[RESOLVED] how good is on-board AGP

Built in features on motherboards can save some $$, but may also cost some features.

My current project involves getting the fastest 2nd machine I can get for as cheap as possible. I don't play too many games, just a little Starcraft now and then, but I don't want to rule out game play because of lousy system performance.

The primary system use is home web surfing & Windows 2000 skill development.

I've investigated several boards, like the FIC PAG-2130, Amptron P598LMR, & AOpen's Mx59Pro.

Am I selling my soul by getting an integrated board? The Amptron has LAN, modem, sound, video (2x AGP). The others, just video & sound. What can I expect?

The key words here are: second computer and non gamer. If you do get a board with integrated components, just make sure that they are quality parts. They will get the job (office work) done BUT that's about it. Keep in mind, that's all they were designed to do. Personally, I would go go that route with the presumption that I would NOT have gameplay if I used a mobo with onboard chips. You will have to answer the question yourself regarding how important it is for gaming and whether you could bear the performance shortcomings of a motherboard with onboards. Good luck.

[Larommi]

I agree with the last post. As, long as this machine does not have to become the primary machine, intigration is not a problem.

If, I may offer some advice on the boards you researched. I have used all of these boards.
Amptron was easy to setup. All the components onboard have Win2K drivers or drivers that will work. There is new drivers for the onboard modem at the website. The problem is the components are cheap. Really cheap. There is also few slots to replace components that quit working.
The FIC was ok but it is not one of easiest to use like the Amptron.
The Aopen is problably the best out of all I have used. It is very stable and has a few more slots than the Amptron.
Just remember that these mobo's will share your ram. I hope this helps.


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I always do what the voices in my head tell me!

[bdunn]

Ive used that Amptron board with no major problems, put the memory on the board before you mount it as it is hard to get down. Aopen equipment is excellent and I've had mixed results with FIC boards.

YOu can use a motherboard with audio and video onboard. I have pair of them and work perfectly. The fact is, the modern technologies implement a very good audio, video, and modem onboard. are chips are constructed with good technologies and deserves a good work. But... forgeret about upgrade to a good video card... just for gaming. The AGP slot will be truncated if the system have video onboard. No agp onboard you found because normally this bus is used with the agp onboard video. The onboard video right now is very good, 2d and 3d acelerated, agp 2x capabilities but do not come with OpenGL support and high freq rates. Forgeret to use a onboard video for gaming. If you plan to use this machine for game, you make a only one chances: buy Voodoo2 PCI add on cards. If possible, buy a 2 Voodoo2 for SLI conections. This is different. Use a add on card for audio too, a PCI Sound Blaster LIVE if you want to play games. Sound Blaster Live have 4 chanels output, digital in and out, sourround, and 3d acelerated audio.

ok???????

the board is good for are purposes, only make a good idea about what you need!!!

bye
any questions emailme at cm2gj@hotmail.com

bye

[WildTech]

I use the Asus VM-99 board to knock some cost off of the lower line systems I handle. It has onboard 8mg AGP video and 128 bit Creative Labs onboard sound. It can be bought for around $90.00 bucks. Now I know that is more expensive than alot of the other boards out there. But I stress quality in my shop and I charge accordingly. My customers don't seem to mind because they continue to come back time after time. I like the reliability and the quality of the vid and sound cards. Really good stuff!! I send those sytems out the door and never see em again until trade-in time, and for business accounts, thats important. The sound card is great for using Dialpad and other internet voice programs and the vid is crisp and clear. The setup is extremely easy and the K6-2 500 processors luv this board!! Very fast, dependable, and trouble free. I look at it this way. I'd rather put a few extra dollars in the board initially than eat up the savings changing out bad motherboards under warranty. I worked for a shop that used the Alton 598L and 599L motherboards. We changed out dozens of those things. Constant problems and not worth the money we saved buying them. Not to mention having to deal with pissed off customers!!!

My new motto is "make em happy with quality and charge em accordingly".

WildTech

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I'd rather be lucky than smart!!