815E Motherboard advise needed + Win 98/Me

[Mats122]

I have a dillema - which MB to choose out of the three:
Building a PIII 733 system.

Intel d815 EEAL
Asus CUSL2
Abit SE6

I never had an Intel MB, are they good (should be), can I overclock it? I know with Asus and Abit it goes, but the Asus is very expensive and Intel can be had for $148 shipped.
Please help.
Also is better to install Win 98SE and then update to Me (good offer from Staples for free software and I heard there are some problems with hardware detecting by installation from Me?) or go straight with Me full version?
Thanks
Matt

[gwilks98]

My advice: Stick with Win98, SE. WinME is way too new and has way too many problems to be worth buying. Wait until Microsoft writes some revisions for their BSL1 software.

[gwilks98]

My advice: Stick with Win98, SE. WinME is way too new and has way too many problems to be worth buying. Wait until Microsoft writes some revisions for their BSL1 software.

I've got the CUSL2. Yes I spent the extra money. So far, I'm happy with it. As a general rule, I try to go expensive on the mobo. The last thing you want is a hassle from something that connects every component together.

[kick@ss]

Thes Asus CUSL2 is the best. Forget Windows ME and 98, go for 2000.

[sbp]

As kick@ss already has stated Asus's CUSL2 is the motherboard you want since it is by far the best 815e mobo out there. The os you want to use is win2000 Mats122.

[sbp]

Pssst Chosenfool. Asus's A7V (the KT133 chipset Athlon mobo) is using the ATA-100 from Promise. The CUSL2 has ATA100 built in due to the 815e chipset. The CUSL2 also has better stability than Abit's SE6. :)

http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/pentiumpro/cusl2/index.html

http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/socketa/a7v/index.html


[Edited by sbp on 09-24-2000 at 07:56 AM]

[Mats122]

Thanks for all your help.

[oneeighty]

Nope, dont bother with an upgrade version of ANY kind. Just spend the money to get the FULL version. Upgrades-only software is nothing but "software hell" euphemised. There are ways to trick your computer into installing an upgrade as a full version, but its not worth the hassle.

The upgrade version is the same thing as the full version. It's just that the upgrade runs a compliance check prodedure during the setup process which verifies that you indeed qualify for the upgrade. It simply asks that you insert the previous version into the CD-ROM drive during setup to check that you have it. Then, put the new version back into the drive. It takes about a minute, it's all automatic except for putting the CD into the drive; it's not a hassle. Which means that it is entirely possible and quite common to perform clean installs w/the upgrade version.

WindowsMe Upgrade requires the Win98 or Win98SE CD during setup of a clean install.