Best integrated motherboard solution

[NazIr]

Hi everyone!

I would like to build a small and cheap Linux box, and well, I'm thinking of getting a really cheap mobo with integrated sound/video/lan - basically everything. I'm basically just going to tinker around with Linux on it, so it doesn't need to be anything fancy. If anyone has any suggestion for P4, Celeron, Duron or Athlon, please advise me.

Regards,

 

[Agamar]

Well, I think the Nforce series would be about the most tightly integrated package right now. All you need to add is ram and a CPU. Nforce only makes AMD boards right now though.

 

[NazIr]

Hi! Thanks for your reply.

Would you prefer nforce or nforce2? Or is nforce2 not out yet?

 

[Mem]

If you want USB 2.0,Firewire,and a faster onboard video chip(GF4 MX speed) then go with the nForce 2,the original nForce is a lot cheaper but does not have the extra features above so it`s down to price and performance you want,the nForce 2 boards are just starting to appear I believe.

Btw welcome to AT forums.

 

[NazIr]

Hi again!

What's a good mobo or chipset non-integrated for Athlon XP? Good as in reliable, no-problems, trustworthy?

Thanks again for your time!

 

[Mem]

I prefer Epox boards for AMD,they are rock stable in general and great overclockers , read the thread by Insane3D here .

 

[Iron Woode]

I like Epox and MSI. Both are very good manufacturers. I personally lean towards MSI. But thats just my opinion.

 

[Mem]

I like Epox and MSI. Both are very good manufacturers. I personally lean towards MSI. But thats just my opinion.

Yep MSI are good boards IMHO as well,only negative thing is they don`t overclock as well as other brands like Epox,but then it`s all down to what you want board wise,for lots of features/stability and decent price MSI boards are another good choice.

 

[Peter]

Watch for driver support. The very latest in integrated graphics unit will not have XFree drivers yet, and it usually takes a while for that to happen because graphics unit makers are reluctant to give out information.

If you want an onboard-everything Linux toy whose hardware is fully supported, you should go for slightly older stuff.

Like these, which even have a (permanently attached) CPU with a (replaceable) fan/heatsink on:

http://www.pcchips.com.tw/M787CL.html
http://www.pcchips.com.tw/M787cl+v30.html
http://www.pcchips.com.tw/M810Lv71c.html

All three have graphics, sound, AMR modem, LAN and a CPU, all of which are fully supported in current Linux kernels. Performance is in ascending order, the 787 boards with the VIA C3 CPU are particularly interesting because of their low power consumption - 150 watt power supply is sufficient there. Very nice if you want your toy to be quiet.

regards, Peter

 

[Softballslug]

MSI-6390 would be a good start. Onboard video, sound and lan. Uses DDR Memory (2 slots), 3 pci slots, 1 agp slot. Houses amd xp up to 2000+..

Currently it is about $62.00 over at www.newegg.com <B>
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[LazyBastard]

My Abit NV7m is the most stable motherboard I've ever owned. In my event logs all the way back to when I originally installed the OS (Win2KPro), there are no yellow-flag caution events, and no red-flag error messages. The NV7m is a microATX nForce 220 chipset motherboard.