How would you build a motherboard

[Monkeydonutstick]

That's the question.
If you could design a motherboard, what features would you include? I would like to see what ideas people would come up with if money were no option. Just for kicks we could email the thread to some motherboard manufacturers

 

[Zepper]

Micro ATX, 3 PCI (would like 66MHz), 1AGP (at least 4x), Via KT600 (or 880 when it comes out) chipset (the only one of the majors that supports ECC), 6 USB 2.0 ports (four rear, two on front panel headers), 2 Firewire (one rear, one on front panel header), 3 DDR slots.
. 4 IDE channels, one pair implemented with Silicon Image logic (locate the cable sockets on a riser card to save space). Via integrated logic sound with all Via support chips (very good sound, believe it or not..). Integrated LAN (perhaps 2 channels - one 10/100, one gigabit), 1 par, 1 ser, 1 game, PS2 mouse/kbd.
. I would like decent integrated video too, but it must have PERFECT Linux support OOB. So that lets Via out! If a good enough integrated video was possible, then substitute another PCI slot for the VGA.
. Must have P4 connector (4-pin) to power the CPU. Plus the other normal odds and ends.
.bh.
Almost :beer: time!

 

[Jeff7]

One thing I'd like to see is more space around the 4 mounting holes near the socket - a few Epox boards I've used with my Alpha 8045's have components very close to the mounting holes, putting them in danger of getting crushed or damaged when the heatsink is mounted or removed. They put spaces around the holes for mounting the board to the case; space around these holes would be great too.

 

[Vette73]

I wish a board maker would come out wiht a SUPER top of the line board. One of the problems with a lot of nForce2 boards that have soundstorm is they use a cheap codec for the output. Or they don't cool the north bridge or southbride enough.

I don't mind paying another $20 bucks if I get something for it. But most boards are like copies of each other.

 

[Tetsuo]

The IC7 Max3 looks perfect to me. They even put the 4pin 12v header in a good spot!

 

[Ecliptic]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I wish a board maker would come out wiht a SUPER top of the line board. One of the problems with a lot of nForce2 boards that have soundstorm is they use a cheap codec for the output. Or they don't cool the north bridge or southbride enough.

I don't mind paying another $20 bucks if I get something for it. But most boards are like copies of each other.

i second that! I also want coaxial out on my nf7-s! Other soundstorm boards have it.

 

[KillaBong]

An nforce2 board with every option (s-ata, lan, soundstorm without stupid codec, adjustable vcore to 3v, vdimm to 4v, chipset voltage to 3.5v, no pci slots to save space/money, four slanted ram dimms for effect, and active north and south with heatsinks at least as big as an sk-6 that have as3 evenly spread over the whole core!). Everything would be placed right on the edge closest to where it connects to, and there would be good amounts of space around both chipset heatsinks and the socket. It would cost $99, lol.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: KillaBong
An nforce2 board with every option (s-ata, lan, soundstorm without stupid codec, adjustable vcore to 3v, vdimm to 4v, chipset voltage to 3.5v, no pci slots to save space/money, four slanted ram dimms for effect, and active north and south with heatsinks at least as big as an sk-6 that have as3 evenly spread over the whole core!). Everything would be placed right on the edge closest to where it connects to, and there would be good amounts of space around both chipset heatsinks and the socket. It would cost $99, lol.

Adjustable AGP voltage too let's not forget.
Some protection around the socket clips would be good too - no more gouging circuits out with screwdrivers when trying to get a stubborn heatsink in.
No PCI slots though? Ah heck, I could go with that. PCI-Express slots would be good.


Another motherboard idea: no more of that audio jack "sharing" - when you need to use the Line-in jack for rear speakers, and Mic in for the center/subwoofer channels. If you need to use an add-in bracket (and don't make the thing optional, make it standard) to get the extra connections, fine.

 

[ProviaFan]

• 2x Opterons (a quad opteron version would be cool, but might not fit on the EATX formfactor at 12x13 inches; WTX might be necessary).
• Normal IDE, floppy, SATA, USB, Firewire, and integrated audio controllers (I'd probably not use them though)
• 8x DDR memory slots (16x for the quad version)
• 2x AGP Pro50 slots
• 4x 64 bit PCI-X slots (1x 133MHz and 3x 100MHz)
• 1x 32 bit 33MHz PCI slot
• (optional) integrated SCSI controller, with a channel for legacy devices, and a usable BIOS (unlike some integrated SCSI setups that don't have any worthwhile options in the BIOS)
• Oh yeah, I can't forget the most important part: all of this for at or under US$1,000

 

[erikistired]

a solid p4 motherboard with NO ONBOARD AUDIO. lemme say that again. NO ONBOARD AUDIO. i don't want it or need it. and i will not use it. so don't charge me for it, and don't clutter up my board with it.

thanks.