VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipsets

  • Thread starter Thread starter ed collins
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ed collins

Hi, All

I have a spare Pentium IIIe and am looking for a MB to install it. It looks
like the VIA chipset MBs are plentiful and easy to purchase.

My question is, How stable are the VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipsets? A few web
sites complain loudly about the problems with the VIA chipset.

Any and all replies would certainly be appreciated.

ed.




cross-posted to:

alt.comp.hardware
alt.comphardware.pc-homebuilt
 
ed collins said:
Hi, All

I have a spare Pentium IIIe and am looking for a MB to install it. It looks
like the VIA chipset MBs are plentiful and easy to purchase.

My question is, How stable are the VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipsets? A few web
sites complain loudly about the problems with the VIA chipset.

Any and all replies would certainly be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've had an MSI 694T Pro v5.0 mainboard for well over a year
now, and it works fine. The chipset is Apollo Pro133T. One
of the big reasons I bought it is because of its ECC memory
support.

-- Bob Day
 
Hi, All

I have a spare Pentium IIIe and am looking for a MB to install it. It looks
like the VIA chipset MBs are plentiful and easy to purchase.

My question is, How stable are the VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipsets? A few web
sites complain loudly about the problems with the VIA chipset.

Any and all replies would certainly be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've had several that all worked fine in all kinds of configurations
including highly overclocked. They were completely stable. Perhaps
the website you read was complaining about a different Via chipset, an
early chipset for Athlons?

The Pro 133A, it's successor the Pro 133T, (or an Intel 815 if you'd
never use more than 512MB of memory) are the two best options for your
CPU). I suggest looking for one with the 686B southbridge instead of
686A or 596B, since it will have more features and faster ATA mode
(for better hard drive performance).

The thing to remember is to buy quality, a good name-brand not a
generic or ECS/PCChips/etc.


Dave
 
Bob said:
I've had an MSI 694T Pro v5.0 mainboard for well over a year
now, and it works fine. The chipset is Apollo Pro133T. One
of the big reasons I bought it is because of its ECC memory
support.
Click to expand...

At last, someone with a sane attitude to memory. Maybe you have a
list of boards that include ECC support, both old and new. I am
going to want to build something that includes ECC,
serial/parallel ports, USB, and at least one ISA socket. I don't
mind on-board audio or video (no games). The CPU should be AMD or
Intel at 1 Mhz or better, but needs to have overheating protection
built in for my own peace of mind.
 
At last, someone with a sane attitude to memory. Maybe you have a
list of boards that include ECC support, both old and new. I am
going to want to build something that includes ECC,
serial/parallel ports, USB, and at least one ISA socket. I don't
mind on-board audio or video (no games). The CPU should be AMD or
Intel at 1 Mhz or better, but needs to have overheating protection
built in for my own peace of mind.
Click to expand...


Closest you will find for those requirements on a current production board
is
http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/MotherBoards/875/P4SCA.htm

Down sides: No agp expansion slot (ok if you don't need game graphics).
Only one serial port (but more are easily added).

Soyo also still makes a board with ISA but no ECC or 800mhz bus.

ISA is the limiting factor there. What do you have that still needs an ISA
slot?
 
ed collins said:
Hi, All

I have a spare Pentium IIIe and am looking for a MB to install it. It looks
like the VIA chipset MBs are plentiful and easy to purchase.

My question is, How stable are the VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipsets? A few web
sites complain loudly about the problems with the VIA chipset.

Any and all replies would certainly be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I used an Asus P3V4X with Via Apollo Pro 133 for years without any problem.
I had installed a Pentium III 1 GHz socket 370 CPU using the Asus slot 1
adaptor. The sytem has always run (and is still doing) with fsb o'clocked
at 145 MHz. Therefor I installed Crsair PC150 SDRAM. I encountered a lot of
freezes in the first weeks, but after installing the latest 4 in 1 drivers
from Via, never had any more problem. This is the only "must do"!
 
Closest you will find for those requirements on a current production board
is
http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/MotherBoards/875/P4SCA.htm

Down sides: No agp expansion slot (ok if you don't need game graphics).
Only one serial port (but more are easily added).

Soyo also still makes a board with ISA but no ECC or 800mhz bus.

ISA is the limiting factor there. What do you have that still needs an ISA
slot?
Click to expand...

Indeed that Supermicro board is probably the best "modern"
alternative, but certainy one of the most expensive too, as it usually
costs around $230.

Considering that Tualatin Celeron & P3 have built-in thermal
protection, he could have a Tualatin Celerjon 1.4Ghz and a board like
yours for around $100 for both parts... If not the exact same board,
then another FCPGA2 (Tualatin) compatible supporting ECC memory, which
not all do, or at least no mention is made of it in most Pro 133T
board specs.


Dave
 
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