Maximum features, minimum hassle, minimum PRICE (K7-S5A Motherboard Socket A)

Member Name: andyshellam

Product:	K7-S5A Motherboard Socket A
Date:	09/06/02 (2337 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: onboard AC'97 sound/AMR, DDR and SDRAM capability, good price!

Disadvantages: not sure of the overclocking potential

It?s not very often that you hear detailed reviews about motherboards, and yet they?re one of the most important components of the computer system.
However, I will change all this and write my own review about the ECS K7-S5A motherboard, manufactured by Elite.

I have heard many bad comments about the last few models of motherboards Elite has bought out, particularly the K7-VZA and now the K7-S5A. And yet I?ve used both boards successfully with AMD processors with no problems whatsoever.

After my K7-VZA managed to somehow overheat any processor installed into it, I decided to upgrade to the new-standard K7-S5A motherboard. The main feature that was one of the most important to me was the ability to handle both standard SDRAM (PC100/133) and the new double-rate DDR (PC2100) memory (however it can only use one type of memory at any one time ? this is understandable.) This was a great deciding feature for me, because my PC currently runs on PC133, but I know that when I upgrade to an Athlon-XP, I will want to use DDR memory.

There?s another feature I also liked about the board ? upgradeability. If you wish to move from an AMD Duron processor to an Athlon-XP, or even just an Athlon Thunderbird, you do not need to replace your board. At the time of the board?s original release, it was guaranteed to handle up to an Athlon-XP 1700+, although AMD now guarantees the board to handle up to an Athlon-XP 1900+. Being only a teenager, this makes it an ideal board because it?s great value for money and you don?t have to replace it when upgrading ? this means I will be able to get at least another year?s full use out of the board.

Another great feature on the board, which I greatly like but you can?t find on most modern boards, is the on-board sound. It is an AC?97 codec, which means it can play audio (18-bit full duplex) as well as providing support for an AMR modem card (a small card that is about half the size and half the price of a
standard 56K modem. It uses the AC?97 chip as the modem, freeing up resources.) This means you can save around £15 on an equal-quality sound card and around £10 on a 56K PCI modem ? even greater value for money.

The board is so simple to use it?s unbelievable. I believe that the most important part of building or upgrading a computer should not have to take forever as you try to get all the CPU settings correct for the processor you want to use. With the K7-S5A it is all done automatically ? which is fantastic! All you have to do is install the CPU and heat sink/fan, the memory and graphics card you want to use, plug it in and turn it on. The board does the rest! It?s so simple that anybody can do it.

Also, the manual is very detailed. Unlike most boards, it does not just tell you the basics to get the system running, it gives you a description of what all the BIOS options do, and the full specification of the board. It also tells you how to install the software provided (drivers, etc) rather than leaving you to puzzle over how to do it yourself. And it?s written in plain language (apart from the specs) so that anybody reading it should fully understand it.
I think that every other motherboard manufacturer should take a leaf out of Elite?s book and follow suit. It would make the whole computer world a much more bearable and less-frightening place.

If anybody were looking for a Socket A motherboard solution where they wouldn?t have to pay over the odds but would still get a decent-quality and reliable motherboard, I would wholly recommend the Elite K7-S5A. It?s combination of reliability, stability and upgradeability make it the perfect motherboard to base the modern home computer system on.

As Tom?s Hardware Guide said:
?One of the best value DDR motherboards we've seen.?
Need I say any more?

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