*** MoBo advice??? *** Help!?

[2336]

Folks, I've just been given the go-ahead to locate hardware to upgrade at least one of our computers at work and I'd like to pick your brains. Here we go: it's got to be MicroATX, have on-board video and audio and I was thinking that something in a socket 370 capable of handling FC-PGA Coppermines as well as Celerons would make for better upgradeability down the road. Any recommendations on a good, RELIABLE and INEXPENSIVE motherboard would be greatly appreciated!!! I've taken a look at some of BioStar's offerings and they look pretty interesting. I think they were the model M6TWG and the M6SBA. Thanks ahead of time for your help!


RGR

 

[2336]

Bump for some advice!

 

[2336]

ttt

 

[2336]

^^^

 

[Peter]

Have a look at what PC-Chips have in store for you.

They have a series of SiS chipset based all-in-one mainboards. 758LMR might suit your needs, being mATX, FCPGA (66 to 133 MHz), with builtin VGA, sound, modem, and 10/100 LAN which also comes in handy when it's not the only one in the building ...

Regards, Peter

 

[2336]

Thanks for the input Peter! In your opinion how does the SiS chipset stack up against the Intel i810 which is on the BioStar board? I still have a few days before my S-6/Comm Chief submits the purchase order. I'm looking at getting the best bang for the buck AND extreme reliability, especially since this will end up as my OIC's computer!


RGR

 

[abracadabra1]

for you, either get a chip w/ the sis630 or the 810e (possibly 815e also if you can find a board w/ a decent price)

gl!

 

[2336]

abracadabra 1, thanks for the input! I must admit that I have no experience with the SiS chipsets so I'm a bit hesitant to deal with them. As far as the Intel i810 I've read/heard that they're pretty decent "basic" chipsets for budget boards. I myself, lean towards the VIA 133/133A and Intel 440BX chipsets but most of the MoBo's that use these chipsets are a bit more costly than what I can talk our Supply Chief into paying for. Basically here is what we're looking for:

1. MicroATX form factor.
2. Must be able to handle Celeron/Celeron II and eventually FC-PGA
Coppermines.
3. Must have decent on-board video and audio.
4. Must be EXTREMELY reliable!
5. Must be affordable - $75.00 - $100.00.

ANY AND ALL input/advice would be appreciated!!! Thanks again Peter and abracadabra 1.


RGR

 

[2336]

To the top and once again asking for input! Thanks folks!!!

 

[CraigRT]

Asus is releasing a Micro ATX version of the CUSL2
should be the micro board to buy!

 

[jpprod]

Just a thought, now that there's a very good Socket-A motherboard available with integrated audio/video and in MicroATX form factor, why not going that way instead of Celeron/S370? Aside from better price and performance, this platform would also have longer life ahead of it in terms of upgradeability.

 

[Jhhnn]

Stability is the key for business type computers, as you are obviously aware. Look at the Intel CA810E line of boards before you make any decisions. They pretty much define the business micro-atx standard, and are available with upgrades to integrated creative labs pci hardware sound and intel 10/100 lan connection. It won't play Quake3 worth a damn, and you can forget overclocking, but that's not the objective, is it?

"Genuine Intel" will usually win over the boss for the minimal extra expense, and a really stable system will keep everybody happy. It's a big part of why Intel is the world's largest motherboard manufacturer, like it or not.

 

[Mem]

I think you will find the MSI MS-6178E a good choice micro ATX ,onboard sound,video etc socket 370.Here is the
link

 

[TazAk47]

the pc chips board with onbard tnt2 and sound and 56k modem and lan card is very stable and cheap, ive used them in a few business systems and the customers love them, also it only takes 5 seconds to upgrade to it haha

 

[Peter]

TazAk47 is right, so you might want to shop for a PC-Chips 758LMR (SiS 630 chipset) or a 754LMR using ALi Aladdin TNT2. The SiS based board should however be the least expensive thanks to its all-in-one-chip architecture (and from the engineering standpoint, it's much harder to screw up a mainboard design when you don't have any high speed inter-chipset connections to route

Regards, Peter