*****CONFIRMED**** Shuttle outsourcing all mainboard production to ECS

[Pabster]

As I quasi-reported a few weeks back (rumors, at the time) it has been *****CONFIRMED***** ... Shuttle is (and has been for quite some time) outsourcing all mainboard production to Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS). Shuttle is concentrating on barebone production (such as the wildly popular SV24).

Original article @ digitimes.com Here.

Another interesting development, from Shuttle ... They plan to introduce machines ala SV24 in other categories -- a Pentium IV based "mini PC" as well as an Athlon "mini PC", launching later this month and in February, respectively.

"This year, Shuttle will strengthen its barebone systems operation by launching two new, high-end products: Pentium 4-based mini PCs at the end of January and the Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Athlon-based line in early February. According to sources, both products will use six-layer PCBs. The P4 one will be equipped with the SiS650 chipset from Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS), and the Athlon line with the SiS740. The company estimated that it should be able to ship 20,000-25,000 units per month this year."

Nice to see both "mini PCs" employing SiS core logic. IMHO, VIA's pathetic PL133 is (one of the few) negatives to the popular SV24.

Now, to all those who have criticized ECS' quality control (and you know who you are ), what have you to say about this development? Not only is Shuttle outsourcing all mainboard production to ECS, but they have been for the past two years. Interesting, eh?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< Nice to see both "mini PCs" employing SiS core logic. IMHO, VIA's pathetic PL133 is (one of the few) negatives to the popular SV24. >>


i agree. that sv24 was pretty interesting, but the via part kept me from ever really getting "too" interested in it.

 

[NFS4]

I don't know what to say other than..."Shuttle" boards don't have nearly as many problems as the K7S5A

 

[Linux23]

<< I don't know what to say other than..."Shuttle" boards don't have nearly as many problems as the K7S5A >>




nah, mostly user error.


now if only Shuttle made a K7S5A motherboard, hmmm.

 

[NFS4]

<< now if only Shuttle made a K7S5A motherboard, hmmm. >>


You mean designed righ? I have the feeling that Shuttle designed the AK31 Rev 3.1 and just had ECS produce it. I just think that ECS skipped a couple of steps in the design phase with the K7S5A

 

[wyvrn]

What problems with K7S5A? The one I built works fine so far...

 

[ToBeMe]

LOL! As I said in "the other thread" I mentioned this quite some time ago in a thread concerning Shuttle boards. I had to service a system someone else had built with a Shuttle board and when I contacted shuttle they said that all their boards were now manufactured by Elitegroup............... The remark was basicly ignored in that thread though................

 

[John]

<< What problems with K7S5A? The one I built works fine so far... >>



Sure, some work and some don't. It's typical with ALL hardware. Do a search for K7S5A and skim thru the topics.

 

[Pabster]

John wrote:

"Sure, some work and some don't. It's typical with ALL hardware."

And that is the key. Some would like to believe the $55 K7S5A's are "inferior" because of some evil grudge against ECS, PCChips, and/or SiS.

You can do a search anywhere and find no shortage of DOA boards and assorted "issues" with ALL mainboards.

 

[NFS4]

<< John wrote:

"Sure, some work and some don't. It's typical with ALL hardware."

And that is the key. Some would like to believe the $55 K7S5A's are "inferior" because of some evil grudge against ECS, PCChips, and/or SiS.

You can do a search anywhere and find no shortage of DOA boards and assorted "issues" with ALL mainboards. >>


Pabster, it is no more different than your pure hatred for VIA. I happen to like SiS however. And I've had to many bad experiences with PCChips in the past with customer's machines.

 

[fendel]

In our house we have two relatively newly-built machines.

The one with the Shuttle AK31v2 motherboard has given me no end of trouble--IDE issues (it thinks my three Maxtors are SCSI drives...), phantom hardware "found" every time I boot, high CPU temps (and the WPCREDIT tweak kills my sound card)...

The one with the ECS K7S5A has worked perfectly since the moment I plugged it in. No 4in1's, no IDE problems, no obscure hex-editing required...

'Course, this seems to me a Via vs SiS issue rather than Shuttle vs ECS.

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

Interestingly enough, I have both the Shuttle AK31 rev3. and the ECS K7S5A which means I apparently have two ECS boards. Is one board better than the other? Yes, but they're both excellent performers for a combined $144 shipped.

The Shuttle board has a much better BIOS, manual, layout, and overclocking setup. The K7S5A does what it was designed to do. Run fast, stable and cool with the overclocking options of your average brick. (Yes, Pabster, I don't feel like buying another K7S5A in the form of a Golden socket.) I've had zero problems from both boards which run 24/7. I can't comment on the QC's of either ECS or Shuttle, but I can tell you with confidence that neither company is in the league of ASUS or ABIT.

 

[nortexoid]

neither in the league?...in what way? features or general quality?...also, i have ot wonder what some people actually consider a "feature" nowadays...anyway..

definitely interesting...ECS must have some serious production headroom...they're pumping out their own boards like mad, and shuttle's as well?

also, the sis integrated chipsets w/ integrated 315 grahpics controllers are 10^23 steps above that crummy via+savage core logic...good move by shuttle...should be interesting - looks like their switching focus from mainboards to another market segment...

i won't even bother commenting on the k7s5a feud crap..

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

...I can tell you with confidence that neither company is in the league of ASUS or ABIT.

neither in the league?...in what way? features or general quality?...

Both. When it comes to overclocking, ABIT and ASUS hold the crown. If you compare the boards on a component and PCB level to offerings from ECS and Shuttle, the difference is quite clear. The documentation and bundled software is much better as well, of course you don't buy boards like the AK31 and K7S5A for software bundles...

 

[majewski9]

I was about to RMA my K7S5A and then I flashed the BIOS to the most current and wow! I am using the same SDRAM in my K7S5A as my Iwill KK266 and wow much better performance from the K7S5A. The board is only 57$ and is the easily the best value, but has numerous problems.

 

[Bovinicus]

If you're not overclocking, and 2 DIMMs is enough, the K7S5A is the way to go. If you get a bum board, just RMA it and get one that works properly. Although the number of people with boards that come DOA is probably under 1%.

 

[foofoo]

<< Now, to all those who have criticized ECS' quality control (and you know who you are ), what have you to say about this development? Not only is Shuttle outsourcing all mainboard production to ECS, but they have been for the past two years. Interesting, eh? >>



this would indicate that it is the motherboard design and/or layout of the ecs k7s5a that is most likely behind the problems that many people including myself have had with those motherboards. most large pc manufacture/loading houses are quite good at quality control. the ones that arent go out of business fast. just from my own experience, there are two loading houses in the bay area that will never get my business again.

 

[Pabster]

LOL, like I said, some people will never get it. We don't judge a "good" mainboard by its overclocking capability (or lack thereof). K7S5A does overclock (And, no, ST4RCUTTER, you do not need a golden socket to do it ) but that isn't the issue. The issue is that you can purchase a board for $55 that offers performance superior to that of offerings in the $150 price range. Without the headaches of a certain chipmaker

Whether you choose to "like" ECS or not, they are a top-tier board manufacturer. They are currently shipping more mainboards than either ASUS or ABIT; and if the return rates were nearly as high as certain people here would like you to believe, they wouldn't be in business.

Some will continue to drop $150+ for boards with lackadaisical (at best) core logic; but ECS/SiS have reinvented the wheel, and the train isn't slowing down.

 

[NFS4]

<< Without the headaches of a certain chipmaker >>


ECS K7S5A motherboards don't create lots of headaches?? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure


<< but ECS/SiS have reinvented the wheel, and the train isn't slowing down. >>


SiS reinvented the wheel, but ECS created a flat spot on it.

 

[Bovinicus]

<< ECS K7S5A motherboards don't create lots of headaches?? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure >>

It seems to me that a good number of the headaches are due to inexperienced builders not doing something properly. Another portion is DOA motherboards. This is a headache, but one fairly easily remedied. Also, ECS is not the only company to produce DOA motherboards. All companies do it...

 

[NFS4]

<< It seems to me that a good number of the headaches are due to inexperienced builders not doing something properly. Another portion is DOA motherboards. This is a headache, but one fairly easily remedied. Also, ECS is not the only company to produce DOA motherboards. All companies do it... >>


That's not the point. I only said that b/c Pabster makes it out that all VIA chipsets suck and that ECS/SiS is perfect.

 

[Adul]

nothing is perfect. I am very careful with my product selections when I build customer systems. And I for one will not ever use an ECS MB. I seen other use it and seen the headaches it causes. I won't work on them either. All of the systems I have built (except one) have been trouble free and functioning just fine for my users. Why do people use ecs other then price? I don't trust them to last long. I just consider them a throw away Mb when they die.

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

SiS in the hands of a quality board maker = one kick ass solution. ECS is not a quality board maker IMO, no matter how many boards they sell...

 

[bozo1]

Interesting that ECS is making Shuttle boards now. Doesn't surprise me tho - Shuttle has a huge product line and I assume that most if not all of it is outsourced.

I tried ECS when building a cheap system for a friend. 2 DOA boards. Got the Shuttle AK31 and it worked fine. Both of the local mom&pop shops here sell a bunch of ECS boards (pcChips mostly) and they say they have a higher DOA rate than the other brands they sell but the rate isn't high enuf for them to stop carrying them. True or not, I don't know but they will not sell any ECS board without testing it first when someone buys it. All other brands they just hand to the customer.

 

[NFS4]

<< SiS in the hands of a quality board maker = one kick ass solution. >>


Which is why I'm waiting for Asus' SiS745 board ECS again? Hell no!