Need AMD Motherboard Opinions

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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
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I currently have a 2.8ghz P4 VID 533mhz FSB on an Asus P4T533 and 768mb ram (512+256). I am tired of the instability of the system and wish to go back to the AMD side of things to try it out. I decided on a XP3000 Barton 400FSB (might go XP3200 depending on the total costs). Anyways, whats the best standard ATX motherboard for this processor for under $100. I prefer Asus or Abit. I am usually good about product reviews but theres too many and I am in a time drunch at the moment. I will also be looking for some ram too, preferably 1gb total. I don't plan on overclocking and just need the basics like usb, legacy ports, NIC if possible and the norm with pci/agp slots. My curent sound card is an Audigy 1 gamer so onboard sound isn't needed and onboard IDE raid would be nice for the future but not needed at this point. IDE channels are important. Thanks for the help!
 
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Comparisonman

Member
Oct 8, 2004
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Some of the better motherboards that I can recommend right off the top of my head are the Asus A7N8X-X motherboard (Non-Dual Channel), Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2, and the DFI NFII Ultra Infinity. If you are looking for a good and cheap motherboard I recommend the DFI KM400 motherboard. It's usually around $55 or so and it is fast and has lots of features (Non-Dual Channel).
 
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imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
1,375
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Originally posted by: Comparisonman
Some of the better motherboards that I can recommend right off the top of my head are the Asus A7N8X-X motherboard (Non-Dual Channel), Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2, and the DFI NFII Ultra Infinity. If you are looking for a good and cheap motherboard I recommend the DFI KM400 motherboard. It's usually around $55 or so and it is fast and has lots of features (Non-Dual Channel).
Click to expand...
All of those first three are nVidia nForce2 MB's. Only the Asus out of those is regularly under $100. The nForce2's are pretty clearly the superior ones when the cpu's are AMD XP's, however.

That last DFI MB is a Via - based setup. One of the really advantageous things about some of the nF2 MB's is when they use the southbridge chip with a "Soundstorm" audio APU built into it. It's actual Dolby Sound and superior to an Audigy. The nF2 boards with that are usually in the $110-120 range of costs, like the Abit NF7-S, the Asus A7N8X-E, MSI K7N2 ILSR, and the DFI NF-II, plus the Gigabyte MB's named originally. The only sub-$100 MB I think I can be sure has the SoundStorm might be the Shuttle A35N.


:)
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
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Sound is not a big thing to me. 5.1 is good enough for me and for being a person who doesn't care about sound quality, audigy is ok for me.

Does dual channel capability really help with performance on the barton? Does VIA still have stability problems compared to the Nforce chipsets?
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Actually the Nvidia drivers have been less stable than Via lately. My personal mobos have all been Vias for the last two years. All have been rock steady. I've had three brands and five different models on four different Via northbridges (KT266a, KM266, KT600, KM400. I haven't had a KT880 yet but I will as soon as the discretionary funds come my way.
.bh.

:moon:
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
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I'm pointed in the right direction, Should I got dual channel ddr or is it a waste with AMD?
 
Fern

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Even if it's only a 5% increase, take it.

I saw a post saying newegg.com is selling the NF7-S for $75 today, might wanna check that out.
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
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Not big into overclocking. I rather use this cpu for 3 years than have to replace a cheaper cpu 3 times in that time period.
 
Fern

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: bluestrobe
Originally posted by: Fern
Even if it's only a 5% increase, take it.

I saw a post saying newegg.com is selling the NF7-S for $75 today, might wanna check that out.
Click to expand...


http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-127-185&depa=0

is that it? Looks like a nice board
Click to expand...

The board you linked is the NF7-S2, not the NF7-S v2. Similar name, diff board. The S2 doesn't have the onboard Soundstorm, no dual channel ram, no OC features etc. If you don't want the Soundstorm and won't OC, it may be for you. Just checkout the faetures it DOES have, so you get what you need/want.
 
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rshoemaker

Junior Member
Oct 13, 2004
24
0
0
I have this board and like it very much. For $65 it's a steal. http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-131-470&depa=1

ASUS "A7V600" KT600 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL

Model# A7V600
Item # N82E16813131470

Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket A AMD Athlon XP/Athlon/Duron Processors
Chipset: VIA KT600 + VT8237
FSB: 400/333/266/200MHz
RAM: 3x DIMM DDR333/266 Max 3GB(DDR400 up to 2 DIMM only)
IDE: 2x UltraDMA 133 up to 4 devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X, 6x PCI
Ports: 2xPS2,1xLPT,1xCOM,8xUSB2.0(Rear 4),SPDIF Out,1xLAN,Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: ADI AD1980 SoundMAX 6-Channel CODEC
Onboard LAN: 3Com 3C940 GbE
Onboard SATA/RAID: 2x Serial ATA, RAID 0/1
Form Factor: ATX
 
D

DrCool

Senior member
Aug 3, 2001
871
0
76
you choose the wrong board bluestrobe..

RDRAM never quite had the momentem to survive, the cost to performance ratio just wasn't there.

Both Intel and AMD offer great platforms to work on. I'm currently running two systems, one is Intel Based the other AMD. I can say they both have thier pluses and minuses, but they are both rock solid platforms.
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
1
0
Originally posted by: DrCool
you choose the wrong board bluestrobe..

RDRAM never quite had the momentem to survive, the cost to performance ratio just wasn't there.

Both Intel and AMD offer great platforms to work on. I'm currently running two systems, one is Intel Based the other AMD. I can say they both have thier pluses and minuses, but they are both rock solid platforms.
Click to expand...



I thought I would try it out and never liked it. AMD is my next route since I went from AMD to what I have now.
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
1
0
Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: bluestrobe
Originally posted by: Fern
Even if it's only a 5% increase, take it.

I saw a post saying newegg.com is selling the NF7-S for $75 today, might wanna check that out.
Click to expand...


http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-127-185&depa=0

is that it? Looks like a nice board
Click to expand...

The board you linked is the NF7-S2, not the NF7-S v2. Similar name, diff board. The S2 doesn't have the onboard Soundstorm, no dual channel ram, no OC features etc. If you don't want the Soundstorm and won't OC, it may be for you. Just checkout the faetures it DOES have, so you get what you need/want.
Click to expand...



I take it this is the NF7-S v2?

http://svc.com/mb-nf7-s-99.html

If anything I like that board.
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
1
0
Now I got my motherboard. What is the nicest but economical ram for dual channel use? I'm not a cheapskate however I'm not looking for the highest quality out there, mid range if you would say.
 
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imported_Computer MAn

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2004
1,190
0
76
I'm using Corsair Value Select. Its a good price and has been nothing but stable for me. Get two of these sticks and run them in dual channel.
Here.
Or if you have a Frys near you they usually have goods sales on PC3200.
 
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bluestrobe

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2004
2,033
1
0
Originally posted by: Computer MAn
I'm using Corsair Value Select. Its a good price and has been nothing but stable for me. Get two of these sticks and run them in dual channel.
Here
Click to expand...


Could I buy one stick just to get the system running then upgrade with another identicle stick later to engage the dual channel features or does the ram not like doing this? It would be a month at the most.
 
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