Motherboard suggestions please

[herbage11]

I am looking to build a computer for someone and need to keep it pretty cheap. I think I will go w/ Celeron 1.0A. I heard the MSI Pro T is a good board for this. It is not for me so I will just go SD RAM PC133 probibly. Mine will have DDR or RD . Looking for any and all suggetions. Good AMD combo suggestions would be fine also. Or a cheap MB, processor combo that would use DDR. Looking to get package on newegg. Thanks all.

 

[AGodspeed]

Well if you need to keep it cheap, you'll be able to get a cheaper Duron system than a Celeron system.

First answer some questions:

1. What is this going to be used for? Gaming? Web surfing? 3D modeling?

2. Are you willing to spend a little extra cash for quality and compatibility right off the bat (in regards to your MB), or are you willing to deal with a quirky board to save some cash?

- El cheapo system (1GHz is now the base configuration IMO so...):

CPU: 1GHz AMD Duron ("Morgan" core): $40 (before s&h)
MB: ECS K7S5A (SiS 735 chipset): $51 (before s&h)

- Cheap but quality board:

ASUS A7N266-C (nForce 415-D chipset): $109 (before s&h)

Generally speaking, ASUS, MSI, Abit, Gigabyte, and Tyan make the most high quality mainboards. Up and coming mainboard makers include Epox, Shuttle, Soltek, and Iwill among others (Iwill is still pretty high quality though).

Obviously you?re not going to get the most high-quality board for a ridiculously low price of $51, so that's why I asked question # 2.

 

[o1die]

Fry's had the ecs k7s5a (works with sdram or ddram) with duron 1000 for only $89 last weekend. I would call them and see if they will ship one to you. Or get them from newegg for a few dollars more.

 

[herbage11]

The system will be used for average tasks. MS Office, email, some gaiming, etc. I am looking for a stable set up. Nothing lightning fast but I dont want it to crash all the time. thanks

 

[Boonesmi]

if you want to keep the cost down you could get something with the sis730 chipset (it supports all of the older and newer athlon/duron cpu's as long as its not an old revision of the mainboard) they only cost around $60... they have integrated sound/LAN/video, and depending on which board they often times come bundled with a 56k amr modem

hehe do you dont need to add any pci cards

pcchips 810lmr (comes with 56k modem)
amptron 810lm or the newer version amptron 810xlm (the 810xlm comes with an agp slot and a 56k modem)
ecs k7sem
they all have integrated sound/lan/video

ive build many systems on the pcchips 810lmr/amptron 810lm and they have been very stable (but if you want to do much gaming with it you should install a video card and not use the onboard video)

 

[herbage11]

That sounds like a pretty good deal. Keep em coming. Id like to get the whole system for about $800.

 

[drewdogg808]

i've built about 4 systems within the last month or so for friends that have all been around $750 total (including monitor) or less based on the ecs k7s5a. i wouldn't get the ecs for myself, but it does the job nicely if you get decent components to go with it (i.e. good ps). from newegg:
ecs k75sa : $52
duron 1g : $51
visontek gf2-gtsv : $48
evercase 300w : $42
maxtor 40g 7200 hd : $79
liteon 32x12x40 : $90
sony 52x : $28

these were usually the main components...with memory, monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc...you should be under $800 no problem.

 

[herbage11]

Thanks drewdogg808 that looks like a nice system in the price rang i am after.

 

[AA0]

If you are going to be building a comp for someone, then do not be an ass and buy an ECS motherboard. They are cheap, they have problems, and they fail very early. You will cause the person you are building if for problems, and yourself when you have to fix it.

 

[Red Dawn]

<< If you are going to be building a comp for someone, then do not be an ass and buy an ECS motherboard. They are cheap, they have problems, and they fail very early. You will cause the person you are building if for problems, and yourself when you have to fix it. >>




Depends which board you buy. I've used some of their P3 Flex and MATX boards with great results . I haven't used any of their Socket A boards as I usually build Small Form Factor Systems and the Thermal situation with the Socket A's are not ideal for that type of system as the Socket A's need more airflow, cooling, better quality PSU's than the P3 or Celeron.

If you are going to use a Tualatin I gig Celeron be sure you get a board that supports it (1.475 volts ). If you are looking for a board that has integrated Video,Sound and NIC the MSI 6863GL is a good solution. Ver 5 of that model supports the Tualatin. It uses the Trident Blade Video Chip for it's integrated Video which isn't very good for 3D games but adequate for 2D. It also uses a CMI 8738 audio Chip for it's onboard sound


If you are looking for an i815e B option that's reasonably priced the Jetway 615TCS is only $60.00 + shipping. It supports the Tualatin CPU's and gives you an option to OC the FSB by 1 MHZ at a time up to 160 MHZ's . There's no option for a Vcore adjustment but most of those Tualatin Celeron 1 gig CPU's will do 1.33 GHZ (10 x 133MHZ FSB) at default voltage. With this board you can use a Decent 3D Video Card for gaming as it has a 4X AGP Slot (no onboard Video). I'd suggest you get a inexpensive CMI 8738 Sound Card as this board uses the crappy AC97 software audio for it's integrated sound. A 4 or 6 channel Sound Card using the CMI Chip is only around $14.00 or so and some say it sounds as Good a Sound Blaster Live.

Since the Celeron 1A's use 256 K L2 cache and can easily be OC's to 1.33 GHZ (which makes it the equivelant to a P3 1.33GHZ) it's as fast as a similarly clocked Duron or close enough where you really can't tell the difference plus you don't have to worry as much about the heat as the Tualatin Celerons only use 1.475 Volts and run much cooler than the Duran or Tbird. Stock HSF should suffice for cooling.