Should I buy this brand-name system? (SiS650)

[SUOrangeman]

Need some help on this work-related situation:

I have some very sophisticated (read "expensive") software running on an antiquated system: Dual P2-400MHz BX, 512MB RAM, 4GB HD, two Appian PCI video cards for dual display, WinNT4. One CPU is disabled as the software requires Java and the version of Java doesn't like SMP (or so I've been told).

I'm thinking of moving to this PowerSpec system. Hey, the boss likes the price. The mobo is an MSI 6533.

Here are my concerns:

- Why is only 96MB out of 256MB available?
- If I add RAM, I'll have to take what's already in there (2 slots already used for 256MB)
- Remove modem to gain a PCI slot; and sound is onboard
- Given the software's use of two displays, I would think the onboard video can be disabled, or ignored without affecting anyting. That may give us some usable RAM back.
- Maybe get a Matrox DualHead AGP card and forget Appian and onboard video (will ask software developer)
- Has onboard LAN + CNR (weird to have both?)
- Since system will run NT4, nifty features (USB, etc.) can be ignored

I've never dealt with the SiS650 chipset. I've built two AMD systems off the SiS735 and am loving it. Heck, I'd prefer to build if it were entirely up to me. But, this new system is for work and there aren't even any PowerSpec models that use the Athlon. 🙁

Can anyone convince me to NOT buy this system (or three of them)?

Thanks in advance.

-SUO

 

[cholley]

i think 196 avalible if video ram is 64
but i see your point, it is good and cheap and will work right out of the box

 

[dexvx]

If it were for work and that work was mission critical, I would opt for an Intel chipset (i845DDR / i850RD) motherboard. SiS boards look good for the average user, but I would not recommend it to the IT department when they upgrade their computers simply because Intel has more experience in stability and solid board making, not to mention a Q&A thats ridiculously long and complex. That is part of the reason why they have had relatively little penetration in the business market, where uptime and stability is more important than minor tweaks and speed boosting.

Furthermore, if it is mission critical apps you are running, you need some kind of warranty that only a big vendor (Dell or Gateway) can provide for. I have never had any problems with either company, and they replace items INSTANTLY. If it even looks like its going to break down you can have the option of on site service for three years or so. The warranty is more or less of an insurance policy... and I for one like insurance 😛

As for multimonitor viewing, Matrox owns that market, you might want your tech staff to look at the G200 MMS series with dual/quad monitor on 1 PCI slot.

 

[SUOrangeman]

Valid points. If it were a perfect world, I'd get the 2.2GHz Dell i845DDR that my company currently puts on our desktops. However, individual projects must buy their own hardware and that Dell system is easily three times more expensive.

Given the hardware that I am moving from, this PowerSpec shouldn't be that bad.

Anyone with experience with this chipset?

-SUO

 

[AndyHui]

I'm looking to buy a small system for my mum with an ASUS P4S333-VM based on the SiS650 chipset.

Given that most people to fairly well with the SiS645 chipset based P4S333, and the only difference between the SiS645 and SiS650 being the integrated video, I would think that your PowerSpec should be.....passable.

I have no idea how the onboard video performs though.