John,
      Also for the FIC VA503+ motherboard, check out
http://www.paragoncomp.com

James

John Chin wrote:

> Hi All:
>
> I am seeking recommendations for motherboards (to
> be used in upgrading school computers) that meet
> the following criteria:
>
>    1. Baby AT (or smaller) Socket 7 motherboard
>        supporting classic Pentium (P54C), Pentium MMX
>        (P55C), AMD K-5, K-6, Cyrix, IBM, IDT Winchips
>        CPUs (support for the AMD K6-2 3D CPUs is
>        desirable but not expected) , contain at least three
>        16-bit ISA slots and use proven, mainstream
>        chipsets and onboard ports.
>
>    2. Suitable for use in upgrading existing computers
>        of a variety of case form factors where ease of
>        configuration and installation is desirable. However,
>        jumperless designs are not desirable because they
>        are not sufficiently tamperproof.
>
>    3. Quality, compatibility, dependability and durability
>        (as grade school students will be the users) are
>        mandatory.
>
>    4. Must be from an established company with an
>        acceptable (industry standards) warranty, good
>        real time and on-line support and whose products
>        have a low RMA rate.
>
>    5. Cost of product is important and will be bought
>        in volume at wholesale, with a price ceiling of, say,
>        $80 per unit (value is always a factor).
>
>    6. Excellent motherboards with integrated, industry
>        standard sound and video chipsets would be also
>        be considered.
>
> The motherboards would be used to upgrade a variety of
> existing and donated computers for 1-12 grade schools
> which require Pentium class, multimedia computers suitable
> for Internet use. The flexibility in CPU type is necessary
> because the CPUs will be purchased in smaller quantities,
> as required, and market price is a primary factor. College
> students would provide the labor and retrofitting will be
> required. Proprietary system units will not be upgraded.
>
> The College will also have to provide warranty service on the
> upgraded computers so no "come backs" is more desirable
> than saving a few dollars or getting the latest and greatest
> motherboard. Of course, the learning experience for the
> student computer technicians is important but we want to
> STANDARDIZE on a particular, excellent motherboard
> which will be easy to train the inexperienced to configure
> and install in cases of various sizes.
>
> Important factors are production efficiency, product quality,
> superb layout design, adaptability, supportability, compatibility
> with other components (new, used legacy and budget),
> durability, safety, and foolproofness (both for the user and
> builder). We will trade off support of Super Socket 7 CPUs,
> speed, top name brand products, and secondary advantages
> for these factors.
>
> As a matter of example, we currently use the Shuttle 569A
> motherboards in our own computer service labs (about $70
> wholesale).
>
> PC businesses often select a motherboard to standardize
> on in their shops and may make certain compromises for
> profit concerns and marketing advantages, so their buying
> decision may be based on different criteria. Nonetheless, I
> am highly interested in the opinions of such businesses.
>
> Thanks, in advance, for your opinions and comments.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Chin
>
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