Ideas on a low budget mobo?

[forkd]

I am building a budget system and considering the ECS k7S5A. I have built systems with great track records based on this board and now the price is $52. @ newegg. Is there another board I should consider; a newer yet stable and cheap board? LMK

 

[MrDudeMan]

i would stick with the K7S5A...i also have built some great systems with it. im not aware of anything that is good but still that cheap, so if you ask me, stick with that board.

 

[Athlon4all]

Well, there's good and bad about K7S5A. I'm not sure I could recommend it with it's track record, but I have no experience with it. Either K7S5A, ECS K7SEM (similar price with Integrated Video, Sound, LAN), or Shuttle AK31A ($80, even has decent ocing options😛). It's your call.

 

[rondeemc]

Newegg has some very good motherboards now in their refurb section if you hurry. Here is an example for $49 with free shipping:

REFURBISHED: Gigabyte GA-7VTXE KT266A Chipset Motherboard for AMD OEM 5 PCI 1 AGP 3 DDR DIMM Slots and Dual BIOS WITH AC97 audio for AMD processor. (OEM, BAREBONE) Model#: GA-7VTXE Special Free FedEx Saver Shipping


link

 

[forkd]

Thanks. I'll look into the Gigabyte...I did notice some nice track records with Newegg refurbs. So far the ECS is trustworthy to me but we'll see. Anyone build any of these Shuttle spacewalker systems? They look cool for someone who just wants internet, Office and porn (that is my brother...I just want the porn and games 🙂 ) Looks kind of neat but they are coming out with some new more "modern" boards shortly according to their website.

 

[forkd]

BTW Athlon4all, Jesus may love me but God knows he doesn't want his son wasting time on me. Oh well. Haven't tried the k7sem but have used the k7vza and it has held up quite well for one of my sisters. Thanks for the input I will look into that too. Now it is time for some Counter-Strike!

 

[GregMal]

Outpost.com has the ECS w/boxed 950 Duron for $99.
Use the MB with the processor of your choosing.....
Keep the boxed Duron for a backup.......
Greg

 

[AA0]

Epox, Gigabyte, FIC, there are a lot of good boards out there that are far more reliable then ECS. They cost a little more but its worth it.

 

[colonel]

I said go to New Egg Refub board there, I made a ring for my friend last weed with a Refub Shuttle, works great, I got myself a Soltek Refub too. The problem is Memory is going expensive and I m trying to stay away from DDR for cheap system.

 

[rondeemc]

forkd
Don't worry about Jesus time...... he has great multitasking skills 😉




BTW newegg just had a group of Durons on their refurb list also. They has a 950 for $25 shipped. Strange thing was that they had a variety from 750 to 950 and they all were $25, go figure. since many people are happy with a 30 day warranty anyway these were a great deal.

Take care and good luck!

 

[gdawson6]

<< I m trying to stay away from DDR for cheap system. >>



Sorry buddy but all ram is going up in price...Sdram is almost expensive as ddr, and rambus is still a little more than both. Your not going to be able to escape the RAMs skyrocketing price unless you stocked up when it was cheap.

 

[bowie71]

<< Sorry buddy but all ram is going up in price...Sdram is almost expensive as ddr, and rambus is still a little more than both. Your not going to be able to escape the RAMs skyrocketing price unless you stocked up when it was cheap. >>



yap,.. I stocked up 4 of 'em when they're cheap, and sold 'em lastweek in Ebay... heheheheh got 100% profit,.. not bad eh?

 

[bambam]

Although I am still convinced the the K7sa5a is an iffy proposition ( for me a novice builder) at least I can use some of the extra 133 SDRAM I have laying around and may buy some DDR if/when the prices go down. Now my decision is what to purchase- the outpost bundle or pay a little more at newegg or mwavedirect and get it with a 1000 mhz Morgan core Duron.

 

[CraigRT]

<< BTW Athlon4all, Jesus may love me but God knows he doesn't want his son wasting time on me. Oh well. >>



Let me take this time to LMAO........

 

[osage]

try the K7S5A, I have 3 of them and they are fine. Some ppl have had some probs with them.
Buy new and if it is a flakey mobo send it back....I reccommend that you use good quality ram and a PSU approved for the cpu that you are going to run.

The AGP and ram slots are very tight on this board, so save yourself some grief and install the vid card and ram with the board ous of the case, do this 4-5 times to get them seated properly.

I put a system together for my brother using the Shuttle AK31 a few weeks ago, it seems like a pretty good board to me, but I only had a week to play with it.

 

[forkd]

Thank you all so much. btw....has newegg always charged for shipping? I thought they used to ship free.

 

[oldfoof]

EPOX 8KHA+ been great!

100% recommened.