Find another
Written: May 07 '03 (Updated May 07 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Low Cost, Built in LAN
Cons: Inconsistent boots
Can only use one stick or memory,two will crash the computer
The Bottom Line: Spend an extra 15-20 bucks and get a better quality board. Imagine yourself spending 10-20 hours just to get this thing to BOOT properly.
|
|
|
| ladman's Full Review: EliteGroup K7S5A Motherboard |
Buy a Ford-get a Ford. Buy and Lexus-get a Lexus.
You get what you pay for.
This think is absolute junk.
Conduct a search for "k7s5a problems" under Google and you will see for yourself.
So many issuese with this board that I could not list them here.
Latest BIOS updates from ECS help only a little. Many have reported that it made things worse.
Check the link below. Add http:// to the front of it first. Look under PROBLEMS.
pub65.ezboard.com/bk7s5amotherboardforum
Cannot upgrade cpu without running into a variety of problems whereas is should be a plug and go switch.
Locks up all the time
If you shut the power off at the power switch, it will lock up and CMOS has to be cleared to reboot. Sometimes you have to do this 15-2o times just to post.
This board accepts 2 DDR or 2 SDRAM sticks. Only 1 stick of memory, whether DDR or SDRAM can be used at a time. Though they claim the board accepts 2 of either stick,many have reported that the board will lock up. I only use quality name brand memory and still, issues.
Severe AGP issues. An AGP card with this board is inviting trouble.PCI video card users have reported better results with lockups.
The heatsink for the chipset is attached with double sided tape!!!! Now, as you know, tape is not a good conductor of heat. Many have removed the tape and reattached the heatsink with glue which has reduced the temperature on mine conserably. Still has boot issues.
Must use a slower memory timing often with this card.
Do your own research first before spending your money on this thing. This board is like a BMW, always problematic.
I bought 3 of them. All 3 had issues.
Save your money for something else. Once you have read up on the board above, you will understand the problems amd I highly recommend that you conduct your own research before purchasing this thing. The $10-$20.00 in savings is not worth the endless hours of pain and frustration on your part.
Must use a 350watt or higher power supply. This will help with a fraction of the lockups and boot problems.
Many one the forum listed in this review above and screaming Class Action Lawsuit against this company for defective parts.
This is what you have to do to get this board running properly and yet still, the chances are 50/50 that it will.
1)Flash the BIOS through the ESC website.
2)Chipset modification
3)Use 1 stick of memory
4)Buy a higher wattage power supply
5)Update the AGP bios and driver through SIS website
6)Use the older and scarce PCI video card, AGP will give you grief with this board.
I urge you to read the forum before buying.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 48.00
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
ladman
|
|
Member: Jip Joe
Location: Fontana, CA, US of A
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.