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I need to build a system as cheap as possible, but with good parts (I know, this is an oxymoron) anyways, to save costs I'm going AMD XP 1800. I need to choose a motherboard. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, no overclocking or anything, the only thing it needs is to be ATHLON XP compatible and to have integated video. I want something that would be cheaper than a k7s5a and video card combo. Any suggestions? This already rules out the nforce chipsets i think.
One thing I never skimp on is the mainboard. This is the foudation for your system and a bad mainboard, regardless of the quality of the other parts you install, is going to give hrut your performance.
What I would recomend is this: Get GOOD mainboard without itegrated video. One that will handle a faster proccessor later. Get a slower proccessor and video card now to save a few dollars. Then upgrade those as you have the resources.
Understand, a cheap mainboard may perform so poorly, even with a 1.8 Gz, that you may anly get the performance of a 1.2 anyway. So what did the cheap board really save you? Also a board with integrated video won't usually have an AGP port, so upgrading down the road is not a good option.
Saving money is a good idea as long as it doen't cost you more down the road.
I will be selling this to a kid in my school who subscribes to the MHZ myth. he would rather have a pentium 4 2GHZ with a TNT2m64 and SDR pc100 ram than a 1.2 GHZ athlon with a geforce 2 gts and pc2100 ram. the only reason i can get him to go with the athon so far is that it's cheaper. i tried explaining the mhz myth but he dont get it.
I found a prospective board, Biostar M7VKQ has anyone used this? is it an okay board?
If he's a kid and he's into the MHZ thing he is probably looking at gaming, isn't he? If he is you definately want to stay away from on board video! Most of them are really crappy. Put him on a cheap board with an Athlon with cheap video and he'll just think he was right that he should get a p4! you'll handycap the Athlon so bad anything will look good!
GLSMith
looked further, axion's selling TNT2's for 22 bucks including shipping, its only got 4 megs of ram but it'll kick the integrated video's a$$.
so, any advice for a good athlon xp mother board, integrated video not required, agp card is required, thats cheap and good?
I agree with what was said above, but if the kid wants this and thinks he knows more than you and wants to pay you, why the heck not give him what he wants.
<a href="http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7n266-e/overview.htm" target="_blank">http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7n266-e/overview.htm</a>
The link is for an Asus board with an nvidia tnt2 card built in with sound and a crappy lan card as well. Makes for a ver cheap system than actually might perform. It supports up to an XP1900.
Please note I have never personally used this board and can not tell you if it's a dog or a performer. It does suit your needs though.
I agree with the A7N266-E i tried the board for abouth a month the integraded video GF2MX200 32MB is way better than a old TNT2 and as nice 5.1 MCP sound on it. It takes DDR RAm and procs up to 2000+ (yet). Its a good qualioty mainboard. no offense but that biostar you<ve chosen bites..
Dont cheap on the motherboard it's one of the 3 most important parts of your system. Choose wisely but remember pay less today pay more tomorrow , and youl learn the hard way... If you can afford waht you want now, wait abit and get better parts you wont regret it