SB Live ok on i815 boards??

[Parrotheader]

I was going to build a system for my brother using one of my spare Via Apollo Pro 133 boards. I had everything built and things seemed to be running okay. But then the system would start sporadically locking up and then the sound started dropping out. He's a musician and uses the SoundBlaster Live Platinum because he needs all the inputs. I started poking around and realized it might have something to do with the old 686b bug (or whatever it's called.) I tried the latest 4-in-1's, tried the latest sound card drivers (W2K btw), and tried a BIOS flash. Still no go.

I've thought about picking him up maybe an i815 board instead, but I want to make sure it'll probably be compatible before we take the plunge. His money's tight so dumping the entire Intel platform isn't an option (we'd have to get him new mobo, new processor, and new memory . . at least I assume new memory since AMD really needs DDR.) Are there likely to be any problems with the SB Live in an i815 board? I was probably leaning towards the MSI MS-6337LE5 since it's MSI (usually good quality) and relatively cheap ($80.) Plus it'll support the newest Celeratin processors if he wants a little more gusto than his current 850 later on.

 

[Freejack2]

I've ran a sblive on a bx board, i815, and now kt266a. No problem with any of em.

 

[oldfart]

815E is fine for SBLive. Getting a board with Tually support is a good idea.

 

[SanDiegoPaul]

Iam using an Asus TUSL2-C board and an old SB-Live Value card. Not a single problem here.

 

[AA0]

If you have to get him a new mobo, processor and memory, why can't you dump the intel platform? It seems to me that you are rebuying all intel again. That just doesn't make sense.

 

[oldfart]

I thought he was keeping the CPU, Mem, sound card and just getting rid of the VIA problems? How is getting a new mobo, CPU, mem, and sound card a better idea?

 

[Parrotheader]

Like Oldfart said, we'd be keeping everything BUT the motherboard if we did this to save money. But as long as I was upgrading, I'd like to go ahead and get him a board that'll support the Tualatin-based Celeron chips so he can upgrade it a little later on. What're the new Celerons going to top out at anyway (and I'm talking not overclocked.) 1.5? 1.6?

 

[Parrotheader]

One other thing and then I'll finally let this rest . . . Would there be any reason to get the Asus TUSL2-C over the MSI 6377LE5??

My dad's actually going to buy the board for my brother now and he said if it costs just a few bucks more to get the Asus board (actually about $15-20 more) then go ahead and get it instead. The Asus board was recommended by guys at a local tech shop . . . who I assume were naturally looking to make money since they charge $150+ for it (even though I can and would get it online for about $95.)

I've never really had any problems with my MSI boards (I've owned 3 of them), but I know Asus comes highly recommended. Worth the extra bucks?

 

[subhuman]

In this case, yes, the ASUS i815 boards are much better than the MSI i815 boards - I've used both. Although you can get the ASUS for $105 shipped online...