Motherboard Head to Head: Epox MVP3G2 vs Tyan S1598

User Documentation/Software Bundle - Advantage Epox

In terms of Documentation, the S1598 wins hands down.  The manual bundled with the G2 simply won't cut it as far as a thorough manual goes, however Tyan's S1598 manual is aided by useful pictures, mounds of helpful hints and information about the motherboard, and good information on the installation/configuration of the board as well. 

Tyan loses what they gained in the Software bundle, as the CD bundled with the S1598 is nothing more than a drivers/utilities CD, which is expected from any motherboard manufacturer these days.  However that's where Tyan's Software Bundle ends.

Epox goes the extra mile by including a similar drivers/utilities CD-ROM but with one exception, the inclusion of a complementary copy of Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus as well as Ghost 5.1 (hard disk cloning software).  While these two fringe benefits aren't requirements, they do tilt the balance of power in favor of Epox which seems to be the trend in this comparison.

Cost/Availability - Advantage Tyan

Although the S1598 is the more expensive motherboard, the readily available Tyan brand gives it the advantage over the G2 in this category.  What good is a motherboard if you can't find it to purchase?   While the G2 doesn't fit into the "can't find" category, it is definitely a harder to find product than the Tyan board simply because Tyan is a much more of a recognized name in the industry. 

Users on more of a budget will want to consider the Epox board, simply due to its lower cost, and with a bit of searching you should be able to find the board for order online.