I need to buy a new motherboard for my bro-in-laws system. I need the MOST STABLE board out there. I don't want any more phone calls. He's running an AMD XP1600, V5 5500, 256MB Crucial PC2100. I'd like something with good performance obviously, but proven stabililty is the main concern. I've been out of the loop for awhile now, so I don't know the best way to go. Onboard sound/Lan would be nice, but not neccessary. Was looking at the Epox 8KHA+, but I'm open to any better suggestions.
Thanks
Please tell me which mobo to buy
I'm happy with the Soyo K7V Dragon Plus!
Topshelf:
My Soyo K7V Dragon Plus! (KT266a) is real stable, and it has built-in sound / LAN. The Ultra version has that KT333 chipset, but if you want to keep using the same memory, you might just stick with the earlier (and cheaper) version. I got it up and running quickly, and it's very stable. I overclock it a bit, but not too much for the Athlon XP 2000+ that I'm running.
The only issue I think you might have is with that Voodoo 5 5500 videocard. Are you going to run Windows 98SE, or what? You should check on driver availability for that card before you decide on the operating system version.
Also, look into the heatsink you are going to use for the Athlon XP 1600+. One reason I bought the Soyo board was the orientation of the socket A on the mainboard. The tabs were oriented front and back, as opposed to top and bottom. That mattered with the massive Kanie Hedgehog Type-W heatsinnk that I'm running (I use it for two Athlon systems - quiet and keeps it running cool), as I wanted to stay clear of the capacitors and other components near the socket. So remember - the heatsink may be a factor in your mainboard selection.
Here's the link for Soyo: http://www.soyousa.com/
My Soyo K7V Dragon Plus! (KT266a) is real stable, and it has built-in sound / LAN. The Ultra version has that KT333 chipset, but if you want to keep using the same memory, you might just stick with the earlier (and cheaper) version. I got it up and running quickly, and it's very stable. I overclock it a bit, but not too much for the Athlon XP 2000+ that I'm running.
The only issue I think you might have is with that Voodoo 5 5500 videocard. Are you going to run Windows 98SE, or what? You should check on driver availability for that card before you decide on the operating system version.
Also, look into the heatsink you are going to use for the Athlon XP 1600+. One reason I bought the Soyo board was the orientation of the socket A on the mainboard. The tabs were oriented front and back, as opposed to top and bottom. That mattered with the massive Kanie Hedgehog Type-W heatsinnk that I'm running (I use it for two Athlon systems - quiet and keeps it running cool), as I wanted to stay clear of the capacitors and other components near the socket. So remember - the heatsink may be a factor in your mainboard selection.
Here's the link for Soyo: http://www.soyousa.com/
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I have a Soyo Dragon + also and really like it. It is feature rich with a smart card reader and 2 front usb ports. The onboard sound is great. On the down side Soyo seems to have had some quality control problems. My first Dragon was doa. If you check the forums at AMDMB you will see that the Dragon is either a love or hate type thing. As for me right now I am extremely happy with my Dragon.
Well guys, I guess I should have mentioned that the Dragon is a hate thing with me. Right now he is running the Dragon+ and it's been a nightmare. I've pretty much narrowed it down to an IRQ issue. That board shares IRQ's very oddly and you can't manually change them. I disabled the onbaord sound and that seems to have solved the problem. But now I need to install a new soundcard and his DV decoder card. I just know it's going to start locking up again. I've rebuilt the system twice now with XP and both times I've gotten the same problems. This is why stability is soo important. One more rebuild and I'm done. 
On a side note, for all you Dragon+ lovers out there I got a board for ya.:laugh
On a side note, for all you Dragon+ lovers out there I got a board for ya.:laughTopshelf just out of curiosity, between the PCI slots where it says Dragon Plus is the Plus on your board a sticker or is it silk screened like the word Dragon is. It seems that some of the original Dragon + boards were really plain Dragons and they just changed the chipset from the 266 to the 266a. The later silk-screened boards had some other components changed and seemed to have fewer problems. Some say this is all myth and not true some think it is. My first Dragon + was a stickered board and drove me nuts for days until I took it back. When I got the new silk-screened board it has been all good. The two boards were defiantly different in their layout and some of the components were different as well.
That Soyo Dragon has so much overbloated crap on it... Who's ever gonna use the smart reader onboard lan is more of a PITA that its worth. And its what 150 bucks... Oh can't forget about the wonderful promise lite Raid ti has on it... lol Sorry but i know more people with problems with that board but yet its suppose to be such an awesome board for this and that. Most i know can't overclock with the FSB at all without it crashing on them. Grab the 8KHA+ or the 8K3A/+ u can't go wrong and they are right around 100 bucks... Throw in a 10 dollar nic and he has his lan. If he's running default speeds the AK35GTR is a good board. I didn't have a lot of luck overclocking on it but its fast at default. You can get one of those for 96 shipped from newegg.
Sadly I think any mobo's have issues, just some have them more serious than others.
My shuttle ak-31 has done me well but the second one I have went bad and all I did was change the chipset heatsink. I was very careful, did it the same way on my main system. gerrr I am not real familar with those Epox mobo's but the last epox I had was a good one, the 8kta3. The 8kha suked though, but it was a refurb from newegg.
If I was getting a new mobo now I would get the XP333r or that gigabyte one.
My shuttle ak-31 has done me well but the second one I have went bad and all I did was change the chipset heatsink. I was very careful, did it the same way on my main system. gerrr
I am not real familar with those Epox mobo's but the last epox I had was a good one, the 8kta3. The 8kha suked though, but it was a refurb from newegg.If I was getting a new mobo now I would get the XP333r or that gigabyte one.
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