Board Layout/Features

K7V Features

One of the first things you'll notice about the K7V is the lack of ISA slots present on the motherboard. An AMR slot replaces the traditional position of the ISA slot at the bottom of the motherboard.

The AMR slot on the bottom of the motherboard

Another feature we noticed was the AGP Pro slot. Unlike traditional AGP slots, AGP Pro supports video cards up to 110W. Other than additional power, AGP Pro slots are the same as conventional AGP slots and operate at the same transfer rate. The K7V uses a universal AGP Pro slot that is fully backwards compatible with existing AGP implementations.

With video cards consuming more power with each new generation, an AGP Pro slot is a good thing to have. ASUS first began implementing AGP Pro slots on their 820 series of motherboards.

AGP Pro slot

When installing a conventional AGP card, pay careful attention to installing the card correctly. Incorrect installation could damage the card or the AGP interface itself.

K7V Layout

With the K7V the ATX power connector is located behind the first DIMM socket.

ATX power connector

Early versions of the K7M placed the power connector between the DIMM sockets and the Slot A interface. This created spacing problems with larger Athlon heatsink/fan combinations. By moving the ATX power connector behind the DIMM sockets, these spacing issues are nonexistent.

Another thing you'll notice is the size of the K7V. In direct contrast to the K7M, the K7V is a very large motherboard.

Located between the AGP slot and PCI slot is a Power LED. With this helpful diagnostic feature, end users can quickly identify if they have a dead motherboard. Simply plug in the ATX power connector to the motherboard. If the LED lights up, the motherboard is receiving power. If the LED remains off, you know you have a dead motherboard.