The Manual

Like most manuals these days, a well written and concisive manual is included.  It is well documented with pictures and clear diagrams to help you along with installation.  I ran into no problems at all getting this up and running in no time!

Do you have a problem?

Abit does it again! Did I mention how much I LOVE BIOS-based CPU setting? Well I do! It is certainly better than picking away at a little DIP switch every time!

The KT7 performed admirably well for overclocking... Just as good, if not better, than the Asus A7V! It was not without its problems, though...

Don't Try This With Your Asus!

Just yesterday, Abit released this PR, stating that their board has one more advantage over the competition... Check it out:

Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. Monday, October 23, 2000 - ABIT, known for innovation, has done it again! The KT7 and KT7-RAID are the first Socket A mainboards to feature a 3-Phase Power Solution. What is 3-Phase Power? It's a set of six transistors that converts power to the CPU. 3-Phase Power (unlike the standard solutions) allows the KT7 and KT7-RAID to handle 1GHz and faster AMD Thunderbirds safely. When future processors reach a 46-amp workload, 3-Phase Power will remain a relatively cool 89°C, while other power solutions reach a potentially dangerous 125°C. In short, 3-Phase Power lets you enjoy faster CPUs, keeps your system safe, and frees you from worry. Other manufacturers may try to play "catch up" with their future versions of 3-Phase Power, but you can be sitting pretty today with a trusty KT7.

Chalk up one more for Abit!

In Conclusion, this board absolutely kicks ass! It is really a toss between the Asus A7V and this... What would you rather have: ATA/100 and DIP switch settings with an AMR slot and no ISA slot and a well-placed CPU socket (the A7V) or, ATA/100 RAID with software settings and an ISA slot and no AMR slot with a VERY POORLY placed CPU socket (the KT7-RAID). 

There are really few trade-offs with this board... One however may be price - Retailers are suggested to sell this for $200, but I have seen it for as little as $140...

• Rock Solid
  
• Integrated ATA/100 support
  
• Integrated RAID support
  
• AGP 4x, Fast Writes
  
• It's Fast!
  
• Awesome for overclockers! Multiplier overclocking is not dead!
  
• BIOS Memory tweaks work very well
  
• Software CPU setting rules!
  
• Chipset cooler with a fan, what a concept!
  
• 3-Phase Power for stable 1.2+ Ghz CPU's

• Pretty expensive - This will cost more than twice as much as your Duron CPU
  
• CPU socket placement - Abit must have been on crack when designing it!

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