Building new pc: cheapest mobo/cpu setup??

[TwoMix]

Hey guys, i want to build a new pc...well reuse parts from my p2.
Whats a good mobo/cpu setup that doesn't cost too much?
Should i get a XP 1600+ or a 1700+??

mobo
ECS K7S5A SiS® 735 SOCKET A MOTHERBOARD - RETAIL
56 shipped

cpu
AMD Athlon 1600+/266 FSB XP Processor CPU OEM
$54 shipped

OR AMD Athlon XP 1700+ Thoroughbred /266 FSB Processor CPU 1700+/ 1.47GHz -OEM
$60 shipped

case + psu
Front usb/2nd fan
33 shipped
http://pcinfinity.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PCInfinity&Product_Code=C

ASELCT400&Product_Count=0&Category_Code=CSE

Cooler Master DP5-6I11A CPU Heatsink/Fan - $4+$4shp

artic silver 3 $6+$6shp

Total=$169

Reusing:
floppy
liteon 32x12x40 cdrw
monitor
tnt2 16mb!(upgrading this soon)
Maxtor 80gig 7200 (only freakin thing new in this)
2x128mb pc 133
is there anything else i need? thanks.

 

[RSMemphis]

Your case calls for a:

ECS K7S5A (have used 4 personally, highly recommended), and the cheapest Athlon XP that you can find, i.e. probably the 1600+

The ECS board can use both SDRAM and DDR, so you can switch softly later, however, in most cases you won't feel a lot of difference unless you are gaming.

If you want to go even lower in price, you could get a Duron, but in my opinion the $10 are better spent on the slowest XP...

What harddisk are you going to use? Also, the sound abilities of the ECS are not great, but definitely good enough for $10 multimedia speakers.

 

[TwoMix]

Hey RS thanks for the tip....btw how do u know that thats the only mobo that fits that case? Im a noob well w/ this new stuff anyway.

mobo

is this the best deal out there for this? 56 shipped

 

[RSMemphis]

Heh, he.... Misunderstanding. I meant your "case", not your case.
Your case can take practically any mobo out there.

Your "case", i.e. cheap, use of SDRAM, but possible switch later on to DDR - THAT calls for the K7S5A...

Sorry for the confusion.

$53 sounds reasonable, I would get all that stuff from newegg, coz I like them, but if you are in CA, might check out tcwo (or whatever they are called)...

Edit: one last thing - if you want to overclock, it is possible with the K7S5A when you flash the bios, but not very comfortably. It's a cheap and stable solution otherwise. I overclocked my XP 1600 with one of the earlier steppings to XP 1800 levels (142 FSB), but it's not a huge increase.

 

[thorin]

The K7S5A is a great little board. I've used it for the following systems:

2 2200+s
1 1700+
1 Duron 1GHz

And it worked flawlessly everytime.

Thorin

 

[tart666]

Read the value system guide on the front page

Asus A7N266-VM: nforce GF2MX on-board, eth, 5.1 sound, 4 USB. All for $69 shipped. Better deal than ECS. Plus you don't get the board with 30% failure rate.

 

[RSMemphis]

tart666, I really don't mean to sound harsh, but before you go accusing other people of not suggesting the right thing, reread what he said:

"Reusing 2x128mb pc 133"

That means that your beautiful Asus NForce board won't work.

By the by, the Asus NForce had a lot of problems in the beginning, just as much if not more than the K7S5A.

Edit: Forgot to comment on the system list:

Artic Silver is definitely "the stuff", but if you don't o/c you can get by without. Check if a retail AMD CPU won't come in cheaper than ordering the Coolermaster and the arctic silver.
In terms of CPU, you won't feel a huge difference between a 1600 and a 1700, and both most likely have quite a bit of room for overclocking should you ever desire that. Go with whatever tickles your fancy. If the thoroughbred is one of the earlier steppings, I'd probably get the Palomino, otherwise I'd get the thoroughbred. It's a tough call.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: tart666
Read the value system guide on the front page

Asus A7N266-VM: nforce GF2MX on-board, eth, 5.1 sound, 4 USB. All for $69 shipped. Better deal than ECS. Plus you don't get the board with 30% failure rate.

the ecs is a decent board,but i 100% agree with going with the ASUS, i just built a rig for my girlfriend using this board,and for the cost and what you get in terms of features,its really a no brainer.

 

[TwoMix]

thanks for all the suggestions guys...now to do some more hw on this.