Cheap socket A board with IGP needed

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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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A friend just had his new HP ripped off. He just went thru a nasty divorce, just back to work after a downsizing etc., so his funds are limited. His basic need is for an internet box and some office apps, so I am helping him select a cheap reliable mother board and case. I came up with this case and board on New Egg. Anyone use either of these components or have suggestions on alternatives? This is the ultimate cheap box so integrated graphics I feel is the best way. Thanks

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE

Case
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE

I have pretty much settled on this CPU
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Anything nForce2-IGP based will be faster, more reliable, and have WAY better integrated graphics. Well worth the few bucks.

- M4H
 
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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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Heres what I came up with for a cheapo rig. I wanted to order from one site for simplicity. He does not game at all so that has been taken into account when selectinf these components. This is not for me, but a budget strapped friend in a bind so here goes. He can get a 17" CRT from someone else for free, Win XP has been arranged and he will be using Star Office(for free!) and a free AV program to start(PC CHILLIN)..

Anyone have any thoughts or observations?

$ 269.98 shipped. He also has a working PS2 keyboard and mouse.
new linky
http://secure.newegg.com/app/s...rt.asp?submit=SHIPPING
 
newParadigm

newParadigm

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2003
3,667
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1 word M7NCG built like 5 systems with this board in the past few months, they are nice.
 
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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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new Paradime, that was the first board I priced, but sadly, despite ithe richness of its features, it was too pricy for this situation. This is a LOW Budget Box. Thanks for the input all.
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Didn't get a chance to look at your SC, but I second the DFI KM400 as a HOT cheap mobo with integrated graphics! Should have looked at the Duron 1600/1800. More than enough performance and could have saved a few $s or shifted to better mobo or video...

.bh.

Where's the :sun: ?
 
Gamingphreek

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Also dont get a SCK A Sempron. Get a mobil Barton or even a retail barton. Sempron is only worth it if you go SKT 754 as then it uses K8 Architecture.

Biostar M7NCG, best one out there for cheap. If not look for MSI's or Leadteks.I thnk MSI's might have been discontinued.

-Kevin
 
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batmanuel

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2003
2,144
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Sempron 2500+ and ECS KT333 Motherboard combo for $69.99.

GeForce MX 4000 for $35 shipped.

$105 plus whatever outpost is charging for shipping. I guesstimate that total overall cost should only run about $25 more at most than the PC Chips board and Sempron combo you were looking at. It should run a bit faster overall, while also allowing him do play a few low-end 3d PC games if he wants to as an added bonus. The newer ECS chipset also has USB 2.0 support that I don't think the older KT266 had, which could come in handy in the future.

I think the combo special ends today, but Fry's/Outpost is always doing those Sempron/ECS combos.
 
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Comparisonman

Member
Oct 8, 2004
124
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Check the clock speeds on the new Semprons before purchasing them. They may be renamed Athlon XPs but the naming has changed to reflect competition with Celeron CPUs. Here, check out the specs on the DFI KM400 motherboard: DFI KM400
 
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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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Batman, nice find. I can never find those Mobo combo`s when I check Outpost.com.

Comparison man, wat`s that board cost?
 
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batmanuel

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2003
2,144
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I just get an error when I try look at the Newegg shopping cart you linked to, patsfan, but that first motherboard you listed from PCChips won't work anyway because the KT266 chipset only supports a 266FSB and the Sempron you're looking at is a 333MHz FSB part. It also lacks onboard video. Not sure if you realized that.
 
Gamingphreek

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
OMG!!! IT isn't going to let you link to a shopping cart, they are secured for your IP only. DUH!!!!!

-Kevin
 
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piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
I always tell people to never ever buy anything made by PCCHIPS. If you think that brand will work well, then it is like taking your money and throwing it away. Maybe it will work, but most likely it will give you trouble.

I think ASROCK makes some nice integrated NFORCE2 motherboards. Gigabyte had one on sale a while back for about $49.00 but it needed a video card.

My money would be on an Asus A7n8x ultra 400 and some kind of hand-me down video card or a cheap Radeon 9000. There are not many integrated Nforce2 video cards worth buying.

Might also find a Shuttle or a VIA chipset that will work with a cheap Sempron Processor.

Stick with quality and dont go too cheap.

Sometimes Intel sells some cheap integrated P4 motherboards with a 400Mhz Bus or a 533Mhz Bus or even a 800Mhz bus for under $100.00. With Intel Extreme Graphics.

I think the best bet is to get a Nforce2 Ultra 400 motherboard that can take PC3200 RAM and handle Dual DDR so it can be upgraded later if your friend desires.

Maybe you can find some old PIII someone has sitting around that will work pretty well. Lots of businesses just throw old computers away.

 
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batmanuel

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2003
2,144
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Originally posted by: patsfan33
Batman, nice find. I can never find those Mobo combo`s when I check Outpost.com.
Click to expand...

If you go to the socket A motherboard section, they are all on the second page, at the end of the listings of the individual motherboards.

Too bad you don't have a Fry's nearby. My local one has the combo for $59.99, and plus I save by having no shipping fee. I'm planning to pick one of these combos up tonight myself to upgrade my in-law's home PC for cheap (from a 800MHz Duron on a KT133A board with bulging caps). I've got similar money constraints on my project, so I understand how critical it is to stay on budget. For what you need this PC to do, a Sempron ought to be fine. Sure, a Barton would be better, but I don't think that the guy you're building for would honestly really notice the increase in clockspeed and cache if he's just doing normal everyday tasks. If you have the extra money, it would be better spent on beefing up other parts of the system (like the video card and RAM) that would have more impact on the user's overall experience than a relatively modest CPU boost.

 
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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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Thanks Batman, I am going to order that combo from Outpost.com. This is the board I was going to buy, because of price http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE

case http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
ram http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
optical drive http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
hard drive http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
floppy http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
video http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
 
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patsfan33

Member
Oct 18, 2004
125
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thanks comparison man, that DFI is a nice main board. cheapest board I have seen with that chipset and Sata support. I will keep that in mind for another situation.
 
Gamingphreek

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Still it is an Integrated VIA graphics chip. The Nforce IGP pwnes all (Well not sure maybe ATI is competing but in general).

Go with the Biostar M7NCG. Nforce>ALL

-Kevin
 
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