What is the best Socket 7 Board?

[leighd8]

I want a 2mb cache and at least 2 USB ports, UDMA 66 a plus.. but I prefer non intergrated periferals.
thanks all-

 

[Dan]

FIC PA-2013. There's a version with 2MB Cache.

 

[Booty]

It is my experience that FIC's suck. I've never used that particular board, but I just wouldn't go with an FIC. Of the SS7 boards I've used, I had a Tyan S1598 that was a great board, especially considering the chipset it used. That board is an ATX, but the 1590's pretty similar and is AT...not sure which form factor you need. Asus has a couple decent ones too I think.

 

[Mattster]

I agree with Booty. The majority of FIC boards I have seen or worked on were garbage. The Tyan boards are pretty good from what I hear. I, personally, have an Epox EP-MVP3G5 w/2MB cache on it. Runs great for the most part, since a BIOS flash fixed the UDMA/66 issues that the board had when I first got it. I've not had any problems with any of the periphs I installed in it either. And if I did have a problem it was:

A> Between the chair and the keyboard

or

B> the OS gacking a hairball

Good board, although I am moving to a MSI K7T-Pro next week, with an 800Mhz Thunderbird.......

 

[Xzaver]

I kinda Like Soyo boards , Can Anyone back me up here ?

Regards,
-Xzaver-

 

[Cylon]

I used a Soyo 5EHM with a K6-2 for a few years, never had any problems except for expansion (only 3 pci slots).

Anand's Super 7 Motherboard Comparison would be a good place to check out as well.

 

[Moving Target]

I have a Epox MVP3G5 and i think it's the best SS7 board you can buy. I also had a FIC 503+ and think it's the worst SS7 board you can buy! FIC SUCKS!!!!

 

[Peter]

Need BAT form factor? Only one choice - DFI K6BV3+/66-2.

In ATX, there is a wider choice of decent boards with 2 MB L2 cache and UDMA66: Epox MVP3G5 (1/5/2 AGP/PCI/ISA slot configuration), DFI K6XV3+/66-2 (1/4/3) and Tyan 1598-2 (1/5/2, 4 USB, and optionally onboard sound).

All those boards use the VIA MVP3 north bridge and the VIA 596B south bridge, with the exception of the Tyan which uses the 686A south bridge. There is a marginal chance that the Tyan will be updated to use the 686B for UDMA100 IDE support, but don't hold your breath.

Regards, Peter

 

[Mattster]

The MVP3G5 also uses the 686a Southbridge as well, for UDMA/66 capabilities

 

[DaddyG]

My votes for the SOYO 5EHM, won't dazzle you with features but it goes longer than the Energizer Bunny. !!

 

[CraigRT]

From my experiences an Asus P5A would be a killer board for you, not UDMA 66 but who cares, i still don't even run UDMA on my comp and i don't notice jack for difference on my other system with UDMA 66
the P5A is mega-solid

 

[Peter]

Mattster, sorry, no, all the boards except the Tyan use the 596B south bridge ... but this one is UDMA66 capable as well (The 596A as seen on Epox MVP3C/G and DFI non-/66 models wasn't, and neither is the even older 586B that Tyan still uses on their BAT model.)

The 686A just has more features stuffed into it. A super-IO chip is integrated, eliminating the need for a separate one, and an AC97 sound/modem engine is added as well as a second USB controller for two more ports. And there's already a new revision 686B shipping that has the IDE ports upgraded to UDMA100 (while it seems unlikely that the 596 will get another revision for this).

Regards, Peter

 

[John]

The Epox MVP3G5 (and G2) are solid boards. They meet all of "your" requirements.