KM133 Mobo's?

[clayg]

Anyone recommend or had any experience with mother boards based on the new Via KM133 chipset? Thought it sounded handy for upgrading as it's got on-board Graphics, but you can override it with an AGP card and upgrade in two "hits" to the wallet... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Graham.

[nimnorf2]

Hey Clay,
Welcome to the forum. I'm a novice, so wait for some of the "real geeks" to answer to make a decision, but, that said. I've ordered an ECS K7VMA motherboard and expect delivery tomorrow. It is based on the KM133 chip set from VIA. I'll know in a day or two if I could get it up to snuff and whether it's a winner for me. I shopped and read and read and read and concluded that it was one of the better inexpensive platforms out there right now. Most of the experts on this site seem to frown on integrated systems, but this just offers both options (integrated video or periferal support) at a lesser price. Worked for me!
Peace and good luck to you.

[mjc]

If it has the onboard stuff and it is able to be completely and truly disabled then it may not be so bad after all...my one main concern about onboard stuff is the lack of an upgrade path, plus it is usually entry level stuff and you'll soon be wanting to upgrade it.. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[nimnorf2]

Yeah,
I suppose the "truly disabled" is the real question. I'm sure the manufacturers say it can be done.....the proof will be in the pudding (or the yogurt-where do such colloquialisms come from?)
Anyhow, I'll be interested to see today (when the UPS truck visits) if the ECS motherboard comes with as good a manual as I've read it has. Online purchases are a bit scary. I did a BBB search, so I feel a little more confident.

[JesH]

I buildt a puter for my gf with a ECS K7VMA mobo in it. It took a couple of tries to get the audio & video driver installed correct, but the manual is quite good (especially on jumper settings). I have another post on the ts board since my gf yanked the power cord while the puter was running so now it's down, and I think the mobo is fried, should find out if we can get another today or tomorrow.

[clayg]

So, I guess the $6M question is, is it worth the difference to go for a KT133A mobo with a seperate graphics card?

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif ???

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Graham.

[nimnorf2]

Yo Clay,
As a follow up. I did get the K7VMA MoBo and have it all hooked up now. It seems to be just fine. No problems. The onboard video and sound are more than I need.