Need a new motherboard under $100 ASAP..running with XP1600+; A7N266VM, MSI K7N420, or something else? *ordered A7N*

[jlee]

Running with an XP1600+...good onboard audio would be nice, and halfway decent onboard video would be great as well (when I upgrade my system, this motherboard will probably go to a family system..so onboard = good).

I've heard a few bad things about the Asus A7N266VM, or else I'd probably buy it now (less than 75 bucks..). I have read good things about the MSI K7N420, and its onboard audio looks better than average (from what I've read). However, it's $50 more than the Asus board! I don't plan on keeping this forever - hopefully less than six months before a new one (should be moving in December, and getting a full time job).

OS is Win2k; would the Asus board give me any difficulty, and is the onboard audio decent? Basically, if the onboard audio is good, I can sell my Live X-Gamer..and use what little extra cash I have for a CD-RW (sold my Lite-On with my old rig)...

Any ideas?

Edit: After reading some stuff on the A7N, I went ahead and ordered...for $72.99, I think it's tough to do better.

-Cadet

 

[Kazuo]

I've heard the VIA KM266 boards are fairly decent. Here are links to some:
Biostar M7VIQ - it's cheap and has onboard ethernet and USB 2.0
Biostar M7VIG - cheap, has both SDRAM and DDR sockets, onboard video and ethernet
MSI 6390-L - Pretty similar to the M7VIQ. Possibly better sound.
Epox 8KMM+ - Another of the same. Nothing really better than the MSI one.
Hope maybe one of those suits your needs

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Kazuo
I've heard the VIA KM266 boards are fairly decent. Here are links to some:
Biostar M7VIQ - it's cheap and has onboard ethernet and USB 2.0
Biostar M7VIG - cheap, has both SDRAM and DDR sockets, onboard video and ethernet
MSI 6390-L - Pretty similar to the M7VIQ. Possibly better sound.
Epox 8KMM+ - Another of the same. Nothing really better than the MSI one.
Hope maybe one of those suits your needs

Thanks for the suggestions

S3 Savage video just doesn't cut it, though...GF2MX is slow enough

I ordered the A7N266VM for $72.99 - hopefully it'll work out well.

 

[Kazuo]

Yeah, Savage8 is pretty brutal. Personally I'd get the K7S5A and a GeForce4 MX420 (about $50 shipped at compgeeks.com if they still have it), which is around $100 and performance is bound to be WAY higher than the nForce boards.
But oh well, if it's just a temporary thing, the nForce will probably be fine Hope it works out for you.