Elitegroup P6BAP-Me / P6BAP-A+ VIA Apollo Pro 133 Socket-370 microATX / ATX

AnandTech Motherboard Rating

Performance

The P6BAP-A+ was about average in terms of performance but the P6BAP-Me was noticeably below average. Performance is not one of the Me's redeeming qualities.

Price

The presence of only two fans and only 4 PCI slots on their ATX board shows that ECS is cost-cutting. However, both of these allow Elitegroup to manufacture a relatively inexpensive board.

Stability

While ECS has not produced two of the most stable boards, they should be enough above average to run smoothly for a home computer.

Quality

An abundance of capacitors and quality design which led to above average also led to an above average mark here.

Features

The added features of this board such as adjustable core voltage and jumpers to force 133 MHz bus speed makes both boards a little above average in terms of features. The addition of ISA slots allow flexibility for users trying to incorporate older components in their system.

Layout

The only problem with the layout of the board was the placement of the power connector.  Power, IDE and floppy drive connectors are all optimally located on the board, preventing cable clutter and allowing easy installation.  

While a little oddly spaced on the P6BAP-A+, the front panel LED and switch connectors are all lined up, allowing easy access even when the motherboard is in a case. 

The presence of only four PCI slots none of which can accept full length cards is a downside, but the presence of two ISA slots allows for increased flexibility. 

Availability

ECS is randomly dispersed both on the internet and in local stores. This makes it somewhat difficult to find below average in retail availability. 

Documentation & Software Bundle

The documentation and software bundle were very detailed. The full manual and the driver CD were very nice additions when opening the box and installing the board.