need CPU and MB combo recommendation

[htw]

Recently I want to buy a new computer, but the barebones and dell comnputers their expandability isvery limited, I want to build one myself. But I did not care about hardware for a long time, so need some advices. I won't play game a lot, mainly Quake 3. I intend to use it mainly as a HTPC.

Basicaly I want a intel cpu, 800 FSB, Prescott core, but LGA775 are expensive and MB and PCI-E and DDR2 are expensive, so not a good choice. And I also want dual channle DDR, and I think 533 FSB maybe can not bring them to the full performance.
price at newegg:
Core: Northwood
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - OEM 189$

Core: Prescott
Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - OEM 177$
Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail 182$
Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 520 2.8 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail 157$ (cheap but 775)
Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 530J 3.0 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail 184$

It seems I don't have many chocies with my requirement. Oh, man, CUPs are expensive. Maybe I only can buy 182$ one. Do I need 800 FSB for the system? Do you guys have any other ideas?

The real headache MB. ASUS is good, but I can not find a cheap one with 865PE chipset. Any good recommendations? I probably want to spend about 80$ on MB. I prefer to have both on board USB and firewire, and on board LAN (gigabite is better). Video is not necessary, since I need TV-out (I did not see a retail MB with TV-out yet). Sound card is an option, since I need S/PDIF to connect my computer to receiver. I heard good things about Chaintech AV-710, maybe I can get that one. But if a mb comes with a comparable sound card with AV-710, that would be great to save some money.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[o1die]

There are plenty of good 865pe boards for around $75. I use msi, and it overclocks my 2.8c to 3640 (260 fsb). I stopped using asus boards because of the "speech reporter" and picky bios. They can give you all kinds of error messages, especially for weak power supplies. Whatever you do, don't buy a no name 500w cheapo power supply. There are plenty out there. Most are junk.

 

[Trashman]

I would check out this board....means going to a AMD cpu, but this board has everything, check out the specs, it even has tv-out, as you request....newegg.com
its pretty new so i'd do a few searches for some reviews.

That board and this CPU A64 3000+, not a bad setup.

 

[htw]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Yeah, I'm still hesitating between Intel and AMD. I prefer ATX, micro-ATX is s little tight for expanding. I would also like to go with Antec case, for 70$ I can get a good one with good PSU. Seems that I need to do more research...

 

[Trashman]

Take into consideration that a Micro-ATX board, like the one i shown you, has everything ya need onboard.....still has 3 pci and 1 pci-e slot.......and for being a HTPC, micro has an advantage for choosing cases...just a thought.
Good luck with your search

 

[htw]

Thanks a lot ! Trashman

Your recommendation is a great choice. I'm not sure how many pci slots I'm going to use yet. Actulally I would like to hide the computer, so big case is not a problem. I will search a ATX version that you recommended. Going with AMD maybe could save a little money...

Thanks again!