stable, reliable, fast intel mobo - your recommendations, advice?

[plarkin]

Hi, it's time to buy my wife a new motherboard (no not a mother-in-law, that's a different issue). She's a high-powered accountant type, uses QuickBooks in places no man has gone before, etc. Short of temper in things PC, just expects stability & perfection, that's all (just for PCs, she settles for less with me luckily).
So I'm looking for a stable, reliable brand-name motherboard for I guess an Intel chip. About 1.6-1.8 GHz, fastest mobo bus for that. Want it to last about as long as her current mobo, 5+ yrs. (yes, I realize IBM has announced the 200 GHz chip, so in 5 yrs. this will really be a fossil. So be it, for now.). Don't care about built-in video, have already bought good AGP card. Built in sound ok, USB2 support nice but not necessary. Stability and ease-of-use are the issues, not bells, whistles, games. Stability also includes good tech support & longevity of the company. I've had good luck with ASUS & ABIT. Read about MSI on motherboards.org. But I want your recommendations, and guides to where I can do further research on the web (good, preferably nonpartisan websites). (Please advise where/how I can do further research here on sysopt.com, too.) And I guess AMD is out, since they apparently run too hot & their latest is unproven.
Thank you, in advance.

[dmoltrup]

To be honest with you, if you want rock-steady stability and don't care about games, I would suggest staying with integrated graphics. For your intended usage, this would be just fine. You will limit the problems associated with the AGP cards (constant driver updates, re-seating the board monthly). Also, a lot of the AGP cards (you didn't list make/model) haven't been rated very well for business graphics/2D clarity. This is something you want, rather than a good FPS rate in Serious Sam. Just a thought.. :)

[rextex]

Personally I tend to agree with dmoltrup about having an intergrated video and maybe add sound or more if you just want to stay with compatibilty.
As for the CPU speed I WISH I had that high MHZ of a system!
For Motherboards I may be an outsider but I am sold on AOPEN.The stability is 100% Rock Solid even overclocking.

AOPEN is a division of ACER.It is relatively new and small but ACER is about the largest board manufacturer.The AOPEN branch is attempting break new markets with boards catering to the younger and technically savvy user.
I don't know if their stategy is working but I do think they are putting 100 percent effort into the quality of their products.Whether that makes them better than other boards is not really something I could prove.But I do think the quality is very high, the product features are substantial and the effort going into back the product is genuine.
That is why right now I would not buy another Board other than an AOPEN.I think they are the best.

Other than that I have a sort of a tip/question for you:
What exactly are you going to do when your high-powered account type wife has a problem with the computer?Have you thought about it?
My experience is that the impatient type user (pardon me) is very difficult to support.I would probaly even skip my own motherboard recommendation (even for my own mother!
;) ) in that case.I'd go for a packaged system with tech support bundled.
You might try Gateway frankly.They use Intel boards which are good and they support the user well.
The other thing is software.
Software is the number one problem you'll probaly have to deal with.
If she uses business type for business software I'd look for a good overall commercial shop in your area that installs and supports all software and hardware from their location.Maybe buy the whole package from them.Make sure they are Mid to Large and commercial oriented.Their customer service should be 100 percent.Ask a long term local office/ business owner who they use what their results have been.Stay away from the smaller shops and the retail stores.
Just a tip!
:)