Best Socket 478 Boards

[lbcsrw]

I currently have an ABIT TH7II-R that's worked great since I got it in 2002. I need a very stable and fast board because I work with video and multi-track digital audio. I have what I consider to be very good video (gforce 4 Ti440) and audio cards, a respectable P4 2 ghz cpu, and 1 ghz of ram. Additinally, I have 2 UDMA-100 60 Gb Hard drives.

Recently, I purchased a Serial ATA HD and realized that my board does not support SATA. Also, I'm still running on USB 1.0. After pricing add-on cards that would provide this kind of functionality, I've been thinking that a new mb might be a better way to go.

There are MANY Socket 478 boards available from all the top manufacturors but, unfortunately, I can't seem to find any current reviews for any of them. Can anyone provide any insight into this for me? Thanks in advance!

srw

 

[Flinx]

<A HREF="http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=5" target="_new"> IC7 </A>
<A HREF="http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=79" target="_new"> IS7 </A>


I think the IS7 or IC7 has been recommended alot around here.

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=570790#570790" target="_new"> some talk on is7 </A>

Personally I like ABit. They have only the best capacitors. They always overclock well and easily. They tend to have modest but solid performance in the non-overclocked range and tend to be good OC performers.

Since you had one (ABit) before and seemed to like it I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to you again.

They tend to be a bit short on goodies in the box but I'd rather have good value for my $$ than candy.

The loving are the daring!

 

[lbcsrw]

Thanks for the suggestions! Any thoughts on the <A HREF="http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=162" target="_new">VT7</A> from ABit, which uses the VIA PT880 Chipset?

 

[Unolocogringo]

Never use VIA if Intel is an option. VIA P4 chipsets basicall suck compared to Intel counterparts.

VIA is not an option unless you want cheap (crappy) Intel boards.

I aint signing nothing!!!

 

[Flinx]

<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjAwLDY=" target="_new">http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjAwLDY=</A>

And onpage 3 of <A HREF="http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?head=58&page=1006" target="_new">this article</A> we have some numbers for the Abit.

There was this very nice review at tweaktown:
<A HREF="http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=review&dId=652 " target="_new">http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=review&dId=652 </A>we have some numbers for the Abit.

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In the end I suppose you have to consider your needs and your pocket book. Lets see what other people have to say.
Maybe they have practical experience.

___________________________________________________________
The loving are the daring!

 

[lbcsrw]

Wow! Thanks! I guess that I have to read the via chipset review once again on THG to clarify my understanding... The IC7-G looks better than the IC7. What about the IC7-Max?

 

[thesaintz]

I would said Abit AI7. Got it up and running and its rock. Good for OC.

 

[endyen]

Get the IS7, or the IS7-G. The AI7 would be a third choice. The IC7 max has some heat issues, so avoid it.

 

[Crashman]

Tom's screwed up their IS7 review, I only say that because their results placed the board lower in comparison to other boards while most other sites placed it near the top. It's possible Tom's may have had an inferior BIOS version on their board. Also, I wouldn't trust ANYTHING Tom's says about VIA OR SFF PC's (I only mentioned SFF because that's the other thing Tom's seems to be sometimes misleading on).

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