Decent board w/ onboard video

[PrinceofWands]

I need a new board to replace a burned out one. I already have the system packed so I don't care much about onboard options, except that I'd like onboard video better than my old geforce2 if one exists. I also plan on replacing the cpu and ram anyway so that's not a factor. Raid 0+1 or 1.5 would be a plus, but not a requirement. By the way, this isn't my main system, so there's really no chance of it ever going over the equivalent of an AMD 2500 Barton.

I've been strongly considering the nforce 2 w/IGP, but I have no need of the sound features really or the dual lan, and most the boards I find only have 3 pci slots, and I need a minimum of 4.

So anyway, any suggestions?

 

[robcy]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...=22&manufactory=1442&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1
At bottom of page.

This is a good board with IGP. It does not have raid, but any software based card for 20-25 bucks will work fine.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I use the Soltek SL-75MRN-L pic and it's about as basic as NF2 IGP boards get. Basic Realtek 6ch audio, 1 LAN, and IGP, it overclocks extremely well though is the major plus.

 

[Derux]

Yep .. SL-75MRN-L has had a lot of praises in its day .. you won't go wrong with that one.
NewEgg is the only place selling them I think ...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

You can buy the Solteks from misrcorps.com but it will be a bit more than the egg with shipping although he backs the boards very well so it can be worth it, and Googlegear carries it as well. There aren't many vendors with it though, that's for certain, it's because Soltek U.S.A closed shop and many here still aren't familiar with the brand.

 

[PrinceofWands]

How would the soltek compare with the Abit NF7-M or the Epox EP-8RGA+? Those seem to be the 3 boards that fit my needs, though none have any raid function.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

All 3 are great boards with the Epox having the firewire support option via headers that the other 2 do not. I've only used the 75MRN of the 3 and I can vouche for it as a great board, it permits 16-1.8v vdd chipset voltage adjusment via the bios so 400DDR FSB is not a problem. I run my 2500+@2.31ghz-1.8vdd in it using 400DDR dual channel synch mode and it's been a rock for months now at those settings. I also have scored 6001 in 3Dmock2k1 using the MX440 IGP which is pretty darned good, and it ran Ghost Recon, UT2k3, Max Payne, MOH:AA and BF1942 very well with moderate resolution and game settings.

I think it's a matter of preference really as to which to buy given the close similarity in features, and I know if you buy the Soltek from Misr he will back it 100% for the full year of warranty. I also know Abit RMA is very good but I don't have any experience with Epox's though I think they are good as well. I chose the Soltek because it looked good with the window mod on the case, has good active northbridge cooling, and was the least expensive *85$ * NF2 IGP with excellent overclocking features *vdd adjusment was the clincher* when I bought it.