Biostar M7VIG vs. ECS K7S5A

[Mallow]

Give me some feedback plz people. I have compared these two boards to death. I'm building a budget desktop for a friend w/ PC-133 RAM. I don't want to spend a super amount on a PSU (ECS problems?) and on-board video w/ the biostar might be good if it's GeForce2 level. Let me know what personal experience anyone has with the biostar board, or both. thx in advance.

 

[Buz2b]

The onboard video on the M7VIG is "S3 Savage 4 Video "; will not be "GeForce2 level" that you seek. For something like that you would need to take a look at an nForce board. There are some less expensive models but I don't think you will get to this level of price though. The question is, what will the system be used for primarily? If it is just to be a desktop/office app/Internet surfing box, then the Biostar would be ok. However, if they were expecting to run anything remotely current in games at an "acceptable" level, then it wouldn't work. So, there's your trade-off. You were worried about a PS for the ECS board. If they want to do much at all in the way of gaming then you will also need a video card for the BioStar board. Of course, you would need one for the ECS board anyway.
Actually, I don't think the KM266 chipset is any faster (if at all) than the SIS735. With the ECS you get more PCI expansion possibilities and pretty much the full range of XP processors.
Going back to the ECS board, in a personal opinion, I would prefer it over the Biostar. I've had both and the Biostar (admittidly an older model) just didn't last.

 

[RideFree]

Buz2b,
Some of the best advice anywhere.

 

[Macro2]

The get ECS unless you can go $78 for the nforce Asus w/ gforce 2 graphics on newgg.com


The SIS 735 is faster than a KT266. This is not the KT266a chipset which is faster than the KT266.

 

[Mallow]

I have heard all kinds of problems with this ECS board being picky about PSU's and that it's 4x AGP slot will only take 4x video cards.

 

[Buz2b]

it's 4x AGP slot will only take 4x video cards.

Not sure what you mean here but if you are trying to say that a 2X video card will not work, that is mistaken. Been there; done that a while back. As to the "problems" with the board; I won't go into the argument, it's been debated too many times. If you know what you are doing and use decent components you should have no more trouble with this board than any other. But hey, sounds like you have your mind made up anyway. Go for the Biostar; hope you get what you are looking for.
BTW, picky about PS's? How does a $27 unit (plus shipping) sound? I can personally vouch for the fact that this one works like a charm with the ECS board. Nothing special; just a "decent quality" component. You don't have to spend big bucks; just get something decent, as you should be doing anyway. Good Luck!

 

[Mallow]

hehe, thx a lot for the advice Buz2b. I was kinda leaning toward the Biostar, your right. But I might use the ECS on future systems b/c of your adivce. Anyhow, have a nice day

 

[Peter]

The ECS board being "picky on PSUs" is a myth. In fact, an underpowered PSU will give you problems on ANY mainboard (when using the same setup otherwise). Question is, does it act up immediately, or let the overstressed PSU run until it dies and very possibly does more damage?

Getting an adequate PSU is the primary essential thing for a stable system, no matter whether your mainboard cost $50 or $5000.

regards, Peter

 

[Prfstrkr]

There's no doubt that ECS is one of the crappiest mobo manufacturers out there, but I've heard enough positive comments on this K7S5A. So why not give it a try?

 

[Mallow]

prf-

I have the same feelings. They aren't that reputable but this board is so cheap and gets a good rep.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: Prfstrkr
There's no doubt that ECS is one of the crappiest mobo manufacturers out there,

Ah, so that's why they are selling to large volume OEMs in these huge numbers ... always nice to hear from someone with an insight into how this industry works. NOT.

Guess why ASUS mirrors ECS business model now, and why Abit and Shuttle have ECS produce (in case of Shuttle even design) their stuff. It's because it's all crap, of course.

 

[Buz2b]

There's no doubt that ECS is one of the crappiest mobo manufacturers out there

I must maintain, I must maintain, I must maintain............., ah heck! Look, if that board (or ECS) was ANYWHERE NEAR as bad as you (or anyone else) would try to make us believe, it woudn't be on the market any longer. When in fact, it was (if not IS) one of the highest selling boards in recent history. And ECS wouldn't be one of the top MB companies around today in terms of sheer volume if the thing was one of the "crappiest" mobo's from "one of the crappiest mobo manufacturers out there".
But, let's go to personal experience. I have built 8 (and in the process of the ninth) systems with this board. ZERO failures. Lucky? Not at all. If it was that bad I should have had at least one "crappy" board. The odds would be too strong. There are many who have built more than myself with the same result. Of the (now 9), 3 have been for family members, two for close friends and the remaining for clients. I don't build "crap" for my family, friends and especially not for my clients that can make or break my rep.
But it was awfully nice of you to say that you had heard "positive comments" on the board.

I'm sure ECS would be proud.
OK, rant over. I would refer you to Peter's (very knowledgable) comment on PS's. Keep in mind that the PS is the true "heart" of your system. If you were going to get a heart transplant would you ask the Doc for "just the cheapest thing you have laying around?" I don't think so.