LF a decent Motherboard CPU combo

[montypythizzle]

I might as well try out the sticky:


I will mostly be using the mobo/CPU in a MATX setup as a web/storage server. NEEDS ONBOARD VIDEO. (WinXP32)

I want this to be around $100-130.

I am American and usually prefer Newegg.

I prefer an Nvidia chipset platform (decent mobo name brand) and AMD since it is usually cheaper, but Intel with Nvidia chipset will do fine if cheaper.

I also have 2GB of DDR2 that I would like to use.

Haven't really searched/read any other threads 🙂

Doesn't matter if it can be overclocked or not. Probably not going to be overclocked ATM.

My LCD is 1920X1080 and use a KVM sometimes, but usually just use remote desktop.

I plan on replacing the current bulging capacitor motherboard as soon as possible.


I am also looking for a 24 pin PSU as well, only needs to be around 400W.

 

[alyarb]

you aren't going to find a motherboard with two IDE channels, so get that off your list. you're going to have to either get a PATA-> SATA adapter or a PCI controller for the additional PATA channel.

As for the CPU/motherboard, newegg has a combo for the 3.0 GHz Athlon II X2 with the Gigabyte GA-785GM-US2H for $137. It's slightly out of budget, but it's the only decent dual-core combo on newegg *and* doesn't include some likely-to-be-defective ECS board. This is a quality gigabyte board and if you were looking for performance, you could easily get a decent overclock out of it. It's a 100% AM3 system so you'll need DDR3 memory. This system is probably going to be eligible for 32nm upgrades as well, so it's definitely a keeper even if only in limbo as a server for the short term.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.254102

If you are totally unconcerned with performance and would prefer to have a cheaper, purely intel system,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.249778

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: alyarb
you aren't going to find a motherboard with two IDE channels, so get that off your list. you're going to have to either get a PATA-> SATA adapter or a PCI controller for the additional PATA channel.

As for the CPU/motherboard, newegg has a combo for the 3.0 GHz Athlon II X2 with the Gigabyte GA-785GM-US2H for $137. It's slightly out of budget, but it's the only decent dual-core combo on newegg *and* doesn't include some likely-to-be-defective ECS board. This is a quality gigabyte board and if you were looking for performance, you could easily get a decent overclock out of it. It's a 100% AM3 system so you'll need DDR3 memory. This system is probably going to be eligible for 32nm upgrades as well, so it's definitely a keeper even if only in limbo as a server for the short term.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.254102

If you are totally unconcerned with performance and would prefer to have a cheaper, purely intel system,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.249778

Darn it, I should have specified I needed a DDR2 motherboard since I have 2GB of DDR2 currently just sitting around.

AM2 would be best, since my current system is AM2. But ya that 2 channel IDE is going to probably get me in the long run.

 

[montypythizzle]

I have 2 HDD currently (one OS/web server, other is Music) I prefer to keep it this way, the optical drives are proprietary and I would prefer to keep them. However it seems the more I think about it I might as well just buy a new MATX case and just get new drives, but I love this size/look of this current machine.

 

[alyarb]

right now there aren't any good AM2 combos. you'll just have to get the chip and board separately without combo discounts:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103688
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813186165

Which comes to $130 exactly. newegg reviewers say the board supports AM3 chips out of the box, so no need to update the BIOS, and you get a very compact, low power 2.8 GHz dual core system.


what do you mean when you say that your optical drives are proprietary? you should realize that high-speed multi-format DVD burners with a SATA interface are like $25/each or less. So you can free up one PATA channel with a faster, quieter DVD burner. If you're talking blu-ray, I can see how you would want to keep that but I highly doubt anyone would buy a PATA BD-rom. The fact that they are PATA drives makes me feel that they are 4+ years old, and should be replaced.

If you get an adapter, beware that the cheap ones do not work and/or have very short life expectancy. You'll have to get a good one, which costs as much as a SATA DVDRW:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812191071

If you want to be stubborn you're better off getting a real PATA controller:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815124022


But if i were you I would sell most of your existing stuff and get the $96 Sargas+785G combo, unlock the second core, get some cheap $30 2GB DDR3 dimm, a $25 DVDRW, and F2EG for $120. You can virtualize that "server" of yours and squeeze it all into your existing mATX case and have a system that is much faster than any AM2 system you're likely to have (unless you recently did an AM2+ phenom build) in addition to using less power, making less noise, and taking up less space. But just what the hell do you mean when you say your optical drives are proprietary?

 

[alyarb]

delete

 

[montypythizzle]

Well, I was thinking, my AM2 3600 Brisbane build is getting kind of old (my main computer). I could just make that my server, it has two IDE channels and enough room for more HDs. I was thinking that it would be sorta cheap to just upgrade my old case with some new internals but eh. Looking at both alternatives now I guess. Just gotta see how much money I can get a hold of. The drives are flush mount with the case and flow with it. Just a DVD burner, the only deal is aesthetics.