An Answer to an Email from VIA

[Texmaster]

I'm not a fan of VIA right now. I admit it wholehardly. I'm not convinced they make a truely stable platform. Now before all the VIA lovers fire up their keyboards, I read the article on anand's site about VIA's future. At the end of the interview there was an email attached where you could ask questions.

This was mine,

Being an extremely frequent buyer of computers (I upgrade my personal PC every 3-4 months) and a buyer of computer hardware for EDS when can I expect to see VIA motherboards that do not require all in one drivers? It makes it an extremely hard sell to me and my company to buy a board that requires patches before you can even begin operations. The long time arguement has been Intel's stability and without the need for an extra patch to get going. When will VIA break this cycle?

Regards,

Texmaster


Texmaster,

Thanks very much for your email. We share your concerns regarding the driver situation, and have been working very closely with Microsoft on this issue. Windows XP will have full built in support; so I hope this should start to break the cycle.

Best regards

Richard


Nice guy.

Hmm Interesting. I wonder if Intel will also follow this route of focusing on campatibility with the bloated Windows XP.

It was nice to get a response so fast and I just wrote it last night. Here is his email addy

RichardBrown@via.com.tw

 

[oldfart]

Intel mobos also require drivers. Win9X and 2K do not have native support for the newer Intel chipsets such as the 815E 845, 850 etc. You have to install the Intel inf file. The issue is more the quality of these motherboard chipsets and drivers and the time it takes to have a working version.

 

[Texmaster]

<< Intel mobos also require drivers. Win9X and 2K do not have native support for the newer Intel chipsets such as the 815E 845, 850 etc. You have to install the Intel inf file. The issue is more the quality of these motherboard chipsets and drivers and the time it takes to have a working version. >>



No you do not. I have an i815 and an i850 chipset motherboards and neither required the drivers you speak of to function.

 

[Helznicht]

Yes, we have all been spoiled by the BX platform. As I learned on the famous BX/Cel (I have built 4 systems similar) it scares me to go to something that will take alot of nursing to get up and going. But I agree its not a VIA problem, its like this for all new MBs.

 

[oldfart]

Not gonna start an argument, but FACT is, Win9X and 2K DO NOT have the 815E and 850 chipset drivers native. WinME does. How could they when the OS came out before the chipset? Check Intel's website. Yes, the system will function with what is in 98 or 2K, but not optimally. A video card will also function with standard VGA drivers. Doesn't mean it functions correctly.

 

[Texmaster]

<< Not gonna start an argument, but FACT is, Win9X and 2K DO NOT have the 815E and 850 chipset drivers native. WinME does. How could they when the OS came out before the chipset? Check Intel's website. Yes, the system will function with what is in 98 or 2K, but not optimally. A video card will also function with standard VGA drivers. Doesn't mean it functions correctly. >>



I have both motherboards you are talking about running 98 Right NOW and the only drivers they have on them come from Windows. You are simply incorrect.

The entire arguemnt is that VIA mothaboards will cannot even function corectly WITHOUT those drivers.

I can throw 100 patches out there that claim they are &quot;optimizing&quot; a computer but the fact remains Intel chips do not require a single patch to function with stability and compatability. Via motherabords Must have the all in one drivers or they will not function.

 

[Texmaster]

<< Yes, we have all been spoiled by the BX platform. As I learned on the famous BX/Cel (I have built 4 systems similar) it scares me to go to something that will take alot of nursing to get up and going. But I agree its not a VIA problem, its like this for all new MBs. >>



LOL No it is NOT!

Fact: Via motherbaords CANNOT function with any form of stability without the all in one drivers
Fact: Intel motherboards do NOT require a single patch in order to be stable and be compatable.


Optimizing a motherboard is a COMPLETELY different arguement.

 

[oldfart]

Well then my friend, you are running the wrong chipset drivers. If you want to install the correct drivers, you can get them HERE. Check your device manager before and after. A VIA based motherboard will also function (not optimally) with the native 98 drivers.

 

[XMan]

No you do not. I have an i815 and an i850 chipset motherboards and neither required the drivers you speak of to function.

You are correct, Texmaster - you don't have to install the chipset drivers for it to work. But installing the chipset drivers will improve system, graphics, and ATA performance.

The entire arguemnt is that VIA mothaboards will cannot even function corectly WITHOUT those drivers.

Incorrect, I installed Windows 98 SE on a KT133A and it worked fine without the 4-in-1 drivers. Like the Intel drivers, all the 4-in-1s do is improve performance (and compatibility with SB Live cards, although the problem is in how Creative designed the card to utilize the PCI bus, not the chipset.)

Fact: Via motherbaords CANNOT function with any form of stability without the all in one drivers
Fact: Intel motherboards do NOT require a single patch in order to be stable and be compatable.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

As NFS4 - he just installed XP on his system, and he commented that he didn't intall any 4-in-1s. Reason? Because Microsoft had them in the system this time. They didn't have them in earlier software versions. Just because Intel was working closely enough with Microsoft so that drivers for their hardware was part of Windows doesn't mean that Intel chipsets don't require drivers, just like VIA chipsets. It's just that the chipsets are natively supported.

 

[datallah]

I don't know what you people are biatching about. You dont complain when you need to install drivers for your GeForce3, why is that? It is completely normal to have to install drivers to get hardware working! It is not fair to expect older software to work with newer hardware to its full potential without updating.

I know for a fact that W2K works with my athlon w/o any 4-in-1s, however they are always the first thing installed after windows because they improve the performance and maximize stability.

If some intel chipsets don't require softare updates... its is only because intel has been in bed with MS for so long that they have more input into what goes into the windows builds.

I think that it is just people looking for something to complain about because of their irrational preference for Intel products.

 

[Ausm]

I have been running via platform mobo's for the past year with no problems at all. I think people who have problems with this chipset obviously have problems building stable systems in general. I run numerous apps from games to Cad/Cam programs and NEVER have I ran into a problem using this chipset in regards to stability. I know some people where having problems running @ 4X AGP and also with fast writes enabled but from my experience it really does not make that much difference.

I mean how hard is it to update a driver?!?! or even install a driver. People who have intel based BX boards with raid support have to install a driver for the raid controller. So I guess that blows the theory out fo the water that intel based chipset boards do not have to have drivers installed

Ausm


Ausm

 

[Texmaster]

As NFS4 - he just installed XP on his system, and he commented that he didn't intall any 4-in-1s. Reason? Because Microsoft had them in the system this time. They didn't have them in earlier software versions. Just because Intel was working closely enough with Microsoft so that drivers for their hardware was part of Windows doesn't mean that Intel chipsets don't require drivers, just like VIA chipsets. It's just that the chipsets are natively supported.[/i] >>




You are repeating what I already said in the first post! Please read more carefully

This turned into a flame war when it didn't have to be


And I know for a fact the majority of VIA motherboards absolutly REQUIRE the all in driver to simply function.

Everyone who has owned via motherboards knows this. Its not specifically aimed at you but the entire company fo VIA.

 

[Texmaster]

<< If some intel chipsets don't require softare updates... its is only because intel has been in bed with MS for so long that they have more input into what goes into the windows builds. >>



Absolutely right



<< I think that it is just people looking for something to complain about because of their irrational preference for Intel products. >>



Absolutely wrong. This thread began with me COMPLEMENTING VIA and the guy who wrote me back. The nit pickers have turned it into a flame war.

 

[Texmaster]

<< I have been running via platform mobo's for the past year with no problems at all. I think people who have problems with this chipset obviously have problems building stable systems in general. I run numerous apps from games to Cad/Cam programs and NEVER have I ran into a problem using this chipset in regards to stability. I know some people where having problems running @ 4X AGP and also with fast writes enabled but from my experience it really does not make that much difference.

I mean how hard is it to update a driver?!?! or even install a driver. People who have intel based BX boards with raid support have to install a driver for the raid controller. So I guess that blows the theory out fo the water that intel based chipset boards do not have to have drivers installed

Ausm


Ausm >>



Its not a question of it being hard. For a home user its an easy step. However, times that patch update by 1000 computers at work and you will start to see the time turn into money.

but again, I was complementing VIA at the beginning of this post. Too bad some just couln't leave it at that.

 

[Helznicht]

&quot;majority of VIA motherboards absolutly REQUIRE the all in driver to simply function&quot;

Uhm, Dude, the PC has to function before you can install the &quot;All>1&quot; drivers. I mean how do you install drivers on a pc that is not functioning?

 

[Texmaster]

<< Well then my friend, you are running the wrong chipset drivers. If you want to install the correct drivers, you can get them HERE. Check your device manager before and after. A VIA based motherboard will also function (not optimally) with the native 98 drivers. >>



Nothing coudl be furthur from the truth. If it could then no one would even bother getting the drivers.

I bet you any amount of money that 80-90% of intel users NEVER install a driver for their motherboard beyond windows because there isn't a compatability or stability issue the majority of the time.

There is with VIA. Splitting hairs is sure sign of a weak arguement.

 

[Texmaster]

<< &quot;majority of VIA motherboards absolutly REQUIRE the all in driver to simply function&quot;

Uhm, Dude, the PC has to function before you can install the &quot;All>1&quot; drivers. I mean how do you install drivers on a pc that is not functioning? >>



Um dude, I was obviosuly talking about after the Windows operating system was installed.

Please forgive me for giveing you some sort of credit that you could figure that out on your own.

 

[Boonesmi]

seems kinda silly to have the deciding factor of which motherboard your going to buy be dependent on if you need to install a driver or not.

i install a driver for my video card for my nic etc etc, not that hard to install one for the mainboard



and i know your sick of hearing this tex, but they were correct above about win98 and win2k not having native support for the newest intel chipsets

obviously that doesnt mean yours wont work without it, it only means its not working as well as it can (hey thats the same with via 4in1 )

 

[LXi]

Im going to have to side with my friend oldfart here, he has enough experience in regard to Intel chipsets to say a thing or two about this. The Intel INF update file is there for a reason, and if you believe VIA chipsets cannot function correctly without 4-in-1s, Im going to have to argue back that Intel chipsets will not function correctly without the INF updates.


<<Absolutely wrong. This thread began with me COMPLEMENTING VIA and the guy who wrote me back. The nit pickers have turned it into a flame war.>>

Check the mirror. Look who started this whole thing? Give you a hint, the name start with &quot;T&quot;.

 

[majewski9]

My IWILL KK266 has a KT133A chipset and it performs very well. I have a sbLive and it performs very well also. I think that my board is very stable as well. Rock solid performance from my VIA chipset!

I hear a lot of issues with VIA chipsets though. I think I will avoid via in the future despite my pleasant expierence with my KT133A.

 

[yourharddrive]

I was never a VIA fan after my first VIA mobo failed...fortunately i talked ASUS in replacing it with its Intel 815 counterpart

 

[LXi]

<<I was never a VIA fan after my first VIA mobo failed...fortunately i talked ASUS in replacing it with its Intel 815 counterpart>>

That's funny. What does Asus crapping out have anything to do with VIA?

 

[oldfart]

I guess it depends on your definition of &quot;require&quot;. Neither an Intel nor a VIA motherboard &quot;require&quot; the motherboard chipset drivers to be installed to function fairly well. To function as designed, you need to install the proper drivers. What is odd to me is people treat a motherboard differently than other pieces of hardware. A mobo is a hardware component, the same as a video or sound card. You cant expect an OS to have drivers for hardware that came out after the OS did. Proper drivers need to be installed just like any other hardware. It's up to the OS or hardware vendor to provide the driver update for that product. As far as people not installing the patches, if they bought the system from a vendor, the vendor should have installed the patches. If the system was home built as do many Anandtech members do, there should be a level of expertise to know to install the proper drivers.

 

[LXi]

Couldnt have said it any better.

 

[nortexoid]

all chipsets require drivers - it's whether or not the OS supports it right out of the box...

obviously, intel being the largest chipset manufacturer was supported by MS right outta the box...via's getting there to some extent...the bus master drivers from MS are fine...

hopefully winxp will have full VIA chipset support...i mean really, via's the second largest chipset manufacturer in the world...u think they'd support it - retards.

then again, VIA updates their drivers every minute, so...