Motherboard advice

[rexking]

Have a P4 1.7 GHZ, 512MB DDR RAM on a PC CHIPS 920LR motherboard. Have had the PC Chips mobo insulted by everyone as a POS, but it it gives no problems and runs stable all games.
Thinking of upgrading the mobo to an MSI 845 Ultra. Will that improve performance?

Thanks http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Hobit]

Hello rexking,

Guess I don't get it?

You're motherboard gives no problems and runs stable but because "everyone" says naughty things about it you want a new one?

Have you considered keeping your PC CHIPS (kinda rolls off your tounge don't it) and upgrading to a 2.0 or 2.2 GHz P4 I know this'll speed things up.

Alternatively, are you disatisfied for some reason with its performance and that's why you want an MSI 845 Ultra?

hobit


[This message has been edited by Hobit (edited 01-21-2002).]

[hiredgoonz]

While there are performance differences between mobos (even those with the same chipset) they are generally minor...like hobit said, if the board runs well and does everything you need, why would you upgrade it just because some people have made disparaging comments about the manufacturer?

I had NO problems with an old PCChips mobo...still running today, as a matter of fact...so don't worry about what other people say...if YOU like the board and it works well, then you already have something a lot of people struggle to get...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[kayofcircles]

Agree with previous comments. Husband running an older PC Chips mobo for two years this month. No problems with mobo.

[rexking]

Thanks everyone.

I guess its psychological. Personally I never heard of PC Chips. A friend's shop recommended it, because no one, who used the board with the P4, ever complained.

I'm retired and spend most of the time playing games (shouldn't have got hooked). Am a little disappointed with the P4 speed, which should be faster with the Geforce3 ti500. However, I guess stability is more important. Should have gone with the AMD.

I get about 6200 points in 3DMark2001 and the boys at Mad Onion get 8000 points and over. Ofcourse mine is default, I dont overclock.

I keep thinking, that maybe the motherboard is holding me back.

BTW, cant go to 2.2 GHZ on this board. Its a Socket 423.

[Hobit]

Rexking,

Gosh darn if BigBlue66, kayofcircles and hiredgoonz all have good things to say about PC CHIPS I’m beginning to think it’s the motherboard of choice here at the forum.

U-bet stability is important: rexking is that something like a pair of kings?

Regards,

hobit

[rexking]

My dog, whom I love, is Rex. Too short a name to use on message board so I added king. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[BigBlue66]

Howdy,

I was just reading the other day about how the P4 1.7GHz does better with the i850 chipset and RDRAM. Damned ifn I can remember where it was now, but hey, it was there. Really, it was. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

If I find it, I'll post it. In the meantime, I say "Don't worry, be happy". Besides, will your naked eye be able to tell the difference if you get 8000 in some test, or only 6000. I dare say, it won't. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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[hiredgoonz]

It's very hard to get the same benchmarks on your personal system that you see posted...those scores generally are the result of major tweaking at the expense of any other use for the system...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Hobit]

Rexking

"are the result of major tweaking"
hiredgoonz

Ya, they give you all the specs on their test systems but they don't generally tell you about their bios tweeks. Also, typically their test setup includes minimal software and hardware.

hobit

[rexking]

Thanks, when I read of some of the problems they have, I'm glad mine is stable. Thanks guys. Can't really afford it now anyhow. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[iisbob]

Don't let anyone's opinion about PCChips get to you; i've built and used plenty of them over the years-and it was true once that they were POS's. But...

I've got a current work system running an M807 Socket A board that's been an absolute trooper. Normally i stick with Epox, but my current gaming system is also an ECS SIS735 setup ( fixing to switch too the new SIS 745 w/DDR333 support soon ).

PCChips got a bad rep a few years ago, but honestly, if i was building a cheap system today ( as in inexpensive, not shoddy )i'd not hesitate to use a PCChips board.

As my old pa used to say; ..If it ain't broke, don't fix it-'cepting you just want sumthin' to do http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif ..



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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[Paleo Pete]

Guess I have to chime in and confirm the above. PC Chips does have a rather shaky reputation, but that's mostly due to some earlier boards that were not of the highest quality, and at that time they deserved that reputation. Later boards were much better.

I too have one, it takes up to 300MHz CPU and has worked perfect. It's no longer in use at the moment, but I don't think I would have any reservations about using it again at all, I had no problems with it and I tend to be a bit rough on a computer of that caliber...P-233MMX with 32MB RAM (72 pin FPM) and I would keep 8-15 browser windows open, ICQ, IRC, Zone Alarm, OE, Word 97, photo editor, notepad and play a CD all at the same time...it took it with no problems and ran 24/7 for about 8 months. The only problem I had turned out to be software related, not hardware.

As far as upgrading goes, witha 1.7GHz CPU now you won't see a noticable difference until you get way past the 2.5GHz mark, and if you go for more than 512MB RAM win98 is not likely to handle it, without some tweaking, although an NT based OS might. Keep what you have now, check into video cards for a while, otherwise what you have now should do nicely.

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