I'm quite confused as to why VIA would release a new motherboard based on a slower chipset then what is currently out. I just got an email from VIA talking about their new P4PB motherboard based on the P4X266E chipset.
We have had major issues with the SiS Xabre400 on P4X333 motherboards, maybe this is why... Here's the press release anyway:
VIA Announces P4PB 266E Mainboard, First to be Based on the VIA Apollo P4X266E Chipset
New VIA P4PB 266E mainboard enables support for the latest high-speed 533MHz FSB Intel® Pentium® 4 processors, USB 2.0, and high quality six channel audio
Taipei, Taiwan, 25 July 2002 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the VIA P4PB 266E mainboard for the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor platform, the first motherboard from VIA to feature the highly versatile VIA Apollo P4X266E chipset.
The VIA P4PB 266E offers the performance and feature set necessary to stay abreast in today’s dynamic computing environment. Based on the VIA Apollo P4X266E chipset, the successor of the highly acclaimed Apollo P4X266A, the P4PB 266E mainboard features 533MHz front side bus support for the latest high-speed Intel® Pentium® 4 processors and the rich 2D/3D graphics performance of AGP4X, as well as supporting today’s “must have” features such as DDR266 SDRAM memory, USB 2.0, six channel audio, and ATA/133.
The six USB 2.0 ports on the VIA P4PB 266E enable seamless connectivity to all the latest high speed multimedia devices and peripherals such as digital video cameras, MP3 players, and the next generation of scanners and printers while also providing backwards compatibility with established USB 1.1 standard devices.
An onboard VIA VT1616 audio codec provides six channels of studio quality, crisp, digital surround sound and supports both optical and S/PDIF outputs. The P4PB 266E is bundled with a S/PDIF connector bracket that fits neatly into any available PC chassis I/O expansion slot. The S/PDIF brackets enables digital to digital signal transfers between devices thus eliminating the signal degradation associated with traditional analog audio.
An onboard Smart Card connector enables easy implementation of PC Smart Card reader solutions. Smart Card solutions offer businesses, government, and individuals the highest level of security for applications such as online transactions, credit cards, electronics cash and identification cards. Smart Card implementation continues to grow as organizations continue to move towards storing and releasing information via networks, Intranets, extranets and the Internet.
“The VIA P4PB 266E mainboard features all the essential performance and connectivity technologies to enable our customers to maximize their technology investments in today’s highly unpredictable business environment,” commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing at VIA Technologies, Inc. “It provides a high performance yet affordable platform for building market-leading PC systems.”
FliteDeck™ Firmware Suite
VIA P4PB 266E mainboard users enjoy the added benefit of VPSD’s FliteDeck™ bundle. FliteDeck is an extensive system management suite that empowers the user by enabling full system control through an easy to use Windows®-based management suite. FliteDeck enables advanced features such as overclocking, CPU fan speed and temperature monitoring and BIOS updates. FliteDeck comprises four utilities, MissionControl, JetStream, FlashPort, and SysProbe. For more information on the FliteDeck suite of software and firmware applications please visit our website at:
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/FliteDeck_spec.jsp
VIA P4PB 266E Pricing and Availability
The VIA P4PB 266E is available now through VPSD global distribution partners. Pricing information is available on request. For further details please visit our website http://www.viavpsd.com
About VIA Platform Solutions Division
VPSD brings to market a wide selection of VIA branded products and platforms for building high-performance PCs, workstations and servers, as well as facilitating the rapid development of an exciting new generation of desktop and mobile Information PCs, Information Servers, and Information Stations in line with VIA's "Total Connectivity" vision. Products offered by VPSD include a complete line of high performance mainboard solutions based on the industry-leading VIA Apollo P4X400, P4X266E, and P4M266 chipsets, and the innovative new VIA EPIA mainboard based on the ultra compact mini-ITX form factor. Detailed product information about the complete VPSD product line is available at the VPSD website at www.viavpsd.com.
We have had major issues with the SiS Xabre400 on P4X333 motherboards, maybe this is why... Here's the press release anyway:
VIA Announces P4PB 266E Mainboard, First to be Based on the VIA Apollo P4X266E Chipset
New VIA P4PB 266E mainboard enables support for the latest high-speed 533MHz FSB Intel® Pentium® 4 processors, USB 2.0, and high quality six channel audio
Taipei, Taiwan, 25 July 2002 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the VIA P4PB 266E mainboard for the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor platform, the first motherboard from VIA to feature the highly versatile VIA Apollo P4X266E chipset.
The VIA P4PB 266E offers the performance and feature set necessary to stay abreast in today’s dynamic computing environment. Based on the VIA Apollo P4X266E chipset, the successor of the highly acclaimed Apollo P4X266A, the P4PB 266E mainboard features 533MHz front side bus support for the latest high-speed Intel® Pentium® 4 processors and the rich 2D/3D graphics performance of AGP4X, as well as supporting today’s “must have” features such as DDR266 SDRAM memory, USB 2.0, six channel audio, and ATA/133.
The six USB 2.0 ports on the VIA P4PB 266E enable seamless connectivity to all the latest high speed multimedia devices and peripherals such as digital video cameras, MP3 players, and the next generation of scanners and printers while also providing backwards compatibility with established USB 1.1 standard devices.
An onboard VIA VT1616 audio codec provides six channels of studio quality, crisp, digital surround sound and supports both optical and S/PDIF outputs. The P4PB 266E is bundled with a S/PDIF connector bracket that fits neatly into any available PC chassis I/O expansion slot. The S/PDIF brackets enables digital to digital signal transfers between devices thus eliminating the signal degradation associated with traditional analog audio.
An onboard Smart Card connector enables easy implementation of PC Smart Card reader solutions. Smart Card solutions offer businesses, government, and individuals the highest level of security for applications such as online transactions, credit cards, electronics cash and identification cards. Smart Card implementation continues to grow as organizations continue to move towards storing and releasing information via networks, Intranets, extranets and the Internet.
“The VIA P4PB 266E mainboard features all the essential performance and connectivity technologies to enable our customers to maximize their technology investments in today’s highly unpredictable business environment,” commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing at VIA Technologies, Inc. “It provides a high performance yet affordable platform for building market-leading PC systems.”
FliteDeck™ Firmware Suite
VIA P4PB 266E mainboard users enjoy the added benefit of VPSD’s FliteDeck™ bundle. FliteDeck is an extensive system management suite that empowers the user by enabling full system control through an easy to use Windows®-based management suite. FliteDeck enables advanced features such as overclocking, CPU fan speed and temperature monitoring and BIOS updates. FliteDeck comprises four utilities, MissionControl, JetStream, FlashPort, and SysProbe. For more information on the FliteDeck suite of software and firmware applications please visit our website at:
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/FliteDeck_spec.jsp
VIA P4PB 266E Pricing and Availability
The VIA P4PB 266E is available now through VPSD global distribution partners. Pricing information is available on request. For further details please visit our website http://www.viavpsd.com
About VIA Platform Solutions Division
VPSD brings to market a wide selection of VIA branded products and platforms for building high-performance PCs, workstations and servers, as well as facilitating the rapid development of an exciting new generation of desktop and mobile Information PCs, Information Servers, and Information Stations in line with VIA's "Total Connectivity" vision. Products offered by VPSD include a complete line of high performance mainboard solutions based on the industry-leading VIA Apollo P4X400, P4X266E, and P4M266 chipsets, and the innovative new VIA EPIA mainboard based on the ultra compact mini-ITX form factor. Detailed product information about the complete VPSD product line is available at the VPSD website at www.viavpsd.com.
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