use the T-Bird 1.4 ghz and have lots of air blowing on it. The CPU temp is reported at 41 degrees C under full load with ambient reported as 28 C. I have 1.85 V applied to the processor.
I would check out the Epox or wait for the board Asus presents, A7V266-E. That way I can live vicariously through you.
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T-Bird 1400/266 @ 1350
Kanie Hedgehog w/ delta
Asus A7V
Asus V7700 Deluxe 32 Meg
SB Live Value
Addtronics 6890A
Western Digital 205BA
Win2K/Win 98 SE (Dual boot)
512 Kingmax PC150 @140 mhz
My current Abit KT7-RAID has treated me very well and will end up going into duty as a server. Because of how well it has been, I am leaning towards the Abit boards, but the Epox does look very nice and reviews well.
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