[wplug] Moterboard - Decision time

[vze57qmg at verizon.net]

I actually use a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI card AND the onboard sound card too.

The S.B. is used for driving my external MIDI devices and has a headset connected for game play so that the wife doesn't complain about all the explosions, gun shots, and yelling going on when I play Enemy Territory online.

The onboard sound card is used for CD audio, desktop sound effects, mp3's and the TV tuner card.

> 
> From: Brian <ch at shot1.org>
> Date: 2004/08/17 Tue PM 04:18:19 EDT
> To: General user list <wplug at wplug.org>
> Subject: Re: [wplug] Moterboard - Decision time
> 
> John Harrold wrote:
> 
> >Sometime in August vze57qmg at verizon.net assaulted the keyboard and produced:
> >
> >| Thanks for all the suggestions on the motherboard replacement.
> >| 
> >| Per your (collective) advice I will avoid replacing my blown PC Chips
> >| M.B. with another from the same manufacturer.
> >| 
> >| I found a board that seemed just right from Tyan - the S2495 based on the
> >| KT400 chipset.  Unfortunately this board is OUT OF STOCK everywhere I
> >| checked so it doesn't look good for this one.
> >| 
> >| CompUSA has an MSI (KT4VL) for around $100 and an ASUS (A7N8X) for around
> >| $160. Neither of these have the onboard temp/voltage sensors I was
> >| looking for but I may settle on the MSI.
> >| 
> >| I was going to check out the Gigabyte M.B.'s at A2Z in Monroeville on
> >| Tues. if you think it's worth my trouble.
> >| 
> >| I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the chipsets these boards
> >| use. Most use Via or NVidia.  I've heard bad things about both of these.
> >| My last board used SiS but it worked fine even though I've heard bad
> >| things about them too. These are the chipsets that handle on-board
> >| devices (lan, sound, etc) as well as the PCI bus, USB, sensors, etc.
> >| What's your opinion?
> >| 
> >| I plan on getting an M.B. this week so any last minute suggestions would
> >| be very helpful.
> >
> >I didn't chime in before, but I'd like to take the opportunity to plug
> >supermicro [1]. I've been using one of their dual cpu boards in my home
> >computer for about 6 years and it's done really well.
> >
> >I know it's nice to shop locally, but I typically just order everything
> >online. I prefer newegg.com -- they might not be the cheapest, but they
> >have really good customer service [2].
> >
> >Of course, with any advice you get on a list like this, caveat emptor.
> >
> >[1] http://www.supermicro.com/
> >[2] http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2121.html
> >
> >  
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
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> >  
> >
> Ive always used Abit and Asus, but just recently I rebuilt using an 
> Intel Mobo.   Doesnt work for the AMD solution, but if you ever need 
> stability in a box,  the Intel manufactured Motherboard rocks, and has a 
> ton of zone temp/voltage measurements available.
> 
> As for onboard nic/sound  I avoided them for a long time, but in the 
> past year or so I have been using them without trouble.   I believe my 
> relationship with the Packard Bell Modem/soundcard mess skewed my 
> opinion of integrated hardware, but that is slowly turning.  But for 
> pure power, you definitely want a PCI soundcard to add features and 
> alleviate the cpu from the extra burden.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> Brian
> 
> 
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