Recommendations for PGA/AGP4x/UDMA66/133FSB motherboard please.

[DO97]

Friend of mine is looking for a motherboard that supports fc-pga for his coppermine 800, agp 4x, 133 FSB, and UDMA 66. I've been looking around and can't seem to find one with everything we're looking for. Any help would be great. If possible we're looking for a board without AMR slots, or onboard audio or video.

dave

 

[IronWood]

I would consider the GigaByte Ga-6VX7-4X, even though it has AMR and onboard sound. Its faster and more stable than the ASUS version. The onboard sound can be disabled using a jumper.

 

[Ulysses]

You are right to choose the FC-PGA format P3, it is more versatile - you can always use it in a Slot 1 board if you have to with a 'slocket' adapter. Also, for non-overclocking applications, the 133 MHz versions are better, so be sure to get an 800EB, not an 800. The 800 runs on a 100 MHz FSB.

The ASUS CUV4X mobo is based on the VIA Apollo 133A chipset. It is simialor to the Giga-Bye mentioned above but is more readily available, has AGP 4X Pro, and lacks an ISA slot. It's considered a solid board.

My pick, if you can wait, would be a mobo based on the newest FC-PGA platform, the Intel 815E (Solano) chipset. This is a very forward looking chipset that "replaces" the problem plagued 820 chipset. Preliminary tests indicate it outperforms the 133A, but mobos based on it are just beginning to come out. I believe I've heard that the Abit SE6 has this chipset and is shipping now. Also the ASUS CUSL2 is in the wings. Watch AnandTech for a roundup of 815E boards at some point, and/or see:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=1265.

Some may recommend you get the P3 800, a CPU designed to use the 100 MHz FSB, and put it into an Intel 440BX chipset-based board and overclock the board to 133 MHz. This indeed gives excellent performance, but as one expert in this forum says "they don't all do the dance." He means your system for many reasons may not be able to reach 133 MHz or anything close to it and still be stable. So if you are not into overclocking I wouldn't go that route. If you do choose this then look at the MSI/Microstar BX Master. Like all BX boards it lacks AGP 4X, but it earned an AnandTech Editor's Choice Award.

Happy hunting.

P.S.
Don't worry if a given board has integrated audio, video, or AMR or CNR slots. Those things do not interfere with the 'normal' use of the board. The manufacturers put them there because it's cheap to do so (since the features are built into the chipset) but increases the versatility and appeal of the board to certain users, especially corporate ones who may buy in quantity. And CNR may have appeal to power users too.

 

[Konrad]

stop looking - this is what you need:
Tyan S1854 Trinity400