Socket-A VIA KT133 Motherboard Roundup - November 2000

Microstar K7T Pro2

Microstar K7T Pro2
Click to Enlarge
CPU Interface	Socket-A
Chipset	VIA KT133
Form Factor	ATX
Bus Speeds	100 - 166 MHz (in 1MHz increments)
Voltages Supported	Auto Detect / 1.500 - 1.800V (0.025V increment)
Memory Slots	3 168-pin DIMM Slots
Expansion Slots	1 AGP Slot 6 PCI Slots (4 Full Length) 1 CNR Slot (Shared)
On-board Audio	VIA VT1611A AC97 CODEC
BIOS	Award Modular BIOS 6.00PG

The Microstar K7T Pro2 is basically the successor of the K7T Pro, with couple new tweaks and features. First of all, it was the fourth motherboard that arrived at the AnandTech lab with multiplier settings. In order to make the board even better, Microstar decided not to use jumpers or dipswitches; they implement the multiplier ratio settings directly in the BIOS, where users can choose from settings between 5x and 12.5x. The only other motherboard that features a similar jumper-less setup is the ABIT KT7-RAID.

Moreover, Microstar added in many more FSB speed choices for the K7T Pro2. Now users can choose any FSB speeds between 100MHz and 166MHz, in 1MHz increments, so users can squeeze every last drop from their processors. Also implemented in the BIOS are CPU core voltage settings as well as I/O voltages options.

Performance wise, the K7T Pro2 is among the best. And when talking about stability, the K7T Pro2 is simply the king. Not only did the K7T Pro2 beat the K7T Pro as the most stable KT133 motherboard in normal operation, it also maintains the same level of stability when overclocked. This is definitely the result of careful design and layout, as well as the implementation of quality capacitors.

The K7T Pro2 is still using the VIA 686A Super South Bridge, but the K7T Pro2A boards, which uses the VIA 686B Super South Bridge, are in the market already.

The use of a shared CNR slot instead of an ISA slot gives Microstar the flexibility to go into the OEM market, though the CNR slot is not really useful for most AnandTech readers.

Microstar was also among the first to start supporting overclocking under the Windows environment by using their Fuzzy Logic software. With Fuzzy Logic, users are able to see quite a bit of information about the motherboard, in addition to the ability to change FSB speeds as well as the voltages. For the K7T Pro2, they released the Fuzzy Logic III, which has more FSB speeds support as well as some bug fixes.

Moreover, Microstar developed the Live BIOS software, which allows users to upgrade their BIOS under Windows environment.

Last of all, Microstar improved their famous D-LED diagnostic devices with the release of Smart D-LED. The Smart D-LED gets rid of the 4 LED's present in the previous D-LED, version and instead uses real human voices to inform the user of any potential computer problems.

In short, the K7T Pro2 is a very nice KT133 motherboard from Microstar. Not only does it bring users all the overclocking features they need, its rock solid performance also helps to make it the impressive motherboard that it is.