Best Inexpensive Motherboard?

[Strych9]

Need an inexpensive motherboard with integrated sound/video. CPU will be a P3. Doesn't matter if slot 1 or 370. Oc'ing ability not important. Which one is best?

 

[IaPuP]

If you want a *nice* motherboard with all integrated, buy an i815(e) based motherboard. If overclocking is not an issue, you don't need to buy an Asus or Abit, but pick another brand.

i810e chipsets will also work as it has integrated graphics.
Not nearly as many features, etc

Eric

 

[Dave]

Aopen AX3S Pro Gold:I815E CHIPSET, SOCKET 370, FLIPCHIP, 133MHZ, 5PCI, AGP, CNR, VIDEO, AUDIO, ATA 100, ATX

AOPEN MX3S, I815E CHIPSET, SOCKET 370, FLIP CHIP, 133MHZ, 3PCI, AGP, AUDIO, VIDEO, LAN, ATA 100, MICRO ATX <<< ! SAME PRICE (almost), BUT HAS ETHERNET 10/100 !



... about $155 at myaopen.com, axiontech.com &amp; mwave.com (have used all and like 'em)

Have run these boards with Celeron II 600's and they proved to be very stable ... and overclockable!

I'm an Aopen / ABIT / ASUS / Soyo afficianado (sp?) ... be warned! ... finally broke the PC Chips habit!

Good luck.

 

[Peter]

i815 is ridiculously expensive.

Use a board with an SiS 630 chipset on it. This brings you VGA (3D capable w/ DVD decoders), sound, modem, and LAN, on boards usually are around $100 only. PC-Chips M758LMR for example does all that for you.

(Have a look at Tom's Hardware for a chipset comparison. They use the 630S there, which adds an AGP slot should you decide later that the integrated VGA doesn't suit your needs anymore.)

Regards, Peter