I need a Socket 754 PCI-e Motherboard...

[deadken]

I have (3) S754 systems running in my house and they are all AGP. It is time for me to replace my Video card and will be going with a PCI-e card. Right now I'd rather spend very little on this upgrade and so I will be keeping my S754 CPU and 2x1GB DDR. Can anyone tell me how this ABIT NV8, NF4 PCI-e Motherboard is? I hope that the NF4 chipset is better then the NF3 (I am running @ 9x266 (2.4ghz) right now).

Perhaps I should go as cheap as possible and just get this Open Box: MSI K8N NEO3-F this way I would be spending as little as possible on s754 stuff at this point in the game.

I should mention that I plan on getting a ATI X1900 XTX and most likely will lose the use of whatever slot is below the PCI-Express slot. This might be important because I'd like to continue using my Audigy 2 ZS soundcard and there seems to be alot of GeForce 6100 mATX boards out there.

-Thanks in advance for any info you can help me with

 

[CALIKUSH]

I was in the same position a few weeks go. After much searching, I decided to get a ULI M1697 based chipset motherboard. IMO much better layout and desgin than most NF4 pic-e avaiable for socket 754. ULI has good OC options (even though my newcastle core and cheap RAM limit it) and it is very stable. Driver install was very painless and you don't get a bunch of junk, unlike Nvidia driver installs. I highly suggest it, It even has GLI support (2 x16 pci-e) Here is the new egg link :
EPoX EP-8U1697GLI

 

[keeleysam]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813190002

$20 seems worth the risk.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138273

Go for this.

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

I'm currently using the ECS Nforce4-A754 mobo with my 7800GT PCIe video card. The ECS is extremely stable (I don't o/c this machine). My only problem with the the northbridge HSF died within the first year. I currently running my ECS with no northbridhge fan, only the heatsink.

Another mobo you should consider is the DFI NF4X Infinity. It is socket 754 and PCIe. I picked up one used cheap and currently have it in my closet in case my ECS quits.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Does the fact that you can't use your memory in dual channel with that Epox ULI make a negative difference?