Best Value CPU/MOBO Combo

[Blinkme323]

Hi guys, I have about $125 to sepnd on a processor and motherboard. What would be the best way to go? I have a 9700 pro and 2x256 pc3200. I want to play HL2+mods mainly and don't plan to upgrade until another year or two. I am currently using an Athlon 1800 which performs very nicely considering it is 3 years old. I am thinking a Karaktu Celeron M setup 200X16 for $125. An Athlon Mobile 2500 + Abit Nf7-s ver 2 215X11 setup for $80. Or a P4 2.8/533 and pretty cheap motherboard for $140. I am leaning towards the Athlon Mobile. What do you think? Are there any better deals out there?

 

[bocamojo]

Well, I got an A64 3000+ and ECS 755 A2 combo for 169 from SMK Superstore, which is a bit more than you have budgeted, but would be worth the extra 45 dollars. If you can't budge from that number, perhaps you could match up a sempron with the ECS board.

 

[Blinkme323]

How does the Athlon Mobile stack up? Also what about this for $100 brand new:

Abit KV7-V Via Socket A ATX Motherboard and AMD Athlon XP 2900+ Processor

Or this one for $90 brand new:

Soyo KT600 Dragon v2.0 Socket A Motherboard and AMD Sempron 2800+ Processor

 

[Sentinel]

I wouldn't buy a VIA board, but the Mobile is great, but I don't think it will be so much of an increase in performance from what you have. I would save up and buy a Athlon 64 3000+ -It's just my thoughts.

 

[Blinkme323]

A Mobile setup wouldn't be a big jump from an Athlon 1800 133X11? What do you recommend then? If it is new and a lot better, I could stretch to $150 shipped MAYBE.

 

[ribbon13]

Indeed, save up for a ADA3000BIBOX and a MSI RS480M2-IL. Sell all your old stuff, then buy a video card.

For $150... you not going to get a lot of improvement.

I would upgrade my RAM if I was in your posistion.

 

[Blinkme323]

That is way too much for me. My video card is a decent 9700pro. Where would a Prescott 2.8/533 with 1mb cache rank in here? And, what about those Semprons? Is the Athlon Mobile still the best deal.

 

[biostud]

socket A is dead, a socket 754 3000+ is minmum

 

[Sentinel]

you're going from 1.53GHz stock to 2.08GHz stock, while you could oc that quite a bit I would go higher to the sempron (at least) or 64bit realm.

 

[Blinkme323]

Out of the AThlon Xp 2800, Athlon Mobile 2500, Sempron 2800, and P4 2.8 which is best.

 

[Sentinel]

P4 2.8

 

[bocamojo]

BZBOYZ has an ECS 755 A2 w/ A64 2800+ and heatsink for 148 shipped.

http://www.bzboyz.com/store/product4190.html

 

[Blinkme323]

I got the 2.8/133 from a Dell Dimension 3000 from work. I put it in a cheap SIS661 motherboard and it performed terrible. I think it might have been the mobo or power supply, but it was worse than my Athlon 1800 so I soid it for $125 giving me my current budget. Also, how well will that A64 perform. Very interested, thankyou for the link.

 

[bocamojo]

It will work like a champ. I bought the A64 3000+ with the ECS 755 A2 motherboard, and it is awesome. Big jump up from my P4 2.1GHz system that I had before.

 

[Blinkme323]

If I could get that price down maybe $10 it would be a definate. Is regularf packaging all right or should I do bronze. Is the motherboard real cheap and and not allow overclock? Are there nay coupon codes or anything.

 

[Blinkme323]

I found if you use "Coupon Code" you get free shipping Very tempted to buy. How deos it overclock for you. I would like to get it to 2.4 if possible. I have 512 pc3200. Also, this will smoke the Athlon Mobile and my vurrent setup right? I saw a bench in Sandra on Tom's hardware guide where it gets killed by P4's but it seems to do mcuh better in games which is all that counts.

 

[bocamojo]

Originally posted by: Blinkme323
I found if you use "Coupon Code" you get free shipping Very tempted to buy. How deos it overclock for you. I would like to get it to 2.4 if possible. I have 512 pc3200. Also, this will smoke the Athlon Mobile and my vurrent setup right? I saw a bench in Sandra on Tom's hardware guide where it gets killed by P4's but it seems to do mcuh better in games which is all that counts.

The main downside to this mobo is that it is not very overclockable. However, it has a blazing chipset, and runs mem at ddr400, fsb at 200, hyperthreading at 16bit, etc. If you're looking to overclock, you'll need to spend about 50 more dollars on a better mobo.

BTW, I have an AIW 9800 to go along with this mobo and an A64 3000+ and I get about 6400 in 3dmark2k3, so it is a good budget gaming rig, if that's what you're looking for.

 

[Blinkme323]

A slight oveclock would be good enough. What do you (or what can you) run at. Even 2.1 will do it. How does it compare to the other systems mentioned.

 

[bocamojo]

If you bump dimm voltage up to 2.65, you may be able to push the FSB as high as 216, but only if you're running with a parallel ATA drive. If you're running SATA, you would be doing something special to get the FSB to 205. I do not run this rig OC'd at all (except the video card), but others online have pushed an athlon 64 3000+ from 2.0GHz to about 2.16GHz. That's about all you're going to get from this board, in terms of OC'ing. For OC'ing, there are definitely better mobos out there.

 

[Blinkme323]

2.1 would make me happy. I have never used an A64 and don't know anything about them. What are the stock settings for a 2800. 200X9? Should I just raise the bus 215. Does it have an AGP/PCI lock and Can you adjust voltages? How well does it perform stock and would it still kill the Athlon Mobile Setup. How much more would a decent mobo+cpu combo cost me and where can I get one?

 

[Blinkme323]

Also, what is a SATA. I have 2 hd's that are about 2 years ols. Both 7200rpm 4mb buffer,

 

[Sentinel]

Serial ATA, faster transfer rates

 

[bocamojo]

For 229 you can get the A64 3000+ and the Asus K8V-X from SMK Superstore. I have heard it is a pretty good overclocking board.

 

[Blinkme323]

Thanks, but a little bit too much for me. What about something like this:

http://shop3.outpost.com/product/422200...84095270/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1

I just want the best performance that can be had for $150. Will I notice a big difference from an Athlon Mobile 2500 @ 215X11 and a cheap A64. Overclocking is not a must either. I just think you can get some good deals that way. If it performs fine at stock speeds, then that is great. I am liking that mobile setup right now since it is only $80 and has a nice motherboard. I also take it that I don't have SATA>

 

[shoRunner]

really not possible to get a decent processor + mobo for 125, you best bet would be to save another 100 or so bucks. that being said:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-104-212&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductdesc.asp?description=13-152-024&depa=1

and seeing what kinda overclock you can get out of it.