SiS 730S - Any problems with it?

[joohang]

Are there any problems with motherboards based on the SiS 730S chipset?

I'm thinking about replacing my dead MSI K7T Pro2-A with an ECS K7SEM.

 

[Athlon4all]

I haven't heard many issues with it. Alot of people have recommended K7SEM, and I trust ECS to make quality, high performing products. But just a suggestion, why not get ECS K7S5A (SiS735) for $65 at Newegg, it does have 2 SDR slots so you could still just throw your SDR from the K7T Pro in there.

 

[joohang]

Oops.. forgot that the new board had SDRAM slots also.

Thank you for your reply. I might as well go DDR though. They are so cheap.

 

[Athlon4all]

Yeah, I'd go DDR anyway, but still ECS K7S5A is still the cheapest high performing DDR/SDR board avialable right now.

 

[joohang]

Do you know any issues with drivers or compatibility?

You can tell that I'm fed up with 4-in-1 BS and SB Live! issues.

The only VIA board I love is the Gigabyte 7ZX. This board just friggin' WORKS. That's all I want it to do. WORK. I don't care if it performs 1% faster than the other guy. I want it to boot up nicely and run stable. And not crap out with a bunch of bugs and now DIE OFF like my MSI board (w/ the mother of all evil 686B southbridge).

 

[Athlon4all]

I haven't heard much really in terms of Compatibilty issues truthfully. I myself do not have a K7S5A (I've got an ECS K7VMA (KM133)), but you might ask some of the people who have bought this board, or the PCChips 735 board. I will say that I hear all these VIA horror stories, and I was worried, and I was trying to decide between K7SEM or K7VMA, and I took VMA because of the Savage4 video (Was looking for the best int. video for gaming), and I must say I've been impressed with my mobo/chipset and don't regret getting it instead of K7SEM. This was my first D-I-Y, and I haven't had a single VIA issue, with this chipset, so I haven't heard any major issues with 735, but if you're still parinoia, then ask those that do have it. Good luck.