A new mainboard to my athlon XP system

[Sonix7]

Almost a year ago I bought my system, let's say I purchased an entry level rig.

MSI-K7N2G-L (IGP+MCP), AthlonXP2600+ , 2 x corsair XMS2700C2 256MB, Samsung 80GB IDE.
The rest of the system doesn't care.

For these days I've been planning to buy a low budget video card (Radeon 9200 128MB or GeforceFX 5200 128MB?) and getting the best mainboard according to my others components. by now I've got my favorites:
Abit NF7 (why is this one so popular?), Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe, i like both 'cause I've been very happy with the nforce2 and now I'd like to have the best version, but what about those ones based on the VIA KT800 chipset.

No matter which one will be the choice i'll buy them all at newegg.com, so if you've found out hot deals, please post them.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[nick1985]

shuttle AN35N-Ultra

 

[Sonix7]

Originally posted by: nick1985
shuttle AN35N-Ultra

I'd like one better, and that one doesn't have the MCP-T southbridge. thanks anyway

 

[nick1985]

one better?!

alright have it your way.

::awaits the flood of posts that support the AN35N-Ultra::

n00bs gotta learn sometime. :beer:

 

[SneakyStuff]

Originally posted by: nick1985
shuttle AN35N-Ultra

 

[Trey22]

Budget choice, hands down: AN35N-Ultra... great OC'er.

Couple more bells & whistles (MCP+T, SATA, Firewire, Digital Audio out): NF7-S, also a nice OC'er.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: nick1985
shuttle AN35N-Ultra

YEP.

The Abit NF7-S is also a nice one, I'm using it right now. It supports multipliers above 12.5X which is a rare thing, so if that's what you need go with it.

The Asus A7N8X-Deluxe is also very nice, but it is very expensive.

I would personally get the Shuttle.

HOWEVER

If you are buying a lowly R9100, why don't you just get an nForce2 motherboard w/ built-in GF4MX video? It won't be THAT much slower than the 9100. Neither of those graphic solutions are even mid-end at this point, so does it even matter to you?

I would get the Abit NF7-M in that case, or a Shuttle one if it exists (I'm pretty sure it does).

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: nick1985
one better?!

alright have it your way.

::awaits the flood of posts that support the AN35N-Ultra::

n00bs gotta learn sometime. :beer:

an 35n ultra

 

[Texun]

I've built 2 systems with the AN35N-U (one for my file server and one for a friend) and would have to say that they are as stable as the NF7 that I use daily.

Super stable, NF2, plenty of OC options and stable as a rock. They're also cheap! $58 shipped at Newegg. Great board if you don't need SATA \ RAID. The NF7-S is also a gerat board. $85 shipped for the NF7-S or $69 for the NF7.

 

[Sonix7]

does serillel really works in the abit mainboards? i mean Will the IDE atapi devices function any better and i'd see a performance increase?

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: Sonix7
does serillel really works in the abit mainboards? i mean Will the IDE atapi devices function any better and i'd see a performance increase?

General word of caution, you can't use the Serillel2 adapter with an Antec Super Lanboy case.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Sonix7
does serillel really works in the abit mainboards? i mean Will the IDE atapi devices function any better and i'd see a performance increase?

sooo...how bout that AN35N-Ultra?

 

[Sonix7]

Well I think I decided now, I'd go with the Abit NF7-S just $85 from newegg. The shuttle would be an excellent choice either but its lack of Soundstorm APU was determinative.

thank you all so much, btw how much do i have to add after tax and shipping? it'll be ship to new york

 

[CraigRT]

well if everyone is going to vote for the Shuttle board as the best value board, I am going to rave about my Solteks... SL-75FRN2-L was selling for $79 CANADIAN dollars at ncix.com a while back, it is by far the best AthlonXP mobo I have used (even when comparing with more expensive boards)

it's rock stable and cheap.

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: Sonix7
Well I think I decided now, I'd go with the Abit NF7-S just $85 from newegg. The shuttle would be an excellent choice either but its lack of Soundstorm APU was determinative.

thank you all so much, btw how much do i have to add after tax and shipping? it'll be ship to new york

I could be wrong, but I don't believe you will have to pay tax, and you get free Fedex Super Saver shipping.