I have $200 and want this UPDATE: I made my purchase !! No more wondering.

[FluxCap]

Well, I recently got engaged and I want to build a machine for both my fiance and I to use. (we are selling our old stuff). I need a MB, ram and CPU. I am starting my shopping with the MB. I want to spend about $80 or less for an Athlon XP board. I want on-board lan, on board audio and a board that could upgrade to 2800+ in the future. Any suggestions??

 

[eklass]

if you want everything integrated with decent 3d, go for something like an asus a7n266-vm with integrated sound, geforce2, lan, etc.

the only thing you'll need is a cpu and ram

look for a mobo + cpu combo on pricewatch. the link is a search in mobo combos for that mobo. just put the speed up in the search box to find the exact item.

looks like $128 for that mobo with an athlon 1600+ (prices start at $117 if you're willing to settle on a duron)

 

[mechBgon]

I like the A7N266-VM too. It doesn't take 333MHz-bus processors, so you would top out at the 266MHz-based variant of the 2600+. More info on it here: thread If you wanted something with more forward compatibility and features, the 8RDA+ makes sense despite despite its higher price.

 

[FluxCap]

I have a Radeon 9000 to put into the board. So would you still recommend the Asus board? (I plan on putting one stick of 512 PC2100 into it along with an Athlon XP 1700+)

 

[mechBgon]

Personally, I would spend the $ for the 8RDA+ since the extra money buys me 6 x USB 2.0, Firewire, more PCI slots, more DIMM slots, and more CPU options including Bartons and other 333MHz-based CPUs. And of course the memory performance is higher with the nForce2 chipset. It has AGP 8X too, not that it does much for consumer-level video cards.

 

[FluxCap]

Sounds like a good option.

Radeon 9000 = consumer level... I take it?

 

[Vette73]

Don't short change yourself on the board. Get a nForce2 board, like Abit, Epox, etc..) the Abit gos for $125 shipped at newegg.com. Has every thing expect Video(Like 5.1 Sound, ethernet, firewire, etc..) Then get a Athlon 1700+. They are around $55 or so, and can be overclocked to Athlon 2000+ range easy. The get a Slab of 256mg PC2700. Newegg.com has a slab for $30 shipped.


That is right around $200 and can take up to a Barton 3000+, and will be fast and last a while.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: FluxCap
Radeon 9000 = consumer level... I take it?

Here's an example of non-consumer-level: 3DLabs WC4

 

[FluxCap]

Which Abit board Marlin?

 

[FluxCap]

I can't believe I am finally going to get better stuff actually. I have been posting on and off for months on this message board trying to decide on an upgrade. So, the Epox 8RDA+ will take a Barton?

Well, the Epox is out of stock atm on newegg.com. Here is what I will be putting with that board if I get it:

15.5gig Maxtor w/ Win2k Pro
Lite-On CDRW
Radeon 9000
Probably 512 PC2700 instead of 2100
XP 1700+

Will newegg put it together for me you think? I heard they might. I kinda want the retail 1700 because of the fan and all but I heard the OEM's usually are the "b" chips.

 

[mechBgon]

I was going to suggest mwave.com as an alternate source for the 8RDA+ but they're out too. The board does take Bartons, although it may not take the upcoming 400MHz-based Bartons... we'll see. The FIC AU11 is almost precisely the same board as the EPoX, minus the two-digit LED code readout, and I see Mwave has it for $85: Mwave FIC and EPoX co-developed the board and I haven't heard any complaints about it so far.

edit: looking at the notes, I see they say

* supported but not warrantied by FIC

just so you're aware.

 

[FluxCap]

My friend at work kept screaming at me during lunch saying buy the ABIT NF7-S, buy buy buy. I am too indecisive.

I also keep reading about the 512 sticks of PC2700 ram and nForce boards having issues. Maybe I should just get PC3200.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: FluxCap
I can't believe I am finally going to get better stuff actually. I have been posting on and off for months on this message board trying to decide on an upgrade. So, the Epox 8RDA+ will take a Barton?

Well, the Epox is out of stock atm on newegg.com. Here is what I will be putting with that board if I get it:

15.5gig Maxtor w/ Win2k Pro
Lite-On CDRW
Radeon 9000
Probably 512 PC2700 instead of 2100
XP 1700+

Will newegg put it together for me you think? I heard they might. I kinda want the retail 1700 because of the fan and all but I heard the OEM's usually are the "b" chips.

Newegg will not put it together for you.

 

[FluxCap]

Ok, thanks.

Only problem I have is I don't know much of anything about good cooling fans and installation, etc. I have been out of the loop *points towards rig link*

 

[Pilsnerpete]

My friend at work kept screaming at me during lunch saying buy the ABIT NF7-S, buy buy buy.

I love ppl who know where your money should go! I would get the rda+ just to piss him off more!!!!


-->>Pete


/scream Get the 8rda+!!!
hehe

 

[FluxCap]

Haha, I should !!

Well, my friend(he is getting his 3rd PC together) who made the comment and I decided to give it one more day to look at reviews and read comments by smart people like you guys here before we decide. WE are deciding between Epox 8RDA+ or the Abit NF7-S and a 2100+ w/ volcano fan.

 

[FluxCap]

Well after about 6 months to a year of putting off my upgrade I finally ordered everything last night.

I got the following:

Abit NF7-S
Athlon XP 1700+
512mb PC2700 Kingston
Nice case with 400w PSU
2 round IDE cables and some case fans

All for about $300 !!

I am happy and will have plenty of room for expansion in the future. Hopefully my setup will go smoothly. I am going to burn all drivers and needed files onto a CDR this weekend while I wait.