New LX MB vs Refurb BX mb?

[randombrainwaves]

Cpu: Celeron SLot1 366

Opt 1: Tekram LX mb,new, $24.95+ship (tekram.com)
Opt 2: Intel MP440BX,refurb, $29.99free ship (after discount) (overstock.com)

I have never bought a refurb mb before, but others here seem to have had good luck.
Pricing is about the same, can't figure out whether to go new with older chipset or refurb with bx chipset..

Am I making a mountain here?

 

[hatboy]

I would probably choose the Tekram. You almost certainly won't be able to set the bus speed to anything but 66 with the Intel board since it is an Intel board. Even though it is a BX, I really doubt it would let you set a 66mhz bus processor to 100mhz bus (it probably autodetects). I don't know what bus speeds the Tekram supports, but if it will do 75 or 83, you might be able to overclock the Celeron. If overclocking isn't an issue, I would still go with the Tekram, simply because it isn't refurbished.

 

[AndyHui]

I'd probably go for the TekRAM. A couple of issues to be aware of though....The BX's advantage over the LX is that most motherboards based on the LX chipset cannot supply enough power to the AGP slot for TNTs and above....not the fault of the chipset, but the motherboard manufacturer. Just check.

The Intel board IS completely un-overclockable.....it's fully autodetect and has NO options for tweaking, unless you want to do the pin taping trick.

 

[randombrainwaves]

Thanks for both replies. I wasn't planning on overclocking (that is for other machines), because these are going to be test machines for linux/win2000/web products. I guess I might want to play at times though, and with the Intel board that option doesn't exist. Not going to use a fancy video card, so that isn't an issue, but glad to know about it..

I have heard/read from people who have the intel boards and like them, but nobody who has the tekram boards, I know they aren't top tier, but are they at the Pcchips level?

 

[AndyHui]

Probably a bit better than PCChips...a tad more reliable.