The ECS K7VTA3 V3.x is the latest revision to this popular motherboard line, which along with transitioning from the KT266A to the KT333, also brings a wide range of features to the table as well. The previous revisions of the K7VTA3 were low-cost, very basic motherboards, but ECS seems to be looking at giving users a bit more bang for their buck. Along with the standard AC'97 audio, there are also optional components such as RealTek 8100/B LAN, Promise PDC20265R IDE RAID, and USB 2.0. This puts the K7VTA3 V3.x right near the top in terms of on-board options, which is quite a shift for ECS and a real bonus for their buyers. In fact, the only feature that the ECS K7VTA3 loses out on when moving from the older K7VTA2 is the dual SDRAM/DDR memory capabilities. The K7VTA3 V3.x includes three DIMM sockets that can be used for PC2100 or PC2700 memory, which considering current DDR prices, is a much faster and more cost effective solution than the dual-format K7VTA2 model.
There are a few caveats such as ATA-100 support for the IDE RAID controller (though the standard VIA IDE does feature ATA-133), and a less-than robust system BIOS, but from an overall viewpoint, this is a noticeable improvement over some previous ECS revisions. The K7VTA3 V3.x may not compete directly with the EPoX or ABIT boards for overclocking supremacy, but the feature list is extremely impressive given the low cost of the motherboard.
The ECS K7VTA3 retail box contains the motherboard, one Floppy cable, two ATA-66/100/133 EIDE cables, one ATX backplate, a driver/utility CD, and a hardcopy user manual. This is about as sparse as you can get with a new motherboard, as we're missing a USB bracket and RAID driver floppy to really make the package complete. The manual suggest using the front panel USB headers found in most new cases, and the RAID driver can easily be extracted to floppy. The 57-page user manual is complete and quite detailed for a value board like the K7VTA3.
ECS has done their homework in designing the K7VTA3 V3.x, and it definitely shows. There were issues with past revisions, but ECS has cleared up all but a few. The IDE and floppy cables are now placed directly adjacent to the DIMM sockets, ensuring easy access and installation. The three DIMM sockets are also well designed and adding or removing DDR memory does not interfere with AGP video cards. The dual IDE RAID connectors are nicely situated at the standard location, right at the bottom of the motherboard.
Board size is also perfect, as the outer screw holes line up perfectly to the ATX format, and there is absolutely no board overhang. ECS has even silk-screened the various board settings and jumpers, which can really come in handy if you misplace the manual. This motherboard also has one of the more ingenious AGP retention mechanisms in the business, and is a feature more board manufacturers should investigate. Instead of the basic AGP pressure-clip, the K7VTA3 V3.x includes a nifty sliding lock that not only holds the AGP card snug but is a breeze to lock and unlock. The only issue we could find is the placement of the ATX power connector, which does involve a bit of work to get around the CPU. Other than that, the K7VTA3 V3.x has one the best KT333 layout designs in this roundup.
The installation of the ECS K7VTA3 V3.x went very smoothly, and the entire system was loaded and up and running in record time. This is one of the benefits to buying a more streamlined motherboard, there are simply fewer things than can go wrong. Other than a few niggling issues with disabling onboard hardware (which we cover below) the K7VTA3 V3.x was the easiest KT333 install in the roundup and is a great option for those wanting to get their feet wet in the system building area.
BIOS stands for "Basic Input/Output System" and the K7VTA3 V3.x certainly lives up to the "basic" part. While all the standard features are present, and even a full selection of RAM timings, there is little else for the enthusiast to get excited about. ECS has included a Frequency Control section, but the only option present is to adjust the FSB to several pre-selected speeds. There are no BIOS options for core voltage, processor multiplier or DDR voltage, among others and the board is not well suited to high-end overclocking. The board also features an onboard, hardware jumper to select between 100 and 133 MHz AGP/PCI dividers, further limiting overclocking opportunities and creating a real issue at the 166 MHz FSB.
The ECS BIOS does allow certain on-board features to be disabled, such at USB 2.0, AC'97 audio and soft-modem hardware, but with a few noted exceptions. The Promise IDE RAID chip is one, and we could find no hardware or BIOS option to disable it. This is not quite as bad as some other implementations, as the board does not require user intervention when no devices are attached to the RAID controller, but it still adds a bit of time to the entire boot process.
ECS has made a very attractive pitch with the K7VTA3 V3.x. It offers a wealth of features, tons of onboard hardware and a price that is just too low to believe. You will lose a bit in terms of high-end overclocking, but gain some back in overall value and ease of use. Choosing a motherboard like the K7VTA3 V3.x (over some of the more high-end and more expensive boards) is a very personal call to make, but for those looking for a great combination of price and features, then ECS may have just the ticket.
