Hello peeps.

I've heard more than once, that VIA motherboards are more prone to data corruption than other chipsets (mainly I would guess Intel and SiS). Is this true? I've gotten more than my share of corruped files on my HDD and CDs I have written (which is not good if the files are important!! *snargle on face*). I've heard in particular, that during long file transfers, they tend to drop packets or lose small amounts of data.

I've also heard their 4in1 drivers aren't very stable.

I'm sticking with my Athlon XP, so my question to you guys is - I currently have a 266A vendored by Abit. Do you think I should trade it in for an SiS 745 (I don't want the 746 as it has a southbridge, I'd like to try a single controller chip)?

If I do make this switch, I was planning on going with Asus. Would you guys recommend otherwise (like going with ECS/Elite Group or MSI)?


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Benchmarks don't lie :-)

probably worth the change if you are having problems.as a rule, i would definitely go with asus over others.i'm not a big fan of MSI in particular.

no matter how hard you try, you can't polish a turd. :]

bah, I'd stick with it, it's not THAT bad anymore, the drivers for KT266A and the many BIOS rev since it's release have FINALY made it functional... don't quit now that the worst is over.

If you have problem with your current mobo, then only change it. MSI 745 Ultra is the best SiS 745 mobo. Asus A7S333 is not a bit better than it. So why you will spend extra money, since both ASUS and MSI mobos are have great stability and reliability?

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

That one response was probably fairly close to accurate, your board has outlived the year it normally takes to actually make it work, assuming you don't have a Creative Labs sound card.

Anyway, the MSI 745 Ultra is a nice board for certain, and inexpensive as well. Of course, the latest and greatest chipset/board would probably be the nForce2/A7N8X

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Does VIA chipsets have problem with almost every Creative Labs sound card? As far as I have heard, VIa chipsets have problems with Audigy.

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

Those problems started out with the Live. And there were other cards not related at all to Creative that never would run right on VIA chipsets.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Hmmm, I recently bought an Asus A7V8X (kt400). This is my first VIA chipset in a long, long time.

So far, it's been rock-solid and I haven't had any problems at all. Should I expect some, or is the Via-bashing based on the past?

"There's no such thing as gravity, the Earth just sucks."

I found the Epox 8K3A with the VIA KT333 Chipset as stable as a superglued brick. It would never ever crash on me no matter what I threw at it. I am now running an 8K5A2+ and it is just as stable. The newer VIA chipsets are NOT unstable it is just a commen misconseption born many ears ago. If you must replace your motherboard I would for sre go with the Epox 8K5A2+, Cheap and 100% reliable.
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