Best non-VIA Socket A mobo?

[auzzie1]

Hey,

Anyone can recommend some really nice (performance, specs) Socket A mobo? Not a VIA chipset. Some Sis, Ali or AMD one?

Actually, the reason for this is because I've been said that there are some issues between the VIA mobos (KT266A) and the GeForces. I'm having constant crashes and lockups now and again, and I've tried almost everything known to IT humanity, but nothing helped. So that's the last thing I've got to try.

Any suggestions would be nice, although I'm not aware of anything else to try.

So, back to subj, any mobo to recommend?


Thanx

[Bink]

The issues between the GeForce cards and VIA chipsets should have been ironed out by now. Back in the days of the MVP3 chipsets it was common, but they've got their act together now and generally things should be fine.


Anyways, you could try going through the usual process of updating your BIOS, video drivers (http://www.nvidia.com), DirectX (http://www.microsoft.com/directx) and downloading and installing the latest VIA 4-in-1 Drivers (http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=2#4in1).

Now, before you go purchasing a new motherboard, it would certainly be worth while eliminating the possibility of other devices causing the problems. First check your power supply is at least 300W. If it's not, then consider a new one, perferably an AMD approved (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869_1039^1053,00.html) one. Also, check your RAM. Swap it with a friends for a while and see if the problems cease. Try disconnecting other components as well, or swapping them with ones you know work.

But really when push comes to shove, you can only expect to have the occasional crash. I don't think I've ever seen a system running a Microsoft OS that hasn't at least, had it's occasional problem.

[Bink]

Heheh, just thought of a few more things :o

Be sure you have the CPU sufficiently cooled. If you've ever removed the heatsink and put it on again, be sure you've applied a thermal compound of sorts before putting it on again. Arctic Silver (http://www.arcticsilver.com) is about the best thermal compound you can get and it's also available at EYO (http://www.eyo.com.au) ;)


If you end up getting a new motherboard, one option would be getting a budget Gigabyte (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/products/socketa.htm#amd) motherboard. They're simple, but reliable because of it. Not so good if you plan on tweaking / overcocking and so on. They have a range of boards based on the AMD chipsets.

At the other end of the scale, you have the high performance, very tweakable boards from Abit (http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/products.jsp). They have the Abit KG7 (http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/pt_main_back.jsp?pPRODUCT_TYPE=MotherBoard&pMODEL_NAME=KG7), based on the AMD761 chipset, and the Abit NV7-133R (http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/pt_main_back.jsp?pPRODUCT_TYPE=MotherBoard&pMODEL_NAME=NV7-133R) based on the nVIDIA nForce chipset.

[brad]

And then there are VIA based systems like the following with yet another often maligned VIA chipset (KT266A), that is loaded to the gills, to the point that the so-called experts say it can't work properly. It has never once shown the slightest trace of any of the aledged VIA problems. Not once.....

MSI K7T266 Pro2, 3.2 BIOS, Athlon-XP 1900+
2 x 512 Mb registered CL2 PC2100 (generics)
Matrox G450 AGP - 32 Meg DDR
Promise Ultra100 IDE/ATA
SB Live! Value
3Com 3C905CX NIC
HP/Agilent A/D-D/A DAS
HP/Agilent IEEE-488 interface
WD1200JB and WD400BB hard drives
Sony CDU4811 CD-ROM
Plextor 241040A CD-RW
Pioneer 116T DVD
InWin Q500 case
FSP/Sparklepower FSP400-60GN
Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse
Lexmark Z22 printer
HP 5400CSE scanner
HP618 digital camera
Linksys BEFCMU10 cable modem
Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL router
USR 5686-03 56k/v.90 modem (backup)
Windoze 98-SE with 273017 update