need help buying mobo/cpu combo

[FAS284]

well its been a very long time (6 years) since I assembled my last computer and I've not followed cpu/mobo prices for a long time so I need some help/guidance for a budget (<$100-$125) system upgrade.

I'd like to know what a good (and cheap) mobo is out there that is loaded with a good onboard video chipset and audio chipset and will be compatible with a cheap cpu (please specify as well).

also, where is a good place to buy a cheap cpu/mobo online and/or B&M? Fry's seems to have some good selections but what about online vendors? Which ones do you trust for reliable mobo/cpus ?

Thanks!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Biostar TForce motherboard and a Sempron 3100+ are a good combo, add 512 MB of cheap PC3200 RAM. You can get socket 754, 939, or AM2 (but then get DDR2 RAM).

Newegg.com for after-sale support, in case you get a bad part. Or MWave or ZipZoomFly to save a couple of bucks.

 

[FAS284]

any reason to prefer ddr2 over pc3200?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: FAS284
any reason to prefer ddr2 over pc3200?

Not really. DDR is just as fast for AMD processors. You just have to buy DDR2 if you go with most AM2 socket motherboards instead of 754 or 939.

The only advantage is that your next mobo/cpu might user DDR2. But the DDR2 you'd buy today might be much slower than what you want in 1-2 years, or the next motherboard might use DDR3 instead.

 

[adammthompson]

OP, do you want to spend $100-125 total or for each part?

 

[FAS284]

adam - i'd like to spend as little as possible.. so perhaps $125 max ... $150 if needed - for mobo/cpu/ram. i have yet to check up the cost of ddr2 or pc3200 memory.. just need 512 mb for now.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Not a great mb (but far better than they used to be), has everything you need on it and a Semperon cpu

mb/cpu combo

And a 512mb stick of value ram can be had for about $40.

That would fit your budget. The only problem is that your current rig is old enough that the psu likely does not have the 4 pin, 12v connector that most all mbs today require.

 

[adammthompson]

You said you wanted good onboard video. I'd say that means NVIDIA 6100 or 6150 or ATI Radeon Xpress 200. This was the cheapest I could find:

Mobo $47
CPU $52
RAM $43

You're probably going to need a new power supply too: $30

 

[adammthompson]

Oh, I forgot to say that the mobo is Open Box, so beware.

 

[FAS284]

how do these mobos compare with asus k8n or MSI k8ngm2-nbp? someone's offering me the k8n.. thanks to all of you for your advice. really helped me out.

 

[adammthompson]

The MSI is nice. The Asus is fine but it has no onboard video, so you'd have to spend another $45 on a video card (if you buy new).