Will I have trouble with a Via Chipset???

[JUC]

Hey all, I need more tuners in my rig and am out of PCI slots--older machine so no USB2 either. So, i want to do a cheap upgrade and get a new MB. I'm only looking to spend around $45 or so. I would need one that supports the socket A AthlonXP 2000. So--my options are fairly limited. There seem to be a ton of MB's with Via chipsets in that pricerange. I see people have had trouble with Via chipsets and Hauppauge cards. If i go with a Via will I have trouble too? What is causing these issues? Can anyone recommed a good board with easy install in that pricerange? Via or no Via that works with Sage and Hauppauge tuners?
Thanks
JUC

[stanger89]

VIA is not worth the risk IMO. They seem to be unable to build a chipset with a proper PCI implimentation, and seem to have no interest in doing it.

[ben_95sl1]

I have not had any issues with my pvr150 and my VIA KT400 board (see specs in signature). I also run 2 internal drives and up to two external usb drives. However, I'm not a huge fan of VIA boards...it's just that they were significantly cheaper and I didn't know any better. Now, I would more then likely buy an nforce board. There may be an SIS chipset (761?) available as well, don't know if they have issues.

[jchiso]

I've used several motherboards with VIA chipsets and Hauppauge cards without incident. I recently migrated my primary Sage server to an nVidia-based system and it introduced a slew of problems that have since been eliminated, but I still use VIA-based boards in three other systems.

[JUC]

guess its a crapshoot. Am i feeling lucky?

[stanger89]

Problems seem to increase exponentially with the number of PCI devices you try and use.

[dbfresh23]

If you're not above getting a refurb, Newegg has some refurb Nforce2 boards in the $30-40 range. There's a Biostar refurb there for $32 including s/h - not the greatest brand, but still much better then something like ECS - plus what more can ya ask for in that price range?

Also, I am using a Soyo board with a Via KT600 and have EVERY PCI slot used and have had zero problems.

[Boolah]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Also, I am using a Soyo board with a Via KT600 and have EVERY PCI slot used and have had zero problems.

I had a Soyo board with a VIA KT400 chipset and it would blue screen when using a PVR-150MCE. It didn't matter if it was the only PCI card in the machine or if all the slots were filled. The machine was fine working with three PVR-250MCE cards, but as soon as I added the 150 (either by itself or with the other 250 cards in the machine), it would consistently blue screen. I ended up replacing the board with an Intel 865 chipset board and the 250's and 150's all work fine now.

I would agree with Stanger and say that VIA chipsets are not worth the risk.

[insomniac]

Friends dont let friends go VIA. Just say NO!

I recommend Nforce 2 and up.

Your mileage may vary..

I.

[paulbeers]

My Sage server currently has a Via K8T800 Mobo (Socket 756) made by MSI. I built it before I had any interest in Home Brew PVR's. After I decided I wanted to go to a Client Server setup, I basically had to make it my server (also was a good excuse to upgrade my main rig). I am lucky enough to not have a problem and I currently have 5 PCI Cards in it (4 tuners and even one PCI video card) and it hasn't locked up at all (I take that back, I did have a lock up when Adobe Acrobat for some reason tried to install a language pack while I was watching the superbowl pregame show the other day!!). I would not recommend buying one tho. I got lucky.

[JUC]

thanks--i guess i'll shy away from the via boards. I was looking at that biostar refurb on newegg but was a little hesitant because i don't think it supports 266mhz ram. Does anyone know if i can run an athlon XP 2000 with a motherboard that has 333/400 FSB? If so, what speed ram would i get? Thanks,
JUC

edit: i guess i let the cat out of the bag that i am a little clueless in terms of compatibility between ram/cpu and FSB speeds.....

edit2: okay--with some research i found out that the biostar does support the Athlonxp 2000 and 266mhz ram speeds

[dbfresh23]

DDR400 = PC3200
DDR333 = PC2700
DDR266 = PC2100

I've never seen a Socket A board that could accept ddr 400 and not 266.

[JUC]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

DDR400 = PC3200
DDR333 = PC2700
DDR266 = PC2100

I've never seen a Socket A board that could accept ddr 400 and not 266.

ya, that's what i'm finding out. newegg had it listed only for 400/333 but a quick search revealed it supports all of 'em.
THanks
JUC

[ke6guj]

I had a ECS KT600-a and had every slot filled, 2 PVR-500's, 1 PVR-150 and 1 P-ATA card.

I had not obvious problems with it. I would get an occasional lockup, but I dunno if it was the board or my software. I ended up replacing it with an nForce board for an additonal PCI slot and reformatted the OS drive. No problems at all now.

[Wheemer]

My client machine originally had my 4 pvr 250s in it. It's a cheap Syntax board I got for 20 bucks. I also had 3 IDE HDs in it.

I never had any problems with crashing. Although once I switched my PVR server setup to my P4 I noticed a huge increase in menu and file opening speed.

But if I was in your shoes I'd de3finately buy a board with an nvidia chipset. Just because it's not that much more to ensure good compatibility.

[ke6guj]

Oh, one thing about refurbs from newegg. It's sort of a crapshoot as to what you will get in the box. They list refurbs as saying you only get the board, no accessories. That means no CD, no case backplate, and no cables/extra ports(USB/firewire). I have heard that sometimes it does come with it, but not always. The list it as "bare" in the pictures to cover themselves. Anything above and beyond the actual MB is bonus.

I just picked up a refurbed ASUS board that came bare, nothing extra. I took that gamble because I already have another computer using the same board and I didn't use extra port cable, so I can add in an extra firewire or USB port if I need to later. I did, however, need to order the case backplate, that was an extra $9 on ebay.

[ellweber]

I am a great fan of Newegg but refurb motherboards are definitely in the "buyer beware" category! The last one I got came with nothing else in the box and had a defective ethernet port but otherwise was just fine.

Originally Posted by ke6guj

Oh, one thing about refurbs from newegg. It's sort of a crapshoot as to what you will get in the box. They list refurbs as saying you only get the board, no accessories. That means no CD, no case backplate, and no cables/extra ports(USB/firewire). I have heard that sometimes it does come with it, but not always. The list it as "bare" in the pictures to cover themselves. Anything above and beyond the actual MB is bonus.

I just picked up a refurbed ASUS board that came bare, nothing extra. I took that gamble because I already have another computer using the same board and I didn't use extra port cable, so I can add in an extra firewire or USB port if I need to later. I did, however, need to order the case backplate, that was an extra $9 on ebay.

[Wheemer]

In my experience refurbished usually means that the manufacturer has retested and solved any problems found during the initial quality check.

It sounds more like Newegg is selling returned products as refurbished.

[JUC]

ya the refurbs are usually bare--anything else would be a bonus though-especially the backplate. Regarding the backplate--do you need one? I'm guessing dust might become an issue without it though.
thanks
JUC

[paulbeers]

One of my electrical enginer friends from college, advised me that dust should not cause any problems on pcb boards.....however it can cause some difficulties with fans!! Although truthfully, I have had several computers in the past, where I didn't have a backplate and for the most part it worked just fine. Others might have a different opinion. However, from a purely asthetics point of view, it is definately not as pretty!