Best, Cheapest AMD Mobo with SDRAM for dumb family member

[scarfase99]

okok, sorry for posting here, but here's the reason u never build a computer for family. my sister's computer just died (her ECS k7S5a died) so i gotta get her a new motherboard with AMD XP support & SDRAM support.

Checked newegg, but they didn't have anything. anyone have any cheap suggestions/places to buy em?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ryan]

I always say go with an intel mobo and p4 - they're idiot proff and rock solid.

 

[scarfase99]

yeh, that's too late...and c'mon, u know how cheap family members are...u think they'd splurge on Intel?

anyhow, someone's sellin the K7S5a Pro for $35....good? Is the pro any better than the standard that crapped on me? Any1 got a better suggestion?

 

[scarfase99]

edit that, newegg has the K7S5a pro for $41 shipped, so that's where id get it....any objections?

 

[scarfase99]

OK, here's what I could find....any advice/preference? Reliability would be nicest.

ECS K7S5A Pro - Newegg $41

Microstar K7T Pro - Just Deals $34

MSI K7T Turbo - JustDeals $34

MSI 6330 - Target USA $35

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: scarfase99
OK, here's what I could find....any advice/preference? Reliability would be nicest.

ECS K7S5A Pro - Newegg $41

Microstar K7T Pro - Just Deals $34

MSI K7T Turbo - JustDeals $34

MSI 6330 - Target USA $35

Those other mobos will be a little slower. I'd probably just get another k7s5a Pro, but the others are cheaper.

 

[Peter]

The K7S5Apro was actually the best choice, and it's an easy swap if you had it (or the older non-pro) before. Everything else is different chipsets, meaning you risk an operating system reinstall.

You got to be quick though, this board has been going out of manufacturing, and there's little stock left I presume.

One of the few remaining alternatives that does _not_ use a totally outdated chipset (like all those KT133A solutions mentioned above) is a KT266A chipset board from Syntax.

 

[brentkiosk]

The Biostar M7VIG - pro is a km266 chipset board that takes either DDR or SDRAM in the same way as the ECS K7S5A. It's available shipped at newegg for $51. I have another low end biostar board and it has been OK, but it's only a month old. No idea how it will hold up.

 

[Doomer]

I've got a M7VIG pro and it's ok as long as you're not interested in bragging rights. It's stable and, so far, dependable.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: brentkiosk
The Biostar M7VIG - pro is a km266 chipset board that takes either DDR or SDRAM in the same way as the ECS K7S5A. It's available shipped at newegg for $51. I have another low end biostar board and it has been OK, but it's only a month old. No idea how it will hold up.

Used this board a couple times...nice stable idiot proof...onboard GFX too. Price is right!

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: scarfase99
edit that, newegg has the K7S5a pro for $41 shipped, so that's where id get it....any objections?

I just finished building my K7S5A Pro yesterday. No problems, booted on the first try. All I have to do is some minor tweaking.