MSI mobo (KM266) DDR Onboard LAN/AC97/Savage4 Graphics $89 @ PC Club

[optimistic]

PC CLUB $89
http://www.pcclub.com/promo/0406E.htm

Product Link (MS-6390)

-Socket A for AMD® Duron?/Athlon?/XP? processor.
-Support 1 GHz to 2000+ MHz and higher processor.
-FSB @200/266MHz
-PC200/266 DDR technology
-3 PCI /1 AGP (4x and high bandwidth Vlink host controller)
-Integrated Savage 4 2D/3D Graphic Controller
-Integrated Realtek 8101 LAN
-Integrated Direct Sound AC97 Audio

-USB 2.0 Integrated for VT8235 option (?)

!!Ultimate integrated solution for Socket A. Perfect for a lan box or that high speed mini-workstation!!

 

[Vette73]

If this is a true KM266 it should have the Savage 8 with 8X Agp. Does not sound like much but the wink link for onboard video cards is the ram, so speeding it up to 8X with DDR should help out a lot.

I have not seen any reviews of the Savage 8 on the KM266?

 

[Grizybaer]

There was a deal a while ago for a really small, i think micro ATX. It was the size of a big text book. Will this MG fit in that?

Oh, anyone have that link to the small case?

 

[Rally1]

how about as a little MP3 server / tv box?

i really want to make a little box to record tv using my old Radeon AIW.

 

[vladgur]

well, according to the manufacture'rs spec its m-Atx motherboard...very nice....

 

[Vette73]

I went to VIA's site and it has to have the Savage 8 as all the KM266's do.

 

[yodayoda]

is the KM266 chipsets based on the KT266 or the KT266a? based on the name, i would guess the former, but why release a chipset which is a dog in terms of performance. also, it would be nice to see someone other than MSI making this--nothing but poor performance and quality from microstar in my experience.

 

[mcdull]

I will not get any Savage Graphics if you're going to use Win XP. There is no XP OpenGL driver for Savage graphics chips, that means no Castle Wolfenstein, no Medal of Honor, no Jedi Outcast...

 

[Vette73]

The KM266 is based on the KT266a. There was never a KM266 without the a, this is the first. So it uses the same chip as the KT266a just with a NEW savage 8 video card.

As for drivers go to www.viatech.com and they should have some drivers for this new onboard card that might help.
Via did test this card with Quake 3 and it performs 53% better than the KM133 chip. At least thats whats on their site. Not great power but it is at least playable.