Which is the best: Epox vs MSI vs ASUS vs SOYO vs Gigabyte???

[x86]

I need help choosing a MB and I am new to Taiwanese Motherboards Manufacturers. This system is for a P4NW. I need to choose between Epox vs MSI vs ASUS vs SOYO vs Gigabyte. Which is the most stable? Which have you had problems with? Which has the best OC ability?

Thanks

 

[WhiteWizard]

1 ASUS
2 Epox
3 MSI - SOYO
4 Gigabyte

 

[Strawberrymom]

Gigabyte gives you teh est bang for all you get

8IRXP

1-total of 8 usb ports (4 2.0, 4 1.1)
2-Lan
3-sound
4-ata133 raid
5-smartcard capable
6-3 ddr dimms
7-6pci

i dont use the sound but it makes almost for a all in one solution

dislikes
1-crappy manuals
2-stupid tech support


Asus is just a name they cant live up to what people want now adays

Epox great support and quality boards, just not full featured

MSI - always being returned

 

[oldfoof]

Epox 8kha+

 

[LilScoooters]

Alot of Magazine test systems and demo systems have gigabyte in them.....ALOT of "KickAss" awards have Gigabyte in Them....!!!!

 

[Athlon4all]

<< Which has the best OC ability? >>

Asus P4B266 (845-D) is tied with Abit TH7II (850). Personally, I would rather take TH7II because it is more future proof than P4B266. TH7II will actually with PC1066 RDRAM be able to benefit from the 533fsb Northwood's. Plus, with current DDR and RDRAM pricing, they're virtually the same in cost, so the difference isn't huge but at the same price why not? And, if you can live with not as good overclocking as P4B266, then Asus P4T-E is just as future proof as TH7II, and is cheaper the only catch is that it doesn't quite overclock as well as P4B266 and TH7II but it can oc none the less. Strawberrymom, I think there is one board that rivals the 8IRXP. and that is the Soyo P4S Dragon Ultra. Not many have it because everyone's going P4B266, but I'd bet it's a solid board, and just as feature packed as 8IRXP.

EDIT:

<< Epox 8kha+ >>

He's talking P4 not Athlon.

 

[x86]

I want RAID integrated, as well as the 845-D chipset. Has anybody had experience with this combination from the MB manufacturers?

Strawberrymom: why do you say that MSI are always being returned? They are the #2 MB manufacturer after ASUS.

Thanks for your advice

 

[Jayczar]

Dragon........the Dragon baby...............can you feel the HEAT?

 

[Boonesmi]

they are all good, but if i was buying a new board it would definiatly be the soyo dragon + (cause of the raid, smartcard reader, onboard LAN, and high quality onboard sound)

 

[Strawberrymom]

everyone i know whos had a MSI within 3 months its always going back

and the 8IRXP has everything and more over the soyo

 

[Jayczar]

I don`t think so mom, your strawberries are
how do you say..........out of season.
DRAGON 4 LIFE

 

[x86]

<< everyone i know whos had a MSI within 3 months its always going back

and the 8IRXP has everything and more over the soyo >>



How crappy is the GB manual? Have you had any experience with it?

 

[x86]

<<

<< Which has the best OC ability? >>

Asus P4B266 (845-D) is tied with Abit TH7II (850). Personally, I would rather take TH7II because it is more future proof than P4B266. TH7II will actually with PC1066 RDRAM be able to benefit from the 533fsb Northwood's. Plus, with current DDR and RDRAM pricing, they're virtually the same in cost, so the difference isn't huge but at the same price why not? And, if you can live with not as good overclocking as P4B266, then Asus P4T-E is just as future proof as TH7II, and is cheaper the only catch is that it doesn't quite overclock as well as P4B266 and TH7II but it can oc none the less. Strawberrymom, I think there is one board that rivals the 8IRXP. and that is the Soyo P4S Dragon Ultra. Not many have it because everyone's going P4B266, but I'd bet it's a solid board, and just as feature packed as 8IRXP.

EDIT:

<< Epox 8kha+ >>

He's talking P4 not Athlon. >>



No offense but, how can this be comming out of an AMD guy?

 

[Strawberrymom]

<<

<< everyone i know whos had a MSI within 3 months its always going back

and the 8IRXP has everything and more over the soyo >>



How crappy is the GB manual? Have you had any experience with it? >>



yes i have the 8IRXP in my system now.

so vague if you want bios settings you have to download the 3-4mb version online and they dont provide you with a floppy so if you want to use the raid to set up your system your screwed you have to get a floppy made first

 

[x86]

<< How crappy is the GB manual? Have you had any experience with it? >>





<< yes i have the 8IRXP in my system now.

so vague if you want bios settings you have to download the 3-4mb version online and they dont provide you with a floppy so if you want to use the raid to set up your system your screwed you have to get a floppy made first >>



I am pretty new to RAID, but interested in doing my own RAID 1 configuration. How does one usually set up RAID? Why is a floppy required?

 

[Insane3D]

***Beware****

None of these manufacturers make boards that will stand having water dumped on them while they are plugged in!!!

 

[Athlon4all]

<< No offense but, how can this be comming out of an AMD guy? >>

No offense taken, but Who says I'm an AMD guy? Sure my name is Athlon4all, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm one of those crazy AMD zealots. Look at my posts, I will recommend what ever product is fastest/stablest for the price that someone gives. I'll admit that most of the time these days it's AMD, but I won't usually go out of my way when someone is set on a P4 to try to convince him to go AMD, and I do keep up with both sides. That answer your comment?

 

[AA0]

I'd avoid Epox, as they are extremely flammable.

 

[Aenygma]

<< and the 8IRXP has everything and more over the soyo >>




Not true. The Dragon+ has more features, and they all come with it, where as some of the 8IRXP's are optional. Plus it has a manual thats about 200 pages long, which goes over everything.

Not to mention it has recieved tons of awards, and recently won the big motherboard shootout at Toms.


As for MSI's I have had them, and like them very much. Super stable.

 

[Strawberrymom]

<<

<< and the 8IRXP has everything and more over the soyo >>




Not true. The Dragon+ has more features, and they all come with it, where as some of the 8IRXP's are optional. Plus it has a manual thats about 200 pages long, which goes over everything.

Not to mention it has recieved tons of awards, and recently won the big motherboard shootout at Toms.


As for MSI's I have had them, and like them very much. Super stable. >>



your way off

The best overall 845 motherboard with DDR SDRAM is the Gigabyte P4 Titan DDR which is the recipient of our Editors Choice Gold Award. The P4 Titan DDR offers everything the MSI 845 Ultra does plus adds onboard LAN and a more user friendly BIOS setup with more voltage adjustment options as well as Gigabyte's Dual BIOS feature. We would have liked to have seen a more robust IDE RAID implementation offering stripe sizes other than 64KB and one that performed a little better

the soyo got the bronze while the gigabyte got the gold it has more features then the Soyo hands down and better stability

 

[x86]

<< ***Beware****

None of these manufacturers make boards that will stand having water dumped on them while they are plugged in!!! >>



Screw you. It's over with. End it.

 

[x86]

<< I'd avoid Epox, as they are extremely flammable. >>



Are you being sarcastic? I can't tell.

 

[x86]

<<
your way off

The best overall 845 motherboard with DDR SDRAM is the Gigabyte P4 Titan DDR which is the recipient of our Editors Choice Gold Award. The P4 Titan DDR offers everything the MSI 845 Ultra does plus adds onboard LAN and a more user friendly BIOS setup with more voltage adjustment options as well as Gigabyte's Dual BIOS feature. We would have liked to have seen a more robust IDE RAID implementation offering stripe sizes other than 64KB and one that performed a little better

the soyo got the bronze while the gigabyte got the gold it has more features then the Soyo hands down and better stability >>



Is the "dual BIOS" a fad? It's only going to replace the primary BIOS when it fails, but when does that happen?!

Do you know of any good comparison reviews?

 

[JimmyJoe]

ASUS is typically the most stable, overclocks well, and has very few problems.

 

[Mr. Burns]

I think the gigabyte comes in a waterproof edition that is sealed in plastic--you might want to check that out. There may also be a retail edition complete with fire extinguisher for thermal emergencies...