help!!! im going mad picking a new mobo....

[kc2gub]

ok guys, im getting a 1.8a p4, and im going to overclock it to 2.4. Maybe more later on. I need a good, stable, fast board that overclocks well, also i would like to have the agp/pci lock feature so i don't have to worry about any of that. With this feature, all i have to change is the fsb and voltage, nothing else? I was going to get the epox 4g4a, but i hear negative things about this, but i like the lock feature, any suggestions, also the board can't go over 120 price wise, 100 would be awesome, i saw the epox 4dsa, is this good for what i want to do and include the lock feature? it was only 84 too.

thanks guys.

 

[Adul]

insane3d and nfs4 are happy with thier epoc MB. what issues are you talking about.

 

[whitelight]

the epox 4g4 sells for under $100. there are a lot of positive comments about the board. check out this thread in the motherboard forum.

 

[kc2gub]

i was reading some older posts on this board, about it not overclocking well and not being stable, hows the epox 4dsa, i like it because its cheaper, its only 84, and it seems to have the lock feature and be a great overclocker as well. one guy hit 2.4 with this board and the 1.6a.

 

[Athlon4all]

4G4A

 

[kc2gub]

now everyone is recommending the 4g4a, whats all these older posts i was reading about it not having 12volt plug or something, and stability problems, i really need cheaper though, isn't the epox 4sda pretty much the same thing, like i said a guy hit 2.4 easy with the 1.6a and this board, and everything stayed in spec, so i guess it has the lock feature as well. so with the 1.8a ill be 2.5+ also, all i can afford is 256 pc2100, will this board automatically overclock to ddr 333 or is this not an issue?

 

[Jeff H]

kc2gub, a couple times you've mentioned the lock feature. I'll assume you mean the PCI locking capability, whereby you can lock the PCI bus to 33MHz, regardless of the FSB. That feature is dependant on the chipset, and the SiS 645 series does not incorporate that feature, whereas the Intel 845 series does. So, if you have to have that feature you'll want an 845E or G series chipset.

I wouldn't let that feature be the sole determinant of what board you get. The EPoX 4G4A+ is panning out to be a good board, re 845G chipset. The Asus P4S533 is probably the best SiS645DX board out right now. I'm a little disappointed/surprised that EPoX hasn't come out w/ a 645DX board yet. FWIW I'm running the EPoX 4SDA+ board, and it's as solid as any board I've had.

 

[oldfart]

PCI/AGP lock is an 845D/E/G feature. Wont find it on an SiS based board. The Epox 4G4A will allow 1:1, 4:5, 3:4 mem ratios. If you run 133 FSB, that is DDR266, DDR333, DDR355. PC2100 is DDR266. I'd recommend upgrading to PC2700 if you could swing it.

 

[kc2gub]

i can swing only a 128 pc2700 or 256 pc2100? would pc2100 work though for my overclock? so everyone seems to be recommending the epox 4g4a, this board is fast and stable and a good overclocker?

thanks.

 

[Jeff H]

kc2gub, I can tell you my Crucial PC22100 (2 256MB sticks) hasn't as much as hiccuped at 2700 on my EPoX 4SDA+ board.

 

[Chad]

Just got the 4g4a myself... runs fantastic. My 1.6 scooted right up to 2.4 no sweat. Awesome stable board and has great overclocking features. I'm very happy.