Yet another request for a mobo opinion ...

[Good Companion]

Ok, I know that about 5 times a day someone posts a "what's the best motherboard/cpu combo" type question. Hopefully, mine will be a little different.

I've currently got a PC-Chips mobo with an AMD K6-2 500 in it. My case stinks, but I have a decent generic 250w PS. I've never been thrilled with the performance, so I'm considering an upgrade.

I've got a NIC, modem, 256 MB SDRAM, 16MB vid card to start the system off. What I'd like to do is use the components I've got to get started, but be able to upgrade incrementally.

I'd like a board with an AGP slot. Onboard sound and possibly LAN is okay, but no onboard video. I'd like it to be able to accomodate SDRAM or DDR, as I'd like to go there eventually.

Last but not least, my most important criterion is STABILITY. I want this system to be able to accept the flakiest MS program while I kick it down the street without so much as a whimper! (Okay, that's a slight exaggeration.)

So, what do you experts think?

Thanks,

Dana

[MDS]

I like the K7S5A and have many stable running anything from Duron's,Tbirds,and an XP in them and all have been very stable. You would have the AGP and sdram or ddr has onboard nic and sound. Some user claim to have problems with this board but all of mine run 24/7 running win2kpro and have had to reboot in a few months and even then it wasn't due to a crash or anything. just my 8c

edit you would need a better power supply to run the socket A's

[Martoch]

Dang...I was going to give you my opinion but you're asking what the experts think.

[Good Companion]

Well, I know a lot of folks are thrilled with that board, but I'm a bit turned off by this PC-Chips experience. If there are other options, perhaps by MSI, I'd probably try that route first ...

Dana

[Good Companion]

Martoch: Anyone with a Klingon username is an expert in my book!

[MDS]

I have also used the MSI K7T266 PRO or Epox 8K7A both of which were raid but you would have to goto ddr but were also stable. I wish I still had the 8K7A but I sold it.

[Martoch]

Originally posted by Good Companion
Martoch: Anyone with a Klingon username is an expert in my book!

WHAT??? I'm using a Klingon name???!!!

I thought I made this name up about 6 years ago...don't tell me...oh pleeeeaaase don't tell me it's not original!!!

Please provide a link/proof or something...oh man, this is a tragedy!!!

I'll help with the mobo shortly, have to wait until my g/f is asleep to really get into the computer...I'm getting "the look" as we speak.

[Good Companion]

Originally posted by Martoch


Please provide a link/proof or something...oh man, this is a tragedy!!!

http://www.startrek.com/library/individ.asp?ID=71403

...I'm getting "the look" as we speak.

Brother, I KNOW that look!

Dana

[Peter M]

The usual suspect in solid DDR-or-SDR boards is ECS K7S5A (aka PC-Chips M830 if you please ). You get onboard sound, 4-channel on the latest revision, fine onboard LAN for an extra $2. Use any Duron or Athlon.

With that 250 watt PSU, you want to aim veeeery low on the CPU shelf ...

regards, Peter

[bill1971]

Like MDS, I like the Epox 8K7A. Epox is known for stability and
features,along with slight overclocking ability,(w/ a PS greater
than 250 watts), and overall value.
This may sound silly, but I really like the keyboard power on feature,which I don't have on this PC, or my Asus A7M266.
This feature came in handy for a system I built for a friend's
handicappd brother.

- Bill