Need New Socket A (462) Motherboard

[AgeOfDiscovery]

Hello all, I need to replace an old Socket A motherboard that just burned out. What are some fast motherboards you'd recommend? I'm looking at the Abit Nf7 Ver.2 @ Monarch for $64 shipped. Is this a good choice? I don't want to spend too much money on this as I'll probably be upgrading to an A64 system in 4-5 months. Suggestions?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

$64 seems a bit pricey for Socket A. Depending on the features you need, you can replace your motherboard for $30 or so. Spending an extra $30 or $40 is not going to yield any noticeable performance increase.

1) What kind of CPU do you have? Thoroughbred, Palomino, Thorton or Barton? And what is its FSB?
2) Do you need SATA? What about ATA-133? Or is ATA-100 fine?
3) Do you have a video card, or will you be needing integrated graphics? If you have an AGP card, what speed interface do you need?
4) Do you need gigabit LAN or just 10/100?
5) Do you need 7.1, 5.1 or just stereo audio? Or do you already have a PCI sound card?
6) Do you need firewire?
7) Is your modem PCI, or will you need a CNR or AMR slot?
8) Do you have matching DIMMs, such that you can benefit from dual DDR?
9) How many PCI cards do you have? Do you need any extra PCI slots?

Answer these nine questions, and I can give you a specific recommendation.

 

[AgeOfDiscovery]

I must be tired haha -- here's my info

1) 2500+ Barton 333FSB
2) No, I have EIDE
3) I have FX5900 8X AGP
4) 10/100 is fine, gigabit not necessary
5) No PCI sound card, but using built in sound system on DSP-500 headphones
6) No
7) No modem, part of a network 🙂
8) Dual Channel OCZ Value VX pc3200
9) 1 PCI card, 1 PCI expansion slot fan

 

[SlitheryDee]

An NF7-S ver 2.0 is a VERY good socket A MB. $64 is a wee bit pricey as I paid $50 for my NF7-S2.

If you're overclocking make sure that you're not confusing the NF7-S ver. 2.0 with the NF7-S2, because the NF7-S2 offers fewer overclocking options. The most notable absence is the lack of ability to change the cpu clock multiplier.

Nevertheless, I managed to get my Barton 3000+ up to 2331mhz on stock cooling with the NF7-S2.

Look for an Nforce2 MB from a decent manufacturer like Abit, Epox, Chaintech, etc. '

Edit: If I wasn't clear enough, the NF7-S2 is not the same as the NF7-S ver. 2. I have the NF7-S2, but I would definitely trade it for an NF7-S ver. 2, given the chance (because I like to overclock).

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Ah, your dual channel memory requirement is going to keep you from getting anything for less than $40, and you'll have a tough time finding anything for less than $50.

Here's a nice looking Soyo board for $43 (with shipping):
http://www.arsenalpc.com/Details.asp?ItemID=20431

Type "Athlon XP dual" into the pricewatch search engine and see what comes up.

 

[MDE]

Who cares if the motherboard doesn't support dual channel, it means squat on an AMD platform without integrated graphics.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: MDE
Who cares if the motherboard doesn't support dual channel, it means squat on an AMD platform without integrated graphics.

I think it does have a bit of an impact on an athlon XP platform, although it may not be as significant when you're talking about A64s.

It all depends on whether you think that 5% increase in performance is worth the ~$10 extra.

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
It all depends on whether you think that 5% increase in performance is worth the ~$10 extra.

Good luck finding a benchmark where dual-channel gives a 5% performance boost on a Socket A system.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

You missed his point. He's saying that you should ask yourself whether you want to pay extra for what's probably a negligible performance increase. The "5%" figure was just arbitrary.

 

[SlitheryDee]

In reality I see a 1-3% difference in synthetic benchmarks when I move my RAM into slots that don't operate in dual channel.

In gaming benchmarks I see an average difference of 2-5 FPS. This is really pretty negligible, but some people feel that they must have that extra bit of speed.

Personally I wouldn't drop too much money into a socket A system when you're going to move up to a better platform very soon.