VIA Chipset got me down

[sloom]

Greetings,
I've been around here and there a little while, and have been using this ("newer") VIA chipset from the start- 2 or so years now. The guy who built it for me said it was the "State of the Art" at the time, which is fine... but I'm crashing my apps left and right. When I do find the time to get into a project (I don't do this for a living!), it can be frustrating if I don't remember to hit "Save" every few minutes, especially when zoomed-in to envelopes, or other close work!

My set-up:
Celeron 2GHz
VIA...
Maxtor ATA133 80GB hard-drive
Rage 128 ATI video card (newest drivers)
Toshiba DVD burner
Kenwood CD Reader (sort of redundant)
X-Flat CRT 17" monitor
Logitech Marble-Mouse
Tascam US-428
MOTU 1224 is in the mail (found it used- nice price)

I've been told 'Pentium IV' is the most stable- the 865PERL chipset. Any experts want to chime in? I need stability above speed, and I guess It'd be fun to have 3 GHz or so...

Thanks!

 

[altitude909]

I run an 875 and have 0 problems. Very stable chipset on a good MB (AbitIC7 Max3) running 3.4 Prescott.

I have always had problems with intel on via and steer clear when possible

 

[sloom]

Can you be very specific on your specs? i.e., what is an 875?
And what did you spend, if you don't mind, on your chipset- and who carries that item?

I'm in the market imminently! Thanks!

 

[altitude909]

Intel 875 chipset (ICH5 controller). Its an older socket 478 board made by Abit. If your looking for a Intel based board now I would look at this Mainboard
and at this CPU . I built a DAW on this hardware over the summer and it is solid. The only thing thats missing is a Firewire, but that was easily fixed with an good adaptec PCI card for 30$.

Make sure you get GOOD memory for it, it will make a difference (Corsair or Muskin)

 

[sloom]

Thanks for the information, Altitude. Gettin' set to do SOMEthin'...