Mboard for AMD K6/2-550

[ramjet]

Ok, so I order the chip only to realize that my FIC-503+ is NOT the right revision so it can't handle anything over a k6/2-400. Sooo, I need a new mboard for this chip.

So what AT board should I get?! I plan to o/c it and I would like something jumperless (unlike my p.o.s. FIC board) with heat monitoring capabilties. I don't do too much gaming but it is a consideration nonetheless. I have one AGP Nvidia video card, one PCI NIC, one SB PCI 128 sound card, one PCI SCSI card, and any built-in USB capabilities would be nice as well. Two 64MB DIMMs need to be re-used too,.

Price is a consideration as is Linux and Win2K compatibility and stability.

So what do you think? If I have forgotten something, please let me know.

Thanks!

[bismarck]

ramjet

Here is the deal, You are controlling yourself by three factors
ss board that handles 100mhz fsb or more.
at case style power connectors
64mb DIMMS

I think heat monitoring is last on your list of needs. sorry thats my h.o.

Here are your choices though. I just did this shopping for my self in march.
Buy a NEW FIC va503+. It has everything you need. Don't look at the 503A it only has SIMMS slots for memory. See mwave.com, they have good prices and ok shipping costs.
Or look at the Tyan s1590. It will run about 90 to 100 dollars.

good luck

[ramjet]

From what I have been reading on this forum, I think that the P5a (~$75) might be the way to go. I really want nothing to do with FIC ever again.

The Epox and Lucky Strike(sp?) boards look fairly overclockable too. I will look into the Tyan right now. Thanks.

[Ultima]

Hey Ramjet,

If ya wanna go o/c'ing, you indeed would do best to get the epox G2, the asus p5a or the p5a-b.

For 2 of them I myself can confirm that these are very stabile and o/c'able boards, but I've heard that someone(I just keep forgetting who!!!) got 124FSB on an apox G2.

Pim

[ramjet]

Yea, the only problem with the Epox G2 is that it is a ATX board. I need an AT. The Epox 3C2 is ok but doesn't mention anything over a 100 host bus on the website. http://www.epox.com/html/english/products/motherboard/ep-mvp3c.htm

The P5a-b is nice too but it only has 3 pci slots. http://www.asus.com/products/motherboard/Pentium/P5a-b/index.html

Between these two boards, which one is fully o/c via software? (ie. jumperless)

[chaskuss]

Ramjet,
Bismark's remarks regarding the FIC 503A are way off base. I just built 3 systems using this board. It is a baby AT board with 3 DIMMS (no SIMMS) It has onboard audio and supports your K6-2 550mhz. I'm running mine with a K6-2 450 with the FSB overclocked to 112mhz (112 X 4) I've also set one system up with a K6-2 500 running 112 X 4.5
All 3 systems are using IO Magic Riva TNT2 32 meg video cards. They work really well on this board.
Please note that if you purchase this board retail boxed, it comes with 1 USB cable set (2 ports) The board will support 4 ports. I purchased an extra cable set for $7 to use the 3rd & 4th USB ports.
You can change the FSB speed via CMOS, however the clock multiplier must still be changed via dip switches. All the dip switches are easy to access when the system is set up. They really packed a lot of stuff on this small board so routing the cables takes some thought, but does work out OK. It also has support for heat monitoring. I'm happy with my system, as are my 2 friends.

[Mace]

i have the 503+ also - can't get past 392.
i think it's a good board; i'll either get the newer 503+ or that p5a-b...i just don't know about the ali chipset.

[ramjet]

chaskuss,

Maybe I will consider FIC again. The 503a looks like everything I need but it doesn't explicitly say that it supports the 550. It does say that it supports the AMD K6-2/500 however. http://www.fica.com/english/techsupp/JUMPERS/Socket7/va503ajmp.htm#Jumper AMD PC100

Where did you see that it supports the 550?

[scotter]

ramjet trust me here of all the boards list in this thread the one you want is the P5A-B
it is a set up and run, no problems with 4 in 1 drivers and all that junk and is way more stable at overclocking than the 503 could every think of being http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Technohead]

I agree, FIC boards in my opinion are ****.

Go for the P5(A-B), which has been the overclockers choice on SS7 for yonks.

[Brydon]

I agree with scotter as the 503 is a quirky board especially with the bios settings.

[bdunn]

I highly recommend the shuttle hot 591-P
http://www.spacewalker.com/english/mainboard_detail_info.asp?number=23

They can be had in the neighboorhood of $60.00 apiece from several sources.
http://www.wholesale-club.com/m/sql1item.asp?type=MPSH591P

I'm very happy with the 5 I recently installed and have installed many more with no RMAs yet!

[Win_98]

IF they are not jumperless and have no dipswitch then furget it.
Those Old Fashion MB are a pain.
Especially ASUS P5A, the most jumpered motherboard I have seen. STAY AWAY.

[ramjet]

win98:

So *what* do you suggest then?

[scotter]

here is a good one jump over to http://www.super7.net/ go to there forums and check out all the posts about boards they have diff threads for most of the top SS7 motherboards running and see who is saying what about what boards http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
then figure out what board is getting the least bad rep http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[ramjet]

super7.net is an excellent site. I actually checked them out first before coming here.

Thanks to everyone for all of their input! I really find this type of exchange invaluable.