Best Socket A with integrated video/sound?

[Lunchboxah]

I've built my bangin system, starting with an ABIT KT7-RAID. Now I'm looking to built a value box. I need suggestions...

Here's my ideal scenario:
Integrated Video/Sound
3 or more PCI's
In-BIOS Multiplier and FSB adjustments (for Duron 600)
Good-to-Excellent Stability

Now, price is not much of an object with the mobo, just the other components.

Does such a board exist?

 

[paulip88]

You can try the MSI K7T Pro2. I believe that that board does have onboard sound. Don't know of any good boards that offer video and OC features though.

 

[Peter]

You'll find onboard sound almost on any board.

Onboard graphics isn't here just yet - VIA and SiS are still filing the details on their KM133 and 730S chipsets.

The first all-onboard product announced is the PC-Chips M810LMR - this one includes VGA, 4.1-channel sound, AMR slot for a modem, and 10/100 LAN using the SiS 730S.

The best _available_ board for a value box is the PC-Chips M805LR aka ECS K7VZM - also MicroATX, VIA KT133 chipset, with 2-channel sound and 10/100 LAN onboard, yet no integrated VGA. It's AMD recommended, btw. This board is cheaper than any other socket-A, yet packs more than most of them.

Maybe, with the LAN integrated, you can cope with two PCI slots, 'cause that's all you get in MicroATX ... 2 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 AMR.

Regards, Peter

 

[paulip88]

But it is PCChips, which deserves the bad reputation it has earned. Sure, people say that it is getting better, but could the company actually do any worse? I think not.

I'd rather buy the MSI board, and then spend $20-30 on a cheap low end AGP card.

 

[paulip88]

I also doubt that the PCChips boards allow for good OCIng, since they are notoriously unstable and shoddy in performance.

It is also unusual for integrated boards to offer such options to begin with. However, feel free to check the PCChips ghetto web site.

 

[Lunchboxah]

The K7T Pro2 does seem very close to ideal, but it's nowhere to be found. I saw a thread pointing readers to www.mwave.com for in stock Pro2's but they don't offer it anymore.

If anybody knows where I can get a hold of one, holla back.

 

[Peter]

The PC-Chips socket-A boards are neither unstable nor any worse in performance than other people's. They just don't offer any funny bits, and they don't come with full color 400-page manuals, that's why they are so cheap.

The M805LR is on AMD's recommended mainboards list after all - and just look at any online reviews the (identical) ECS board K7VZM got, they're OK. K7VZA aka M807R - same result. OK board, stable, good performance, dead cheap (yet no LAN).

Regards, Peter

 

[hans007]

the PC chips boards are on the amd recommended list, so you canprobably live with it.

 

[paulip88]

Peter and hans007,

Yes, I admit, PCChips boards do work and would defintely do the job for a standard user who does not do anything too intensive on their comp or do any tinkering.

However, for Lunchboxah, I don't think their boards will quite meet his specifications. Its one thing to build a system using a PCChips board and forget about it, but they do become a pain later down the road if you upgrade and need a BIOS update or any sort of support.

 

[Lunchboxah]

Yeah, great. K7T. Now where do I get one!

I'm very impressed with the specs on the MSI K7T but availability in the US is bonk right now. Any suggestions on a seller?

 

[Peter]

Well, BIOS updates are something that goes very well at PC-Chips.

And if you need support beyond that, then you'd better buy from ECS Elitegroup. It's the exact same hardware as the PC-Chips stuff, but in retail box, and with end user support.

In our example, the PC-Chips M805LR and the ECS K7VZM are the exact same thing.

Regards, Peter