Good SDram socket A mATX board?

[smp]

Something with onboard video and (good) onboard sound would be nice, who makes these and where can I get em in Canada?
SocketA
SDram
VIAKT133a or something .. SIS maybe?

 

[AnAndAustin]

You could get an old chipset but this would screw up the ability to take AthlonXP which are very cheap and very fast, going SDR instead of DDR will only hit perf by about 10% which isn't too bad esp in the short term. What you really should look for are the SktA mobos which sport both SDR and DDR slots, often using the SiS735/745 or KT266 (non A) chipsets of which the SiS is superior. These support AthlonXP at least to XP2000+ and allow SDR and DDR to be used (but not simultaneously). If you look on www.pricewatch.com it lists a few and there are a few here in the UK too, so Canada should be no diff. Check pricewatch links / info to ascertain manu and model numbers to make your search in Canada easier. mATX will certainly make the mobo harder to find, perhaps nForce mATX with all its o/b goodies may be an option BUT of course they are DDR only. nForce2 even better and should be avail soon.

 

[optimistic]

ECS K7SEM (SIS730) - Probably going for $40 now
Chaintech 7SID (SiS735) - Can use either DDR or DSR $60?

I recommend SIS over VIA's KM133. Sound and video seems better on the SIS.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah in this case SiS is clearly the better choice although a KT266 or even K_133 isn't hugely poor. If you go SiS you get a faster, much more stable and well built mobo, SiS lack tweaking options but then any VIA mobo prior to KT266A isn't exactly great at tweaking either, plus they are slower and far quirkier too.

 

[clumsum]

Originally posted by: optimistic
ECS K7SEM (SIS730) - Probably going for $40 now
Chaintech 7SID (SiS735) - Can use either DDR or DSR $60?

I recommend SIS over VIA's KM133. Sound and video seems better on the SIS.

My CT-7SID's memory requirements are as follows:
"Two 184 pin DDR DIMM" ........ ?

 

[chiron]

MSI MS-6378 (or is it 6368?)

*nods*

good boards; I sell them every time to my OEM customers who need/want an all-in-one board, AthlonXP capable, with PC133 SDRAM.