EPOX EP-MVP3C MOTHERBOARD REVIEW
Last updated: 3/6/2001
WINBOND W83781D hardware
monitoring chip and temperature two sensors for both the CPU and the system. You
can see these temperatures changing in the CMOS setup. You can see
real-time RPM values for fans connected to the motherboard in the CMOS setup
or the Epox USDM display. The user can set a temperature ceiling
in CMOS which will cause an alarm. If the CPU fan quits, you will hear
a siren-like warning before your CPU is fried.
USER'S MANUAL is simple, short, well
organized, and easy to read. A very good diagram of the motherboard
is immediately followed by two pages showing the jumper and switch settings
in clear and understandable terms. The next page shows all of the front
panel connectors. There is no hunting back and forth through
the book between the motherboard diagram and the jumper settings.
INSTALLATION. Installation
was a snap. When Installing Windows, I recommend that you omit/remove
all expansion boards from the system except the monitor adapter, install
Windows, install the Mini-port driver, and then install any additional boards
one-at-time. VIA's IRQ Routing Mini-port Driver is required to
reliably run Win 98 on this motherboard. The VIA USB Filter Driver
should also be downloaded VIA and installed (the CD does not have this driver
and it is essential if you are going to connect USB devices to your computer). Versions
of Windows older than 95 OSR2 will need Via's IDE BusMaster Driver. You
should down-load them from Via
Technologies Web site and put them on a floppies before installing
the motherboard. New: Via also has a 4-in-1 driver which detects
your version of Windows and install the appropriate drivers. While
at Via web site you may want to look-over their FAQs for additional info. After
installing and configuring the MODEM and Internet software, the Norton Anti-Virus
database should be checked and updated from Norton's
AntiVirus Research Center.
BOTTOM LINE. If you are looking
for a replacement board to keep an office worker going for another couple
of years or as a modest upgrade to an older home computer, and you will be
using 168-pin memory, the EP-MVP3C is an excellent choice. If
you are thinking of building a new computer or you are shopping for a motherboard
for a currently expensive K6-3, then I would advise buying an ATX form-factor
board. For more information see Advise
on Buying a Motherboard and other motherboard reviews in the
Digest.
Larry
Test Computer:
AMD 400 Mhz K6-2 processor, EpoX EP-MVP3C motherboard (Rev 0.1), 1 MB cache',
64 MB, 8 ns PC100 memory, Western Digital AC36400, 6.4 GB, 9.5 ms, EIDE
UDMA hard disk, Windows 98 OEM with FAT32 file system (defragged), A44T
44X CD-ROM, S3 GX Display Adapter with 4 MB.
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