Motherboards

[Platoon918]

I have purchased a PentiumIII 450 and I was wondering witch of these motherboards would work the best and what's the difference between all of them:
AZZA INTEL 440 BX CHIPSET MOTHERBOARD
ABIT BH6 INTEL BX440 CHIPSET MOTHERBOARD
ABIT BX6 V.2 INTEL BX440 CHIPSET MOTHERBOARD
ABIT BE6 INTEL BX MB with UDMA 66
ASUS P2B-F INTEL BX CHIPSET MOTHERBOARD

Thanks In Advance

[Roy]

Good question for the Motherboards forum.

The most advanced board I know of is the MicroStar MS-6163 v.2. I'll be getting mine this week. Check the review at overclock.digiweb.com/ (http://overclock.digiweb.com/)

[Anakhonda]

I don't know about the other ones, but I can tell you the difference between the ABIT BH6 and the ABIT BX6 RII.... The BX6 RII has four DIMM slots and a fifth PCI slot (as compared to 3 DIMM/4 PCI). Personally, I just built a system with the BX6 RII and it truely is a GREAT mobo. The jumper-less/soft menu Award BIOS is awesome... especially for anyone looking to overclock. But whether you're overclocking or not, it is still a kick *** mobo.

[Roy]

I should add that I'll be replacing my obsolescent BX6-2 with the MS-6163 v.2. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[socalgal]

One "obsolescent" BX6-2 wanted http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Anakhonda]

Roy--
I'm curious to what the MicroStar has over the BX6 RII ...please explain.
If you're going to slam my mobo TO MY FACE, I wanna hear details.
And also... what is the price of the MicroStar?-

[This message has been edited by Anakhonda (edited 07-28-99).]

[This message has been edited by Anakhonda (edited 07-28-99).]

[AuraEdge]

FYI, the BH6 does have 2 ISA and 5 PCI. The only difference betweeen BH6 and BX62 are the 4th dimm slot and more FSB settings (I think...I hope).
The difference between the BX62 and BE6 is BE6 have support for ATA 66...and more bus settings? Probably, although im not sure.

[Anakhonda]

I stand corrected on the BH6's number of PCI slots... thanx AuraEdge http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Roy]

Anakhonda ~ the differences you are asking about are expressed in the review I cited above. overclock.digiweb.com/ (http://overclock.digiweb.com/)

Obsolescent is not the same as obsolete. It's just that a better board seems to appear about every 6 months. My BX6 from a year ago is obsolete.

I paid $95 for my MS-6163 v.2.

[MaxVal]

Just to complicate things... Has anyone checked out the SOYO 6BA+III?
More bus speeds, soft memu, adjustible voltage, and very stable!
Only down side I see is the auto PCI freq. (between 30mhz and 41.5mhz).
Check it out!
Max

[socalgal]

MaxVal ~ Yeps!! Sy6BA+III beats even the BE6 for FSB settings!! And the MS 6163 v.2 is also something to be checked out - it has even more FSB settings than the Soyo! (And you'll need a Promise card if you want to run your hdd at UDMA66 w/the Soyo or MS - for now). Both seem to be sweet boards!!

Considering Dominus' UCITA post, it's back to the reviews to check if these boards also have PSN disabling in the BIOS. A fresh concern! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[Roy]

From the Micro Star MS-6163 book ~

Processor Number Feature
This Option is for Pentium III processor. During Enabled, this will check the CPU Serial number. Disabled this option if you don't want the system to know the Serial number.

Because this is in the BIOS and can be changed only during Setup after POST, I think it would take quite a hack to get the number when Disabled.

[socalgal]

Hi Roy - yippee? So I don't get off topic, please check my reply under Dominus' UCITA post. Thanx.