Stable A64 MB Reccommendatations

[rdegler]

I am looking for socket 754 MB that is very stable.

I purchased an MSI Neo Plat. and have had all kinds of headaches with the board. It is currently RMA'd to newegg.
System:
MSI NEO
(2)OCZ 256 EL pc3200
ATI 9200se
New Enlight Power supply 360w
Western Digital 80GB IDE drives(2)
NU DVD RW

Problems /w MSI Neo

• Could not install OS (win2000, win 98se, winxp, winxp64) at first- constant lockups, failure to extract files from CAB, and could not load XMS when booting from 98 startup.

• Memtest reported all kinds of errors in test 4, 5, and 6 until I slowed ram to 166 with CAS 3 then just occasional errors mostly in test 4

• Win xp64 worked OK but video lagged and system was very slow

• Got an install of winxp. It was fine until I upped ram speed then lost stabilty (lockups not BSOD)

I want a good stable board at stock speeds. This computer is for office work. I am just upgrading a system that was too old and did not have USB2.0 and firewire. I do have a firewire card so it does not have to integrated on MB.

Any reccommendations? ASrock w/ SIS or any NVidia or VIA boards?

 

[orangat]

The Asrock 755 is quite underrated. Recomended it to a friend and he had no problems.
The VNF-250 is another good and cheap mobo although BIOS revisions are somewhat lagging. Under $90, this 2 boards are really quite decent.

I'm surprised the Neo Plat is having issues since its so highly recommended on this board.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

The msi board is known for having numerous problems. I would recommend Asus k8n-e but my board came doa so I can't say anything good about them till I get my replacement.

 

[imported_funbun]

I just ordered the Chaintech VNF-250 from newegg. I'm currently using a MSI K8T800. Basically it has no overclocking features as my sig will tell. For the same price I got the Chaintech. It should be here by Wednesday. Hopefully I can get 2.4Ghz out of this thing.

 

[rdegler]

I may wait and see if the RMA'd MSI Neo Plat is better.

If not I am thinking of getting the Asrock(I have had great success with them) and selling the Neo Plat here on Anandtech.

I will let you know how the MSI Platinum works. All input helps those that are looking.

 

[BW86]

i have the VNF-250 and i love it

 

[sisooktom]

The ASRock is awesome - it just works.

 

[Bar81]

ASRock K8S8X

 

[rdegler]

Got my RMA'd MSI Neo Platinum and OCZ memory from Newegg and everything is rock solid so far(1day). So the first MB or Memory must have been bad. Will have to play with the system to make a final judgement.

Is the NForce3 250($125) worth the extra $45-50 over the SIS 755($77)?

This new system will go in my wife's office. I am still on an EPOX 8RGA+ and 2500 Barton. Will upgrade by X-mas to AMD64 system. I just went off the onboard video to an ECS 9200 ATI chipset video card.