ISO Ultimate MicroATX mobo w/DDR, LAN, decent sound

[mudboy]

<SPAN class=ip-normal-font>OK, I'm looking for the best MicroATX motherboard that I can find (to go inside my CoolerMaster ATC600). I would prefer to stay with Socket A but would consider Socket478, DDR is a must since this will be my primary box and I will use it for everything from development to gaming. Features I must have are (2) DDR slots, 3PCI/1AGP, would like to find a board with built in LAN and decent built in 2.1 hardware sound (Cmedia is fine, this will allow me to free up a couple of PCI slots for a Promise ATA100 card and a TV card, and still have a free slot just in case). I would prefer to NOT have built in video. So far, the only contenders that I have found for socket A are the Abit NV7M, Gigabyte GA-7VKML and Aopen MK7A. The Asus A7N266-VM looks like it might be a contender but I have read that the memory performance of the Nforce 220 is much lower than the 420 or KT266a. Shuttle has a board that looks good, the MK30, but I can't find it ANYWHERE. Are there any other options using KT266A or Nforce 415/420? There do seem to be some more Socket 478 options, namely the Asus P4S333-M, but that would mean that I would have to buy a P4 (probably go with 1.6a), and I already have an Athlon XP 1800+.

Anyone have any experience with some GREAT MicroATX motherboards that can lead me toward one that suits my needs?

Thanks

Pete</SPAN>

 

[AndyHui]

I've got the ASUS P4S333-VM and I am extremely happy with it.

Onboard video, LAN, sound...not a single card in the system.

 

[DieHardware]

Andy how is the onboard video(tried any games with it?) and sound(any static, or choppy when gaming, multitasking?)? Any overclocking options in the bios?

 

[AndyHui]

The video is an SiS 315/305 hybrid....basically it's a 315 without the TnL. I haven't bothered to play any games on it, but there is an AGP slot just in case I ever do need something more powerful.

Sound is....decent, with the Avance Logic AC97. Again, I haven't tried anything rigorous...this machine is a surfing/work machine for mum.

Full overclocking options....the same as for the P4S333. This machine is running a 1.6A at 2.1, stock voltage.

 

[birddog]

What is the differences between the P4S333, P4S333-M, and the P4S333-VM?

 

[Odeen]

I imagine the former is a full-size ATX board, the middle is a microATX, and the latter a microATX with video...

 

[birddog]

makes senses. It looks like the P4S333-M would probably be the board for both of our needs. I have someone wanting me to build a gaming system, but he wants in mATX size. I wish someone made a Kt266a or kt333 board in mATX.

 

[Morph]

In Anand's nforce review, he found that with an external video card, the 220D and 420D are very close in performance. So if you're planning on adding a video card anyways, a motherboard like the Asus A7N266-VM (with 220D) would be a good choice.

 

[Jhhnn]

Check out the Epox ep-8khm, via kt266a, or the ep-8kmm, via km266. Same basic chipset but with integrated video and lan. Newegg has the 8kmm....

I have a 8khm, nice board, seems to be very stable although it really isn't in full use yet- have to build a desk for it first, in between renovating the house and working.....

 

[mudboy]

Word of warning, the Asus A7N266-VM apparently only has a single 3 pin fan connector onboard (a big minus for me, I don't like using adapters and I use smaller, quieter fans). The Abit NV7M has 4 connectors and uses the 420d chipset but is more money.

Pete

 

[Zap]

I see mudboy has found the other thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=787800

Here's a few cut/pastes from one of my posts on the other thread that address socket A with no integrated video:

Chaintech 7SID
http://www.chaintechusa.com/Products/socketa/7sid.htm
-SiS 735 chipset, socket A
-2 DDR, 1 AGP, 3 PCI, 1 CNR
-AC'97 sound

EPoX EP-8KHM
http://www.epox.com/html/english/products/motherboard/ep-8khm.htm
-VIA KT266A chipset, socket A
-2 DDR, 1 AGP, 3 PCI
-AC'97 sound

Asus A7V266-M
http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7v266-m/overview.htm
-VIA KT266A chipset, socket A
-3 DDR, 1 AGP, 2 PCI
-AC'97 sound (optional?), Realtek LAN (optional?)

There are probably many others.

but I can't find it ANYWHERE

Hmmm, I've noticed that about semi-decent micro ATX motherboards. Seems to be a neglected market niche.

BTW mudboy, are the HTML tags in your posts intentional?

 

[mudboy]

Originally posted by: Zap
<snip>
BTW mudboy, are the HTML tags in your posts intentional?

What HTML tags? Maybe you're seeing what I have seen a couple of times over the past few days, I remember seeing some <div> tags that looked really out of place on a number of posts (not all mine). Perhaps a bug in the forum software?

Pete