On 1 Oct 98 at 10:33, John Chin wrote:
> 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.
Someone has already mentioned the FIC VA503+. I would recommend
that IF 100 MHz and AGP support is important to you -- and I don't
see those specified above. If you can live for a while with 66/75
MHz speeds and PCI video, I really like the EFA "Viking II". [Their
"Viking III" adds 100 MHz and AGP support but drops SIMMs entirely
for DIMMs; the VA503+ is more versatile and comparable in price, and
so I consider it a better deal.]
Like the VA503+, the Viking II has both AT and ATX power connectors
(your point 2), baby AT form factor (your point 1) and 75 MHz support
(specified for some Cyrix CPUs). 4 SIMM slots and 2 DIMM slots
accept FPM/EDO/SDRAM. Shrouds around the motherboard ports make it
essentially impossible to get the cables misaligned with the
connectors -- I consider this a desirable feature when assembly may
be performed by inexperienced technicians.
I've recently see this board for about $70-80 retail; you can
probably do better buying in bulk (your point 5).
Read more about it at:
http://www.efacorp.com/products/vikingII.htm
[I have no professional connection to EFA; I am running a Viking I
and a Viking II on my home LAN, and my Dad has a Viking I and a
friend has a Viking II on my recommendation; no problems to date. I
DO also have a VA503+ as my main workstation....]
David G
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