#P90 MotherBoards
16 messages in this thread
Can anyone here in 3DS-LAND offer advice on the purchase of P90 M-Boards?
(Best brands, dealers, etc.) I'm about to build my dream system<G> and would
appreciate any feedback.
Thanks!
-Scott Lawrence
Scott,
The P90 systems that we've been selling have been pretty nice. VL-bus, 512k
cache .. pretty descent layout. We just got our hands on some PCI boards ..
and soon will have P90 EISA/PCI … (very new still .. and we haven't fully
tested them). There is a dual P90 EISA/PCI that you may start seeing out there
… I'd stay away from that one for a while. Our initial indications are that
it's not that good.
Generically speaking .. as far a MB's alone .. you may want to stay with the
bigger names like Micronics and AMI .. especially as an end-user. Actually,
our P90 PCI/ISA is now Micronics.
Ang
Angelo,
>>…and soon will have P90 EISA/PCI <<
What brand & when will you have it?!?
>> There is a dual P90 EISA/PCI that you may start seeing out there … I'd
stay away from that one for a while.<<
I assume you're referring to the TYAN EISA/VESA/PCI P-90 as being problematic?
Thanks for the advice. I'd like to hear more about your thoughts re: T2k.
Naturally, I'll need an EISA MB to run it, and as I'm putting together a P-90
system, I don't have many options. Wouldn't seem to make sense *not* to get a
dual (PCI/EISA) MB or risk becoming obsolete quick.
>> Actually, our P90 PCI/ISA is now Micronics.<<
Do they do a P-90/PCI/EISA? (I know there is a P-60 Micronics).
-Scott-
If you want EISA/PCI P90 I would highly suggest going with a big name like
Compaq, HP, or even ALR (I checked out their boxes and they're quite nice).
The clones are just coming to market and tend to still be in beta. None of the
mfg's I spoke with tried 3D Studio, though they all claim they tested AutoCad.
Of the beta clones the one that seems the best is from a company called AIR,
but I didn't get a chance to try it out. It just seemed to have the most
reliable recipe of ingredients (chipset, etc…).
John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)
Scott,
>> What brand & when will you have it?!?<<
Maybe AIR … maybe another … I'm beating on my distributor presently.
>> TYAN EISA/VESA/PCI P-90 as being problematic?<<
No actually it is only PCI/EISA .. but has room for two P90's.
>> P-90/PCI/EISA Micronics?<<
No … not yet. I'll keep you posted as I have some available.
Ang
Have you heard anything on why with some motherboards the cache needs to be
turned off while running 3ds (and some other programs)? Just curious. LAM
Larry,
>> why with some motherboards the cache needs to be turned off while running
3ds<<
No … not yet. The P90-VL's we've been selling don't require this.
Ang
Scott,
I can save you a lot of time and trouble.
Call Matt Armstrong at AM Labs in Addison TX. (1-214-960-7915), tell him what
you are planning to do and that I told you to call.
You'll thank me.
Murph'
>>You'll thank me<<
I'm *already* thanking you! Searching for the perfect MotherBoard (Freudian,
somehow) is a thankless job, but I suppose somebody's got to do it…Make womb
for P-90! <ouch!>
-scott-
Scott!
>> Searching for the perfect MotherBoard <<
I wonder why it's a "MotherBoard" …. not a "FatherBoard"? <g>
Murph'
>>I wonder why it's a "MotherBoard" …. not a "FatherBoard"? <<
The computer industry is totally "BIOS-ed"!
-scott-
Scott…..I knew you'd join that corrus. <GR&D>
Murph'
Scott,
>> advice on the purchase of P90 M-Boards?
I've had very good luck with Intel's "Plato" motherboard, which uses their
Neptune chipset. The latest issue of PC Mag, which has a review or 40 P90's,
recommends this chipset, and we've had no problems at all.
John
Thanks, John!
That's the one that was recommended to me by someone at Adaptec who put
together a system for Disney's "Lion King" project.
Did you build the system or buy it assembled and if so from which company? I
believe it has a controller on-board, right?
-Scott
Scott,
>> Did you build the system or buy it assembled and if so from which company?
I believe it has a controller on-board, right?
We put them together ourselves. It does have PCI IDE controllers on board; my
machine has two Maxtor MXT-540A's hooked up to it, and the other has a
Micropolis 2217A connected. If you are going to be using SCSI, be sure you have
AMI flash bios ver 1.00.08 or 1.00.10, although people have been reporting
quirks they don't like with .10 and going back to .08. The flash bios updates
are available off the Intel iPAN bbs. If you get a board with bios 1.00.03,
it's necessary to go to 1.00.06 before you can go to 1.00.08.
Our office manager has ordered a Dell OmniPlex machine, which also uses this
same motherboard, (as do many others). I'll let you know how it works compared
to our "home-brewed" systems.
John
Thanks for the tip. Looks like most are leaning towards Intel, Air and
Micronics, & the Neptune chipset seems to get consistently high ratings.
-Scott-