Best motherboard to buy?

[PacMan]

Hi,
I just need some expert advice from the motherboard experts. I’m looking to get a new computer which I will build myself. I’m A+ certified and had been a technician for a year before being layed-off from the bad economy here in US. Ok, I have been away from the latest PC hardware area and need some help from you guys.

I am planning on buying an AMD XP 1800 processor for $105. Now the question is what motherboard to get for it. Motherboards were never my strongest point of knowledge.
I want a motherboard without onboard sound or video. I will get my own sound and AGP.

I think I will get the Mid ATX 300W case.
Here are my options for the motherboard:

ABIT
KX7 $149
AT7 $169

ASUS
A7N $189
A7V333 $149
P4S533 $149
A7M266DM $259 (Not an option cause I feel it’s way over my budget)

I feel pretty safe with these two brand names, I may be wrong. But with the AMD XP 1800 processor, which one of these motherboards would you recommend? I ask you guys rather than the sales guy cause I know he will persuade me (poor in college) to buy the more expensive one when I really would not need it. So I came to you guys for help.

I would like to put a fairly decent AGP card, something like a GF4 MX or maybe a GF4 Ti4200 ($199.00). I really need this computer for my sound and recording. I will probably put in SB Audigy Platinum on it as I save more money.

Will have:
Phone modem
Connected to a network with 2 other computers (NIC card)
Iomega 650 CDR-W
40 gig Maxtor HD
Win XP pro

If you need more info on other hardware I will have on it, plz ask. If you know of websites where I can buy my processor and motherboard cheaper than the price I listed, plz let me know. It really would help me out. I have a 400mhz Celeron right now and anyone in college who are paying for their own education knows how poor I am.

Thnx for any advice or comments.

[freddy]

ok , yes good choice of mfg.

i,m using the asus a7v333 ,,,which replaced my a7a266 ,,,,lot of money - not a lot of difference,

i,m using the xp1600 and 2k ,,,very stable now,

there will be a million other people coming on this thread with there " i like/swear msi/xxxx/yyyy/ssss, etc" m/boards if u like the you have chosen then stick with it,

also note that AMD have reduced there prices over the last few days by 15-20% ,,,so maybe u can recoup costs there .


good luck


FtF

[freddy]

also check out http://www17.tomshardware.com/graphi...charts-01.html ,,,,, u may well find a better card than the one u are thinking of ,,,bang per buck ,,,,,coz it says gf4 ,,,,might not be the best buy ,,,,lot of gf2 / 3 cards going cheap at the moment


good luck


FtF

[NooNoo]

P4S533 $149

I have this board, I can highly recommend it, but you might have a small problem getting the 1800xp to fit

[PizzaMan]

You can save quite a bit of $$$ at http://www.newegg.com
their 1800XP is currently $84.00 including shipping.

You can save on the motherboard, also

PizzaMan

[JungleMan1]

Check out Epox's offering, 8K3A(+) I love my 8KHA+ and it's overclocked to 168MHz FSB and I'm going to unlock soon.

Abit is good too, if those are your ONLY options. Those prices are off the wall however.

[cc_penguin]

If your wanting a Mobo without sound, why are you picking Asus, most of those come with on-board sound. Unless its not too critical if it already comes with audio.
If you do decide to go with Asus, I can vouch that they are great boards.

And, you also stated that you were going to be using an AMD 1800 XP... dont think that wil run in the P4S533

Personally Id go with the A7v333

[PacMan]

Thnx guys.

Ok, from reading all your opinions, it seems best I go with the ASUS A7v333. So the processor will be the AMD XP 1800. So these two are compatible with each other.

Here is another area I have been not too well-informed in. The RAM. What exactly are the different types and their technology and speed.
For instance;

Type:
DDR
EDO
RAMBUS
SDR
Sodimm

Speed:
PC100
PC133
PC 800
PC1066
PC2100
PC2400
PC2700
PC3000
PC3200
PC3300

The size(128, 256 etc), I’m pretty ok with.

Sorry to be a rookie in this field but if someone has a little time and could just explain briefly what the two are, I’d appreciated .

Also, I am planning on buying one 256mb RAM for the ASUSA7v333 with the AMD 1800 XP. Which combination of Type and Speed should I get for the motherboard and processor?

PizzaMan, the website you gave seems pretty good, thnx!

The question is, I saw the hardware at OEM was a lot cheaper than Retail. I knida know what OEM is on software, but for hardware? Someone plz elaborate on this for me further. Also, can anyone tell me if it is worth buying the retail over the OEM? I mean are the OEM refurbished or something?

Thnx for all the help guys.

[NooNoo]

Asus say

DDR333 (PC2700) Support

Therefore you can put upto pc2700 in without any worries (other than your wallet).


Here is a great tutorial about ram in general and what it does for you

Type:
DDR - Double data rate
EDO - extended data-out extremely efficient but expensive - must be used in pairs
RAMBUS - very fast memory backed by intel that should have taken off but didn't http://www.karbosguide.com/hardware/module2e4.htm
SDR - Single data rate - "normal" desktop ram
Sodimm - used in laptops


Speed:
PC100 - SDR
PC133 - SDR
PC 800 - Rambus (RDRAM)
PC1066 - Rambus (RDRAM) http://www17.tomshardware.com/mainboard/02q2/020624/
PC2100 - DDR
PC2400 - DDR
PC2700 - DDR
PC3000 - DDR
PC3200 - DDR
PC3300 - DDR

The higher the number, the faster it is for ddr and sdr- pc800 and pc1066 is rambus though, which is different

[Eagle PC Diagnostech]

Originally posted by PacMan
The question is, I saw the hardware at OEM was a lot cheaper than Retail. I knida know what OEM is on software, but for hardware? Someone plz elaborate on this for me further. Also, can anyone tell me if it is worth buying the retail over the OEM? I mean are the OEM refurbished or something?

Thnx for all the help guys.

OEM Hardware and software are pretty much the same.
You will get the same product as retail, without the box, books, free software, etc.

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by Eagle PC Diagnostech



OEM Hardware and software are pretty much the same.
You will get the same product as retail, without the box, books, free software, etc.

But most important, you give up your right to the full warranty - if you buy OEM you are reliant on the warranty given by the vendor - not by the manufacturer.

If you are looking at OEM hard drives for instance, most manufacturers give 3 years warranty for retail drives - oem's are just one year.

Look at the price difference - and weigh the cost of replacing that part after one year should it go faulty - that is the amount of money you are gambling in the long term to save in the short term.

[condor]

Originally posted by NooNoo
Asus say

Therefore you can put upto pc2700 in without any worries (other than your wallet).


Here is a great tutorial about ram in general and what it does for you

Type:
DDR - Double data rate
EDO - extended data-out extremely efficient but expensive - must be used in pairs
RAMBUS - very fast memory backed by intel that should have taken off but didn't http://www.karbosguide.com/hardware/module2e4.htm
SDR - Single data rate - "normal" desktop ram
Sodimm - used in laptops


Speed:
PC100 - SDR
PC133 - SDR
PC 800 - Rambus (RDRAM)
PC1066 - Rambus (RDRAM) http://www17.tomshardware.com/mainboard/02q2/020624/
PC2100 - DDR
PC2400 - DDR
PC2700 - DDR
PC3000 - DDR
PC3200 - DDR
PC3300 - DDR

The higher the number, the faster it is for ddr and sdr- pc800 and pc1066 is rambus though, which is different

You need to remeber that some of those speeds are not standard and are not recommended. to get the most from your system always buy memory that is certified for your system.


standard DDR speeds are
PC1600 (100 MHz x 2 = 200 MHz FSB) a.k.a DDR200
PC2100 (133 MHz x 2 = 266 MHz FSB) a.k.a DDR266
PC2700 (166 MHz x 2 = 333 MHz FSB) a.k.a DDR333

Some new boards support the new DDR400 standard (P4 boards in production, Athlons expected in a few weeks)

Please remeber that memory FSB is different from CPU FSB, all motherboards today can run async. FSB settings.

Other that your RAM standards I would also recommend that you buy an AMD approved power supply for your system and use a high quality CPU cooler (although AMD ships retail models with a $6 coolermaster ) I would go with the thermaltake Volcano 6cu (4500rpm) or if you value silence and don't plan to overclock the Coolermaster silent series like the DP5-6I31C-0L

[Pacific]

...Good Luck

[PizzaMan]

Originally posted by PacMan
Thnx guys.

Ok, from reading all your opinions, it seems best I go with the ASUS A7v333. So the processor will be the AMD XP 1800. So these two are compatible with each other.

Here is another area I have been not too well-informed in. The RAM. What exactly are the different types and their technology and speed.
For instance;

http://www.crucial.com/ has a feature that shows all of the memory types & sizes that a particular motherboard can support. And if you buy from them, they will guarentee that the memory will work with your board.

PizzaMan

[Bigdog632]

personally based off of reviews and past experience i like the abit kx7-333 board
it doesnt have all that integrated crap
and is a nice all around board and quite affordable IMO