Motherboard Head to Head: Epox MVP3G2 vs Tyan S1598

Layout - Advantage Epox

Just like our motherboard reviews, our Head to Head comparison starts off with a comparison of the layouts of the two motherboards.  Both boards are available in a standard ATX form factor with the Epox G2 measuring in at 8" x 12" and the Tyan S1598 coming in around 0.3" longer but with the same width.  While that extra 0.3" doesn't seem to be much on paper, it does translate into a startling disadvantage for Tyan in the layout department.   By placing the Socket-7 connector in the bottom right hand corner of the motherboard, cramped ATX cases either won't accept the motherboard with a larger (1.25"+) heatsink on the CPU or they will allow for the installation of the motherboard but doing so will render one or two 3.5" storage bays unusable. 

Since both boards boast the same 5/2/1 (PCI/ISA/AGP) expansion slot configuration as well as the same 3 DIMM slots for memory expansion (located in the same area on both motherboards), the only other point for layout comparison is with the expansion slots themselves.  In this respect, Tyan comes away victorious as all of the PCI slots on the S1598 are capable of accepting full length cards as is a minimum of one of the ISA slots.  The extra 0.3" on the S1598 allowed Tyan to place the two IDE connectors and the floppy drive connector in one vertical line whereas the G2's layout has the floppy connector along side the first IDE connector therefore obstructing the installation of full length PCI cards in the first two slots. 

The positioning of the ATX power supply connector on the S1598 is also more ideal than that on the G2, as you must stretch the cables across the entire length of the motherboard in order to reach the connector on the latter while Tyan placed theirs on the far right hand edge of the board, naturally located near the ATX power supply in your case.