Are there any reviews on these chipsets (mATX mobos)

hasu

Senior member
Apr 5, 2001
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Are there any reviews on the following chipsets (for mATX) ?

SiS 741GX
KM266
KM266 Pro
KM400
KM400A

I am assembing a small footprint rig. Any recommendation for a good mobo to go with it?

BTW, I am getting this case

Any comments on MSI KM4M-V or KM4AM-L (KM400A) ?
 

Zap

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Oct 13, 1999
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I don't have any experience with motherboards using the SiS 741GX chipset.

I have lots of experience with some motherboards using the VIA KM266 chipset. AFAIK the "Pro" version just adds support for 333MHz FSB. I have some experience with the VIA KM400 chipset. AFAIK the "A" version adds 400MHz FSB support.

I'd say forget about the KM266 and KM266 Pro chipsets. The KM400A is okay if not much more, but "official" 400MHz FSB support may be nice if you're going for a high-end small system. KM400 chipset boards can be had for around $50. I've always had good luck with Biostar, DFI, Shuttle boards using these chipsets. I have NOT had good luck with PCChips boards using these chipsets (multiple boards had strange BIOS problems, will boot to "checksum error" now and then, totally unacceptable). I've had mixed results with MSI boards using these chipsets. The ones that worked, worked, but too many RMAs. The Shuttle boards sometimes are Flex-ATX, so they are smaller and sometimes don't bolt in properly in some cases. The DFI boards give SATA at a low price point.

For a few $$$ more you can get a Biostar M7NCG-400.

What are you going to use this for?
 

Iron Woode

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I have tried the Km400 (MSi KM4M-L) and it was a fine board. Nothing great but no problems either.

The KM400A is just the newer revision of the KT400A chipste that it is based on.

The SIS 741GX is a pretty decent board but doesn't seem any faster than the KM400A. It supposedly has better video though.
 

hasu

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Apr 5, 2001
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I was reading more about KM4AM-L. Does it have keyboard power-on?
How much faster is nforce2 400 compared to KM400? I am looking for faster memory access. Could not find any comparison between the two.

thank you...

edit: I read in another thread that SiS 741GX is faster than KM400. Anybody got any reviews (or comparison) on SiS 741GX?
 

Iron Woode

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Originally posted by: hasu
I was reading more about KM4AM-L. Does it have keyboard power-on?
How much faster is nforce2 400 compared to KM400? I am looking for faster memory access. Could not find any comparison between the two.

thank you...

edit: I read in another thread that SiS 741GX is faster than KM400. Anybody got any reviews (or comparison) on SiS 741GX?
1. not sure because I sold the board.

2. NF2 Ultra400 is seriously better.

3. The KM400 is not very fast. But I tried the SIS 741GX and it was not significantly faster. You should check out:

http://www.amdmb.com

as look into the forums for motherboard maker AsRock.
 

Zap

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Oct 13, 1999
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2. NF2 Ultra400 is seriously better.
Does hasu need integrated video? Chaintech makes a mATX basic board based on that chipset, the 7NIL1. I got mine from Newegg. No onboard video. Only overclocking is FSB up to 250 or so, no multipliers in BIOS, no voltage settings.
 

hasu

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Apr 5, 2001
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Originally posted by: Zap
2. NF2 Ultra400 is seriously better.
Does hasu need integrated video? Chaintech makes a mATX basic board based on that chipset, the 7NIL1. I got mine from Newegg. No onboard video. Only overclocking is FSB up to 250 or so, no multipliers in BIOS, no voltage settings.

I have recently used one of them for my friend. The first one I received from newegg was doa and in the second one MBM5 could not read the temperrature sensors properly. By the looks of it, I might again have to go with that.

Since the new case is going to be a low profile one, I am trying to get as much integrated stuff as possible in the mATX motherboard :)
 

Iron Woode

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Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: hasu
Originally posted by: Zap
2. NF2 Ultra400 is seriously better.
Does hasu need integrated video? Chaintech makes a mATX basic board based on that chipset, the 7NIL1. I got mine from Newegg. No onboard video. Only overclocking is FSB up to 250 or so, no multipliers in BIOS, no voltage settings.

I have recently used one of them for my friend. The first one I received from newegg was doa and in the second one MBM5 could not read the temperrature sensors properly. By the looks of it, I might again have to go with that.

Since the new case is going to be a low profile one, I am trying to get as much integrated stuff as possible in the mATX motherboard :)
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-vm-400/overview.htm#

this would be a good setup.

nf2 eats kt400 for lunch.
 

hasu

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Apr 5, 2001
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Iron Woode, thanks for all your suggestions.

Finally I went for M7NCG (Classic version, non-pro). Thanks to cheapgoose for the PMs.
It was pretty difficult to find one.

Wonder why there are no MCP-T based mATX board!