Help in selecting and finding a mobo...

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J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
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I am going for a color themed build for a rig for my daughter. I would like to keep it Intel for the fact that I already have an AMD rig in the house (g/f's). I am looking for a motherboard that supports the following:

Color = Black, Purple, or Black/Purple
Video = AGP only
Memory = DDR only (NOT DDR2) and prefer dual channel capable
CPU = Can be either 478 or 775
Overclocking = sure would be nice for a little extra boost but not necessary

I have all of the parts so far except for the motherboard and CPU. Obviously the CPU is going to be dependant upon what motherboard I choose/get. Here are my findings thus far:

DFI 865PE-TAG
ECS 865PE-A (1.2)
ECS 865PE-A7
Soltek SL-865PRO-775 <--- Perfect but I dunno if I want to chance a "refurb"

The above is what I have found and I am considering so far. If there are other boards that I should look into please post up a link to one for sale or a review of one that I should look into. Thanks for your help!

J
 
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Why limit yourself to Intel? What's your overall budget? You can get an ECS combo for under $100 - that's for CPU and motherboard, socket 754 Sempron and NFORCE3-A or NFORCE4-A754 boards in purple from Fry's (the NFORCE3-A is available at Outpost.com also).
 
Z

zagood

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
4,102
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71
Used to be able to get a 478 P4 3.0HT/ECS mobo combo for $150-$175 at Fry's, unfortunately I think they've phased out all 478 CPUs (none on Outpost). Otherwise, like Zap recommended, a Sempron/ECS combo, they've got one on sale for $70 (2800+, nF3-A).

Unless you go used, you'll be paying too much for a P4 478 processor (they're around $175 new for a 3.0E).

-z
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
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0
Originally posted by: Zap
Why limit yourself to Intel?
Click to expand...

I would like to keep it Intel for the fact that I already have an AMD rig in the house (g/f's).

Originally posted by: zagoodUnless you go used, you'll be paying too much for a P4 478 processor (they're around $175 new for a 3.0E).

-z
Click to expand...

I don't mind obtaining used parts so that isn't a worry.
 
P

pkrush

Senior member
Dec 5, 2005
468
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0
I'd recommend an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum for a system like that. Newegg's apparently discontinued them, though. I know you said you didn't want AMD, but in this case, you can probably get more performance than would be possible with a P4 Northwood and you have an upgrade path to PCI Express later on if you need it. This board will also support AMD dual core CPU's which no Intel board with DDR will do AFAIK (Well,okay, maybe the Asus 775 board with the 865PE chip, but it's not black.)
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
0
0
The ECS 865PE-A7 supports dual core Intel chips but it comes in 3 versions. I emailed ECS to figure out which version of the board Newegg.com is selling. I am thinking that it is a total shoe-in if it is the version 5.0 that newegg.com is selling. I can get that mobo and the Pentium D 805 for less than $200 and it would last for a long time to come....(until something fails or I see the need to upgrade, lol).
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
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0
Well I finally got my response from ECS and come to fins out that they are only shipping/producing the v1.0 right now and have no set date for when the v5.0 will be shipped/released. That is nice to know since it is almost dead already.... sheesh
 
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: jbmx4life
Originally posted by: Zap
Why limit yourself to Intel?
Click to expand...

I would like to keep it Intel for the fact that I already have an AMD rig in the house (g/f's).
Click to expand...

So what's next if you need another computer, VIA CPU? Dude, there's no rule stating that you need to buy something different than you already own.
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
0
0
I understand that there is no "RULE" stating that I have to have something different but this is what I want. What is the harm in wanting one of each? I don't see any harm in it.
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
0
0
I have been looking at a few other ECS boards cuz I am thinking of getting a purple motherboard to go along with the black Sapphire Radeon 9600XT that I got for the build. I got another vid card too, a PNY/Expert Vision FX5700LE and that has a purple PCB but I would rather have the 9600XT. The ECS PT880PRO-A (1.0) is the other board that I have been considering so far. THat board would give me the ability to upgrade the vid card to PCI-E or even run the AGP and PCI-E together along with being able to run DDR or DDR2. I emailed ECS to find out if that motherboard supports the Pentium D 805 as that CPU seems like a steal to me.
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
0
0
Are those supposed to be direct links to certain motherboards? I can understand the manufacturers (in which none of them have what I am looking for) so I am confused as to what they are supposed to be since you offered no other explanation with your links.
 
S

SDPlissken

Member
May 1, 2006
75
0
0
there now you know where they go. as the links say NEWEGG!!! each link gives a full list of boards and pictures so you can see the colors
 
S

SDPlissken

Member
May 1, 2006
75
0
0
Pretty good looking board. it has been used by alot of people. with that being said it should be a stable board to build off of. have you thought of looking at one of these Gigabyte GA-8I865GVME Micro ATX SOLTEK SL-XP865G-L ATX both are intel based boards.
 
J

jbmx4life

Senior member
Oct 14, 2004
293
0
0
yeah I have looked at them but they don't fit with the color scheme that I am going for. I actually found an Intel D875PBZ that was mentioned earlier. I found it on another forum and the guy is sending it to me first to test out since it is in an unknown condition to him right now (he wasn't able to test it). If that doesn't work then I will prolly pursue the MSI board again.
 
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