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KT-7 RAID, Athlon Thunderbird Gaming System Build
By Len "Viking1" HjalmarsonWIN ME
I've heard mixed reports on Windows ME for gaming. Frankly, however, I love it. I haven't had a single problem that I can attribute with certainty to the operating system, and the increased system stability and recovery features are welcome.
System Restore
It was recommended to me that I install the VIA INF and AGP drivers. I did so, and most of my games continued to run fine, with the exception of the B17 II beta, which began to give me substantial graphics glitches. I attempted to uninstall, but this didn't solve the problem. I installed Standard mode in place of Turbo mode. Same problem. Finally I used the WIN ME restore facility successfully. If you think you need the drivers, you can obtain them
from http://www.viahardware.com. Windows ME appears to run fine without them, but I am told that 3d games that use AGP will run poorly without the AGP driver installed.
SUMMARY
If price is no object, I recommend the KT-7 RAID and the most CPU you can afford. If you're on a budget, consider the GeForce MX with a Duron 700 on an EPOX mainboard. You can overclock the Duron and get almost the same performance as the Thunderbird and use the cash you saved to increase system memory or get that second drive for a RAID system.
Will this system carry you through the first year of the Millennium? Without question, though you can always swap out the video board around Christmas for the latest from Nvidia, 3dfx or Matrox as you begin your own "Space Odyssey" in the New Year!
KT-7 Recent Awards:
Finnish Website KHV on ABIT’s KT7-RAID:
Editor’s Choice Award
In a review even longer than its name, Finnish Website KatuHintaVertailu.com took a look at the KT7-RAID. “On the aspects of Motherboard features, speed, overclocking and stability, the KT7-RAID gets scores of 5 of 5. Overall, this motherboard also gets 5 out of 5 score. We give the ABIT KT7-RAID our ‘Editor’s Choice Award’.”
Maximum3D on ABIT’s KT7-RAID:
Editor’s Pick Award
Maximum3D spent some time with the KT7-RAID. After the testing was complete, the verdict came in; “Without a doubt, the KT7-RAID is the pinnacle of Socket A design, exceeding the offerings of the competition by a wide margin. ABIT, not to be left behind, has answered the challenge with a motherboard that sends the competition back to the drawing boards.”
Files Mentioned in This Article: WCPU ID
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