MOBO, CPU advice

[ramj70]

I've got about $230 to spend on a new CPU and MOBO upgrade. This will need to last me for about another year before I upgrade to PCI-e and SLI or whatever new things they have then.

Currently I have an XP 2800 barton core, 2GB patriot ram, 6800gt AGP video card, ASUS A7N8X-E MOBO.

I was thinking of getting this mobo and CPU, good choice or is there something better?. They come out to $223. I will not be OCing. Thanks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128286

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103535

 

[Some1ne]

Decent CPU choice, although the 3200+ chips really like to overclock. Drop that mainboard and get the ASRock though:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081

That way, you can go to PCI-E without having to get another whole new mainboard. It costs about the same as your Gigabyte board too.

 

[pontifex]

oh wow, a board with agp and pci-e?
how good are ASRock boards though? never heard of them before now.

 

[eXx08]

ASrock is very stable and good for overclocking and It will do very well for you!

 

[pontifex]

hmm, if i got this one, i could still use my 6800 until i get more money for a 7800. or should i just wait and get a better board?

 

[ramj70]

Yeah I was looking at that Asrock, but I was thinking that I would go SLI next time, but with those new dual gpu cards coming out it might not be a bad idea to go with the asrock.

 

[pontifex]

sli seems like a waste of money to me at this point.
dual gpu cards?? got a link?

 

[ramj70]

Originally posted by: pontifex
sli seems like a waste of money to me at this point.
dual gpu cards?? got a link?

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=175&type=expert

They only work with certain boards though at this time so it wouldn't work with the asrock, oh well.

 

[pontifex]

i just read a review of that ASRock agp and pci-e mobo. its also m2 (socket 940) upgradable as well.

 

[Some1ne]

but I was thinking that I would go SLI next time

SLI is a waste, now and forever, especially if your computing spending is on any sort of a budget.