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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: Squid on March 14, 2006, 06:05:55 pm

Title: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: Squid on March 14, 2006, 06:05:55 pm

I know the VIA chips & mobos make potentially cheap MAME CPUs, but I was wondering if anyone had any direct experience with this board.  Seems pretty cheap.

http://www.pctekonline.com/maviamowibuv.html

Thanks for any advice.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: SirPeale on March 14, 2006, 09:08:59 pm

I don't have any experience with the video chipset this has, but it may be decent.  Never heard of this brand, though.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: SOAPboy on March 14, 2006, 09:14:20 pm

The video isnt great. but for emus its fine..

as far as the actual mobo goes, its up to you.. for 70 bucks, it might be worth the gamble..

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: CCM on March 15, 2006, 04:24:44 pm

Processor
Built-in VIA C3 2000+ CPU

That scares me... I don't know much about the new VIA processors, but I do know that they used to be called Cyrix and they were horrible.  I'd do a little more research and find some reviews on the processor before buying.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: Jess-- on March 16, 2006, 08:12:27 am

from my experience the via c3 chips dont tend to be too bad (maybe 15% slower) but most of them are fanless or only require a small slow fan which makes them a lot quieter to use

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: JoyMonkey on March 16, 2006, 09:04:52 am

There's some better deals on NewEgg for motherboard/cpu/vga combos:
Have a look here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?submit=SUBCATDEALS&SubCategory=446&bop=and&order=price)

The PC Chips board they're selling for $57 has much the same specs as the one mentioned above (Via C3 2000+ CPU etc.)

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: Harry Potter on March 16, 2006, 11:02:43 am

I got no probs with a VIA chipset in my MAME machine.

For desktop PCs though I've never strayed from Intel.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: CCM on March 16, 2006, 12:05:02 pm

Quote from: JoyMonkey on March 16, 2006, 09:04:52 am

There's some better deals on NewEgg for motherboard/cpu/vga combos:
Have a look here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?submit=SUBCATDEALS&SubCategory=446&bop=and&order=price)

The PC Chips board they're selling for $57 has much the same specs as the one mentioned above (Via C3 2000+ CPU etc.)

I've had very bad luck with PC Chips motherboards.  I would stay away from them.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: CCM on March 16, 2006, 12:09:19 pm

Quote from: Harry Potter on March 16, 2006, 11:02:43 am

I got no probs with a VIA chipset in my MAME machine.

For desktop PCs though I've never strayed from Intel.

I have no problems with VIA chipsets.  There are intel and amd motherboards that use VIA chipsets.   It's the VIA PROCESSOR that scares me.  I think you may be confusing chipsets and processors.

Title: Re: Motherboard Question & Possible Bargain
Post by: Harry Potter on March 16, 2006, 01:23:48 pm

I didn't read that far.

Actually, I heard some good things about the VIA cpus. They'd be OK for MAME but I wouldn't run Lightwave on them.