Advantages: features SATA, dual channel memory Disadvantages: lacks modern features such as ddr2 and pci express
...If your like i was before stuck with a pretty decent socket 478 CPU such as a Pentium 4 2.8 , then this is one of the best motherboards i would recommend to get.
There are lots of great advantages with this motherboard such as the size, its a Micro ATX motherboard meaning that you can have a smaller case such as a media centre case.
It has 2 DDR 400 (backwards compatible with DDR 333,266 and 200) slots which can be used in Dual channel Mode if both Ram modules are the same.
The northbridge chipset on this board is an Intel 865g which supports a front side bus up to 800 mhz , but you can also use 400 and 533 mhz bus CPU's with this board.
It has two SATA slots which i would say is the most future friendly part on the motherboard meaning it wont be a problem when upgrading your hard drive or some optical drives which are now...
Advantages: Relatively cheap, on board sound, on board VGA, reliable and fast Disadvantages: Not many over-clocking option, no firewire
...Features & Specifications of Abit VA-10:
Supports AMD Athlon XP / Sempron Socket-A processors (333/266MHz Front Side Bus).
VIA VT8378 (KM400) / VT8235 Chipset which supports Hi-Speed Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0). Besides, provides on board built in S3 UniChrome 2D/3D Graphics with motion compensation, or ext. Accelerated Graphics Port connector supports AGP 8X /4X (0.8V /1.5V).
Two 184-pin DIMM sockets (Un-buffered Non-ECC DIMM). Supports 2 DIMM DDR 333/266/200 (Max. 2GB).
Integrated UniChrome Graphics. Accelerated Graphics Port connector supports AGP 8X/4X (0.8V/1.5V).
On board VIA VT1616 6-Channel AC 97 CODEC. Professional digital audio interface supports Optical S/PDIF Out.
System BIOS Supports Plug-and-Play (PNP).
Supports Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI).
Supports Desktop Management...
Advantages: Fast, cheap, stable, excellent support and v good manual Disadvantages: Requires a minimum of Win ME upwards
...these are out-dated you have the very simple task of just clicking on update and your chosen driver updates are done for you with nothing else required, its extremely simple and straightforward and a massive bonus of this and other MSi motherboards to have included.
The 845E max is a typical ATX motherboard and therefore will fit into most (if not all) modern desktops and the exact size dimensions are...
Width 30.5 cm
Depth 20 cm
Heres a full list of the included supported features of this motherboard as specified by MSi themseoves on thier website...
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 1 ) x processor - Socket 478
1 ( 1 ) x AGP 4x ( 1.5 V )
2 ( 2 ) x memory ( 2.5 V ) - DIMM 184-PIN
1 ( 1 ) x CNR
6 ( 6 ) x PCI ( 3.3 V/ 5 V )
Interfaces 1 x storage - floppy interface - 34 PIN IDC
2 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D...
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