Need motherboard upgrade help and opinions

[cab2]

I'm hoping folks out there will have an opinion on my update path for my mother board.

I currently have an ASUS P2B-LS Motherboard (400 mhz, onboard scsi, onboard lan, 4 mem sockets)

It's time to upgrade. I need to get the most bang for the buck. I'd like to be able to get a mobo that offers me the most flexibility. I'm tempted to go dual processor. I'd also like to be able to use as much of my current components as possible. Currently I have a PII 400 mhz and 256 Meg of memory in 2 PC100 modules. If i go dual, i may not be able to do the cpu at the same time. I'd like to have a mobo that could handle everything i have now, and give me as much of an upgrade path as possible. I'd like to eventually put a high end p3 and up to a gig of memory in the new mobo. If it matters, I'm not into overclocking the board.

What are your thoughts and suggestions. All feedback is apreciated. I'm going to a show tomorrow so it's possible i could pick up somehting there and then.

TIA
Craig

 

[Klosters]

Your question requires more effort for an answer than most people have time for. I suggest starting the research ASAP. You have to cover a lot of ground, and I doubt that one full day will suffice.

 

[spencer]

<< I'd like to eventually put a high end p3 and up to a gig of memory in the new mobo >>



Depends on if you plan on getting 100mhz FSB P3's or 133mhz FSB P3's. If 100mhz FSB then a BX dual mobo would give the best performance but if you plan on getting 133mhz FSB then a VIA ApolloPro 133A chipset dual mobo would probably be the best unless you are rich, you could get an I840 mobo.

 

[cab2]

Thanks for the info folks.

I did go to a show yesterday and it kinda looks like i'm going to get pushed to the new socket 370 type mother boards. Any one have any ideas as to why the slot 1 mother board now seems to be old hat? I dont honestly know what the advantages or disadvantages are for the socket 370 vs the slot 1.

The prices I saw were not as bad as I expected. It looks like I could switch to a
socket 370 board with around a 933 mhz chip for about 700 to 800.00 or so. That's a better price point than I expected. Nothing seems to have lan, scsi, and a wide range of cpu selections. Oh yea, ATA/100 would be nice too! <G>.

Oh well. No real urgency, just the itch for 'more power' as Tim the toolman would say. I'll do more shopping and find something in the next month or so.

Thanks again for the feedback, and keep the ideas comming.