Low Cost mobo w/integrated video

[yelo333]

Hi, all

Many thanks for answering my multitude of questions thus far(and, I've had fun helping others as well)...the Anandtech forums have really been a great place for this sort of thing!

As of right now, I'm in the hunt for a low-cost computer to be used for web browsing/email/word processing/and other basic things(not games) for a cousin who is ~8 hrs away

Because of the distance away this computer is going to be, reliability is first, with price a VERY close second, then performance trailing off with a distant third.

I'm thinking:
80gb WD HD('cuz of rebates)
XP2000+
Antec SLK2600AMB w/300w PS
cheapo CD-ROM
already have speakers/keybd/mouse - can get a monitor for $100 AR

I'm still hung up on the motherboard, though

As of right now, my current thinking is to get an abit VA-10(KM400 chipset)w/built-in everything(including graphics)

Any motherboard should be somewhat close to a $50-$60 price point, as I'm trying to keep this cheap, and still be abit/asus/gigabyte.
Is there a place I can get the a7n266vm-aa? It's the one I would REALLY like to get my hands on for this thing, considering how nice it is.

So, those are my 2 questions: Where to get the a7n266vm-aa, and excluding that, is there a better solution than the abit VA-10?

 

[Bleep]

Well, not in your preferred list but Biostar boards are really hard to beat for the price. I have put together quite a few machines with them and they all have been stable and reliable.\

Bleep

 

[Vette73]

Get a KM400 board.
I used a Biostar KM400 board that worked out very well. Very stable and easy to put together.


Here ya go, $56 shipped

 

[Iron Woode]

KM400 boards are ok.

Asrock K7S41 and the GX version are quite nice too.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a KM400 board.
I used a Biostar KM400 board that worked out very well. Very stable and easy to put together.


Here ya go, $56 shipped

I saw that board...Just wondering - what makes this board better than the Abit VA-10(might be referral )?

Forgetting the fact abit has been good to me, and they really stand behind their products, why the biostar?

Just looking at features vs. features, all seems the same, except I save $3 w/ the abit, and possibly better sound. I also prefer IDE connector placement...Is there something I'm missing on the biostar?

Maybe it's the biostar's newer south bridge(VT8237, compared to abit's VT8235) - would that make a diff?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: yelo333

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a KM400 board.
I used a Biostar KM400 board that worked out very well. Very stable and easy to put together.


Here ya go, $56 shipped

I saw that board...Just wondering - what makes this board better than the Abit VA-10(might be referral )?

Forgetting the fact abit has been good to me, and they really stand behind their products, why the biostar?

Just looking at features vs. features, all seems the same, except I save $3 w/ the abit, and possibly better sound. I also prefer IDE connector placement...Is there something I'm missing on the biostar?

Maybe it's the biostar's newer south bridge(VT8237, compared to abit's VT8235) - would that make a diff?

Yes the Biostar has the newwer 8237 southbridge (SATA, faster connect, etc...) and also has a C-Media sound card, much better IMO then a RealTek one but have not used VIA sound enough to compare.
Also the Biostar has a larger Heatsink so the video/north bridge should run cooler.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Yes the Biostar has the newwer 8237 southbridge (SATA, faster connect, etc...) and also has a C-Media sound card, much better IMO then a RealTek one but have not used VIA sound enough to compare.
Also the Biostar has a larger Heatsink so the video/north bridge should run cooler.

Hmm, the newer southbridge seems to be more than the number got jacked up, then(never know about via - I really, really dislike them - just the price is right this time 'round, and chances are, it won't get pushed as hard as I might be tempted to if I was using it)

I have the Mad Dog 4.1 Prowler w/ cmi8738, so I'm familliar with this chipset. It works, as far as that goes, though my old aureal vortex advantage is much, much better(way too bassy, the vortex is much crisper) BUT, it easily outperforms any other onboard sound I've heard + way better than my SB128. I think it would work fine

So, onboard sound better...check
bigger heatsink....check
newer southbridge...check


That just might add up to more reliability, even though it's a biostar(NOT a check )

It looks like that one is the one to get - any other motherboards I should look into?

 

[Zebo]

The biostar M7NCG 400 board can't be beat. Three phase power, rock solid nforce and even some decent overclcoking options. Hard to justify the $95 Abit NF7-m which does the same thing...getting only "bullit proof" japanese caps. Whatever you do stay away from the slow KM400 via boards.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: Zebo
The biostar M7NCG 400 board can't be beat. Three phase power, rock solid nforce and even some decent overclcoking options. Hard to justify the $95 Abit NF7-m which does the same thing...getting only "bullit proof" japanese caps. Whatever you do stay away from the slow KM400 via boards.

Well, my main concern with nforce2 IGP is memory compatibility. sure, for an extra 9 smackers, I could upgrade to an nforce2 IGP board instead, but will it really provide better performance? I'm concerned with my ram not working, as nvidia clearly states the kingston valueram is not compatible. As a matter of fact, almost NONE of the memory listed is IGP compatible. there lies my disdain for any IGP-based mobo. don't get me wrong - I have found my NON-IGP nforce2 to be EXTREMELY compatible - even with off-brand memory/kingston(which says you can't) running in dual-ddr at tighter-than-rated ram timings.

So, I'd be fine going with this, assuming I could guarantee myself I was getting compatible ram.

EDIT: Help me decide - ram in my price range includes mushkin basic green, kingmax, kingston value ram, crucial, and buffalo.

Ram timings are almost not important, and anything PC-2100 and above would be absolutely OK - compatibility, and reliability are IMPORTANT.

So, from that list, what would be a good choice? crucial? will crucial guarantee it if I buy from newegg, and their component chooser says it's compatible with the motherboard?

 

[yelo333]

^^^^^

If I don't get any replies, I'm going to assume biostar M7NCG 400 + crucial pc2100 + XP200+ are compatible products(and, the best deal around)...

Anybody know if crucial guarantees memory found by their system compatibility guide at their website even if I purchase from newegg instead?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: yelo333
^^^^^

If I don't get any replies, I'm going to assume biostar M7NCG 400 + crucial pc2100 + XP200+ are compatible products(and, the best deal around)...

Anybody know if crucial guarantees memory found by their system compatibility guide at their website even if I purchase from newegg instead?

That's a winning combo, and Newegg will back it for 30 days, then Crucial will back it for life so no worries

 

[Bleep]

If I don't get any replies, I'm going to assume biostar M7NCG 400 + crucial pc2100 + XP200+ are compatible products(and, the best deal around)...

I have this MB+CPU and am using generic pc 2100 memory, have had no problems but my case may be unique.
I think you have made a good choise.

Bleep

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: Bleep

If I don't get any replies, I'm going to assume biostar M7NCG 400 + crucial pc2100 + XP200+ are compatible products(and, the best deal around)...

I have this MB+CPU and am using generic pc 2100 memory, have had no problems but my case may be unique.
I think you have made a good choise.

Bleep

Good to know...Right now, though I'm eyeing one of the "outrageous deals" in the small business section of dell - 2.6ghz, 256mb ram, 17in CRT monitor(I'm going to add that), integrated video(won't be used for games), 2 yr warranty, 80gb HD - all for $486 shipped + including tax

So, if I decide against the dell, I will probably go with the above quoted components