(abit/asus) opinions needed.

[Mr B]

Hi,

I'm getting a second cC0 Celeron 600, and I'm thinking about putting together a second system. (I was originally gonna keep the 2nd chip as a spare)

I'm running an A-Trend ATA-V931-CX0 mb now, and the memory benchmarks with the Via Apollo Pro 133 chipset are horrible!! I've got 320 MB SDRAM onboard (2 x 128MB PC 133, and one 64 PC 100) The numbers I'm getting in SiSoft Sandra are 125/129 running the Mem Bench module. CL 3 set in bios.

BTW.... Celeron II 600 @ 945. 1.9v

I'm interested in getting either an abit or asus mb, and would like some recommendations.

Here's what I need this mb to have:

ATX factor

1 or 2 ISA slots, min. 1, for my SCSI card, 2 if no onboard sound.

3 or more PCI slots

Must run Celemine over 100 FSB

ATA 66 for HDD

SLOT ONE !!!!

2x AGP (prefer 4x)

temp monitoring capability

Is there a mb out there that has ALL of these features? I'll be avidly looking in the summer, I'll have some $$ saved up for this by then.

Thanks in advance!

Mr B

 

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

Nothing I can think of with an isa slot...except an Abit be6 ver 1....I have no experience with Asus..but the SH6 has all that except for no isa...and it's a alot one...that must be an old scsi card eh?..can u get a pci ver, or would that break the bank? ( I know how expencive scsi is)..the SH6 also has onboard agp video, and ac97 audio codec, although I use neither...I might be predjudised, but I like what works for me, and am not afraid of "plugging" a good product

 

[DaveB]

I'd stay away from both of them. They're high priced and seem to always release beta products these days that need numerous BIOS upgrades to work correctly. IMO you should look at Soyo boards. They're cheap, very stable, and very overclockable. For less than $100 you can pick up a Soyo SY-6BA+100 or +IV. Both are BX boards so there is no AGP 4x, but there really isn't any discernable performance advantage over AGP 2x anyway. Both boards are slot 1 with 1 AGP, 5 PCI, 2 ISA, and 4 DIMM slots. The +IV comes with ATA66 while the +100 comes with ATA100 and IDE RAID. Each has a total of 8 IDE connections. Both have core voltage settings, lots of FSB selections, voltage and temperature monitoring, etc.

I recommend you avoid VIA chipset boards, and there's only one slot 1 i815e board available and it's way overpriced. The Abit SH6 for about $135 but it doesn’t have the ISA slot you want anyway.

 

[Mr B]

Thanks for the tip on the Soyo mb's. Yeah, I've got that Via chipset (Apollo Pro 133) and the mem bandwidth sucks.

I'd even consider an AT board, but for now the ISA SCSI card is a must. Got the CDRW plugged into that. I see PCI SCSI cards on e-BAY all day long, but I'd rather swing the $$ towards a better motherboard at this time. My mb now (the VIA one) has onboard sound, and I still have my old ISA sound card from my Dell P75 to play with if the mb I get doesn't have onboard sound.

Yeah, I know I need to upgrade both of these cards....all in good time.

I like the FSB BIOS adjustability of the abit boards, but I suppose SoftFSB is always an option. Lemme "run" over to e-BAY and search about for any Soyo listings..............=)

Thanks!!

Mr B

 

[Mr B]

Just been to e-BAY, and Soyo's site. The 6BA+IV looks to be just what I need.

This board would be running a Celeron II in a slocket at speeds approaching 1 GHz. Does anybody know of any problems I might encounter trying this?

The more I learn about o/cing, the less I like this VIA mb..........sigh.........live and learn.

Mr B

 

[DaveB]

No problem at all. I plopped a Celeron II 700 in my +IV just to test it out for a friend. It booted right up and would run at 872 MHz (83 MHz FSB) at the default setting on my Iwill Slotket II. It wouldn't go with the FSB at 90 MHz (945 MHz) but I didn't have any time to play with it though. I think it would have had a chance if the core was up around 1.9V. The 600's seem to give you the best chance at 1 GHz anyway.

Soyo has all the settings in the BIOS also and the +IV works great with SoftFSB. It's also great with a slotket since the core voltage % increase settings in the BIOS work on whatever setting you make on the slotket. I've had mine since April and it's never failed me.

 

[Mr B]

Almost got a 6BA+IV..........the bid at e-BAY went a bit higher than I could swing TODAY..........

I'll keep watchin, though, next time I'll have a bit more $$ to play with, and I'll put this memory killer of a mb in a box, on a shelf, in my closet.

Thanks for the tip, Dave. Just a matter of time til I get one.

Mr B

 

[Mr B]

Mr B (Feb 03, 2001 05:00 p.m.):
Almost got a 6BA+IV..........the bid at e-BAY went a bit higher than I could swing TODAY..........

I'll keep watchin, though, next time I'll have a bit more $$ to play with, and I'll put this memory killer of a mb in a box, on a shelf, in my closet.

Thanks for the tip, Dave. Just a matter of time til I get one.

Mr B

Boy am I a DOPE.........

The wife worked all day yesterday, so I spent the entire day bouncing between this forum, e-BAY, and Talladega International Speedway, circa 1970 (Sierra's NASCAR LEDGENDS)

I put in a bid on that mb above, but it went JUST a bit high for me........

I shoulda checked my snail mailbox. I got my $30 rebate in for the scanner I bought last November yesterday!!!

pisshitbitchmoanwhinesnivelgrumbleaaauuuggghhhh!!!

Sigh................

Mr B