Biostar M7NCG 400 good deal?

[Wanderer]

Im putting a rig together for my siblings mostly for school (*couph GAMING! cough cough!) work.
I found a good deal on a Biostar M7NCG 400 and was wondering if this mobo was still up to most games
and some future ones standards? I kept the radeon 9600 256ddr (from a previous purchase) and was thinking of throwing that in for video, but I remain undecided as to the memory. Also if someone could tell me what is the best chip
to go with this mobo I would appreciate it

 

[Wanderer]

_ edit

i got found the deal @ newegg Biostar M7NCG 400/$60

 

[chilled]

I hear Shuttle's nForce2 board is available for a good price in the US (I remember cursing VAT taxes with regards to this mobo). I would get that over the Biostar, AFAIK, the biostar has a feeble BIOS with no multiplier/voltage adjustments.

If that doesn't matter to you then I think the Biostar should be OK - but then gain in that case you should get whichever nForce2 board is cheaper. If it has dual channel memory then get 2 equal sticks otherwise just get one larger one. the 9600 np should be adequate for most current games.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

biostar is bad news....

 

[NesuD]

Originally posted by: chilled
I hear Shuttle's nForce2 board is available for a good price in the US (I remember cursing VAT taxes with regards to this mobo). I would get that over the Biostar, AFAIK, the biostar has a feeble BIOS with no multiplier/voltage adjustments.

If that doesn't matter to you then I think the Biostar should be OK - but then gain in that case you should get whichever nForce2 board is cheaper. If it has dual channel memory then get 2 equal sticks otherwise just get one larger one. the 9600 np should be adequate for most current games.

That is actually incorrect. The biostar M7NCG does have multplier and voltage adjustments. I think you are confusing it with the M7NCD. The M7NCG 400 surprisingly does a fair job overclocking considering it is a budget board with the Onboard GeForce video. I have used it in a couple of builds and it has worked just fine for me. For the price It is a pretty good board with some overclocking features in the bios.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
biostar is bad news....

agreed

 

[myocardia]

It's only the M7NCD, not the M7NCD Pro or Ultra that doesn't have voltage adjustments.

 

[Wiggo100]

Personally I stay right away from Biostar, ECS, Jetway, PCChips, Syntax and other low name OEM manufacturers/suppliers and I'd advise you to do the same (a few extra $'s spent now will save ya more $'s later). :beer:

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
biostar is bad news....

ive had nothing but problems with em

get the shuttle an35n ultra from newegg for about 65 or so, better board, head very good things about it

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Wanderer
Im putting a rig together for my siblings mostly for school (*couph GAMING! cough cough!) work.
I found a good deal on a Biostar M7NCG 400 and was wondering if this mobo was still up to most games
and some future ones standards? I kept the radeon 9600 256ddr (from a previous purchase) and was thinking of throwing that in for video, but I remain undecided as to the memory. Also if someone could tell me what is the best chip
to go with this mobo I would appreciate it

best bang for the buck?

I'd also get the shuttle an35n $60
Chip atlonxp 1800 $48
Memory Buffalo cas 2.5 PC3200 2x256 $88

Set bus speed at 200 and you're golden.

 

[OCNewbie]

I've had the M7NCG 400 for almost 2 months now I believe, and it's been just fine for me. It has pretty much every voltage/fsb adjustment that you can think of, which AFAIK the an35n has little to none of that, except maybe FSB adjustments.

Good price, good adjustment settings, etc. Good board as far as I can tell.

I did have some trouble finding a good overclock for my old 1.33GHz T-Bird on it when I first got it, but that may have something to do with the fact I haven't messed with a system build in like 2 years too. But once I figured out everything, it's been running no probs at all since then.

 

[crypticlogin]

The M7NCG 400 is a microATX board so unless Wanderer's one of those freaks D ) who likes to put mATX boards into ATX cases, those of you making recommendations on full sized ATX boards is moot.

For $60 shipped, the M7NCG 400 is the cheapest factory new nForce2 mATX board available, period. If price is your main concern, then the Biostar is a good deal. For anything else like reputation, OCing, features, etc., you'll be paying more for those.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: tenchim
The M7NCG 400 is a microATX board so unless Wanderer's one of those freaks D ) who likes to put mATX boards into ATX cases, those of you making recommendations on full sized ATX boards is moot.

For $60 shipped, the M7NCG 400 is the cheapest factory new nForce2 mATX board available, period. If price is your main concern, then the Biostar is a good deal. For anything else like reputation, OCing, features, etc., you'll be paying more for those.

I guess I'm a freak.. In the misses machine I have a shuttle MN31N inside antec sonata.

 

[TD77077]

I've never had a problem with a Biostar motherboard. And I've used several, including the M7NCG400 (but it was for someone else, but it is still running fine). However, I don't OC.

I HAVE had trouble with Asus, Aopen, ECS and DFI motherboards before, with only using them a few times.

So I guess it's partly luck of the draw and partly how you are going to use them, especially whether you OC or not. I'll take Biostar any time for an OEM build.

 

[crypticlogin]

Originally posted by: Zebo

I guess I'm a freak.. In the misses machine I have a shuttle MN31N inside antec sonata.

I knew there were some of you out there.