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AMD First Timer - Need MB Recommendation.

G

GolfGeek

Member
Looking for a AMD MB recommendation. The catch is I have 2X256 crucial pc133 sticks that I want to use along with a XP1600. Prefer builtin video and lan but not required. Its primary use will be distributing computing(either Seti or FAH). I'll be using scsi ultra 2 wide for hard drives and utra wide cdrom. Case is an older Supermicro 750A with a 300 watt ps. I know I shoud consider DDR memory but $$ is an issue right now.
 
ECS K7S5A comes to mind, no video tho, but has SDRAM and DDR slots so great for a future upgrade, has LAN as well. Onboard video boards that come to mind are the ECS K7SEM B and the PC Chips M810LMR.All 3 are good boards, make sure u have a top-qulaity power supply to go with them (ie Antec or Enlight or Enermax 300W.
 
Thanks A4A for the reply. Do any of these MBs provide decent overclocking capilities or is that a mute point when using PC133 ram?
 
There is a Asus Mobo that i had that could take both PC133 and ddr266 (can't use then at the same) but that would help you out when you want to upgader to ddr ram... i think it was called AV266....i think that wrong but i have 266 in the name and it a really a good mobo and that you can overclock with too
 
Its not that PC133 boards dont oc, its that these are OEM boards not for enthusaists. There are boards that have ocing with video, but these are nForce boards that use DDR only. I dont think you will be able to find a board withn your features. There certain is a great ocing SDRAM board (IWill KK266+) but it doesnt have video, or LAN I believe. I would avoid the A7A266-E. It can oc, but not great, and also, MAGiK is under performing and I would avoid it.
 
I've used the "SHUTTLE MK20/N (MK20) VIA KLE 133" board before. It has built-in video and Lan and gave me no trouble. Its only $53 at NewEgg.

I have 3 ECS K7S5A boards. They all work great, except that the boards can be a little picky when using cheap ram - I had to swap a memory stick with another computer to get one of my systems stable. All systems run distributed projects stable 24/7.
The ECS K7S5A is a fast chipset, but has no overclock options in the BIOS, but you can overclock it in windows using CPUFSB. I have an Athlon 1700+ overclocked to an Athlon XP 1900+ speed as my main computer. I've had no trouble with older 250 power supplies with this board (one system is using a 250 watt PSU).

The Asus SiS630ET will have on-board LAN and video (making it a great computer for a DC crack rack), but I remember seeing benchmarks showing that this was a slow chipset. It around $60.

I wwould look into the Shuttle MK20N from NewEgg. Can't be the features/price!






 
The ECS K7SEM is the SiS 730S chipset and is only 55$@Newegg. I've built a box using it and it was a good little board, easy install and driver load and adequate performance for a SDRAM all-in-one board. It has advantages over the MK20 such as 4x AGP instead of 2x and a 4x AGP port so you can upgrade your video later.
 
Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
The ECS K7SEM is the SiS 730S chipset and is only 55$@Newegg. I've built a box using it and it was a good little board, easy install and driver load and adequate performance for a SDRAM all-in-one board. It has advantages over the MK20 such as 4x AGP instead of 2x and a 4x AGP port so you can upgrade your video later.
Click to expand...

Yeah that ECS K7SEM is a good little board, don't hear too much about it. I've built 4 systems around this MB and haven't had any problems.

-VTrider

 
Theres also the Biostar M7VIG, its uses the KM266. It has 2 DDR slots and 2Sdram slots. It has onboard Video, sound, and Ethernet.
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Theres also the Biostar M7VIG, its uses the KM266. It has 2 DDR slots and 2Sdram slots. It has onboard Video, sound, and Ethernet.
Click to expand...
That's the first time I've seen that board! It looks sweet compared to the K7SEM! DDR(should help video performance)and ATA133, can you vouche for it's stability?
 
I've used the k7sem about 2 dozen times. i likes the realtek 8139 lan controller better than the sis 900 on the k7s5a. too bad no DDR support, one solid little mobo..
 
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