One of the best SS7 boards ever.
Written: May 14 '01 (Updated Aug 06 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Stable as a rock, supports any Super7 CPU and is a great overclocker.
Cons: Could be a challenge for a computer "newbie"; it's complicated.
The Bottom Line: If you need a Super7 board or something to breathe some life into an old AT case, this is it. FIC's continued great support on it makes it a winner.
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| jsc1973's Full Review: Leadman FIC VA-503+ Motherboard |
Super7 is a little long in the tooth now, but if you need a board for a K6-x processor or something to breathe some new life into an old AT-case system, this is your answer. And there's a bonus to it, as well--FIC does a terrific job of supporting this board and just issued a new BIOS two weeks ago that improves hard disk performance that was already very good for this type of system.
It will take any Super7 CPU, and will run them at a 112 or 124 MHz bus speed if the CPU can handle it. I don't know how it does on the Cyrix MII, but running that would be a waste of a great board. What really rocks is the ability to run a K6-2+ or K6-III+ in it, which it can with the latest BIOS. A K6-III+ 550 will smoke a P3-600 on all but the toughest games.
It's run everything I've ever thrown at it; fast AGP video, a DSL modem, various USB devices and three different CD-R and DVD drives. All without a problem. It's as stable as an Intel 440BX board for P2/P3, which is remarkable for Super7.
It is a little challenging; there are a lot of jumpers and you have to set them all right or it won't work. But it's also forgiving; as long as you don't over-volt the CPU, you won't damage anything. It runs EDO memory or SDRAM equally well, I've tried both. But it doesn't like cheap SDRAM, so buy PC133 or good PC100. The AGP2x slot and ATA33 onboard are very well implemented; I know some people even running power-hungry Radeons in the AGP slot. You might miss a fourth PCI slot, but that's the price you pay for the SIMM slots.
I used my VA-503+ to bring a $100 full-tower AT case I was loath to ditch back into service. Right now it's actually my primary system.
***Update October 5, 2004***
This isn't my primary system anymore, but the VA-503+ with the K6-III+ is still going strong as a backup rig and can still run anything I've thrown at it (Of course, I don't try to play Doom III...) and is still stable.
FIC didn't stop manufactuing this board until February of 2001, it was the last Super-7 board that stayed in production, and had one of the longest production runs in PC history. It was also one of the best. I've never regretted buying it.
***Update August 8, 2007***
The VA-503+ is still going strong in a backup rig here, with the same CPU but upgraded hard disks, 10 full years after it left FIC's factory. Still handles most things extremely well. This was one of the best motherboards in the history of computing, and stunningly reliable. As a reviewer said a few years ago..."the ancient warrior that won't die."
***Update August 6, 2009***
Two more years have passed, and the VA-503+ based system isn't always up and running anymore--only because I don't have the workspace to run multiple PCs, though. But it still works great, as well as it did when I got it nearly 10 years ago. As I said two years ago, one of the best motherboards that anyone ever produced.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 53
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Epinions.com ID:
jsc1973
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Member: John
Location: Raleigh NC
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 6 members
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