Need a good mobo

[Thanks2C]

OK, here's what happened. I bought a very bad Tyan mobo from Newegg and it didn't support the processor I bought. I'm going to return it and get a different board, here's what I need.

I'm upgrading a Gateway PC, so I can't have integrated sound, video, lan because of the face template on the back of the case. I can only have mouse, keyboard, 2 x USB, 2 x Serial and a Parrallel.

The processor I bought was an Intel Celeron 1.3GHz. I bought PC133 RAM. What board would be decent? I have a price range of $60-80. Considering I can't get integrated sound, video, lan I'm sure you'll be able to find a board that will support that process or for that price. Any suggestions?

 

[mechBgon]

Can the rear I/O plate be removed from the Gateway you're working on? With conventional ATX cases, the I/O plate can be popped out with some prying, and a new one popped in (most motherboards come with one). Push the plate in from outside while prying around the edges with a small blade screwdriver.

Seems like all the boards come with onboard sound and therefore audio jacks. Granted, they're round and you could easily drill holes for them. Boards with onboard video will put the video jack in the same spot where one of the serial ports would have been, since it's the same size and shape, so don't rule out onboard video. The other onboard peripheral that could call for an extra jack would be an onboard network card, whose jack is typically stuck onto the top of the USB jacks. Again, if the rear plate can be pried out and replaced with the one that the new motherboard includes, you're home free*

*provided your Gateway case is in fact ATX-compliant, but you didn't report problems with bolting the Tyan board down, so I assume it is.

not quite on-topic, but we try to keep the board rated "G" around here. You seem to have slipped an s-word past the obscenity/profanity filter but you wouldn't want to make a habit of that

 

[Thanks2C]

Sorry about the profanity, it's been removed

Anyway, the case is ATX-compliant, however, I don't think the I/O plate can be removed. It seems it's completely part of the case, and if i were to replace it, I'd have to replace half of the case, which isn't feasible.

 

[mechBgon]

Dang! Well, let's look at it this way: worst-case scenario, that M6VLR I mentioned would require drilling three holes to accomodate the three audio jacks, and a little brutalization to cut a square out for the network jack above the USB jacks, which would be a snap with a Dremel, a fiberglass-reinforced cutoff wheel and some safety glasses, if you happen to have access to a Dremel. Or you could just attack it with some diagonal cutters to expand the USB ports upwards to open up the hole for the network jack, or even leave it and have the network jack hidden.

 

[Thanks2C]

Can anybody recommend a mobo that would work with this processor that I wouldn't need to drill holes and stuff?

 

[mechBgon]

It's hard to find Tualeron-compatible boards that don't have onboard audio. After searching for a while, my best recommendation would be to go to Newegg.com and pick up an inexpensive Evercase for $28 shipped. Or get brave with your Gateway case, which will be out of work anyway if you got an Evercase to replace it. Nothing to lose, at that point.