Anything Other than Marlin and A4988

Better? What's you beef with Marlin?

They make A4988s on a black PCB with better thermal dissipation, and drop in replacements using other chips.

What's your beef with the stock A4988s? They're solid with a small fan mounted on them.

These are $12 and ready to plug in - http://www.panucatt.com/product_p/sd8825.htm

The 8825 uses the Texas Instruments chip which is more up to date than the Allegro.  The biggest difference I can see is that it is capable of 1/32 microstepping rather than 1/16 which theoretically gives you more resolution in movement since the motor can move in smaller steps.  I don't think it would make much difference in XYZ, but I've been considering getting one to see if it makes a difference in the extruder. 

More importantly the older 82b is out of stock and the 8825 is ready to ship.

Ian,

Checked the schematics on the A4988 and teh Sure Steppers although the SS says it is drop in the schematics pin outs look totally different place. I am assuming just a schematic and not physical (which is odd)

Do you know that it works? Otherwise do you know where they sell pre-soldered A4988 regular or black editions pre-soldered few sites I have seen all are not soldered