New Mobo & the works on a budget

[Kaifu]

The basics of my current system:

(Dell Dimension 4100)
Intel P3 933Mhz
512MB PC133 SDRAM (this is the highest I can go with my current mobo)
Gainward 650 Ultra/XP Golden Sample GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB
Soundblaster Live! Value PCI

I've been looking at the Fry's ads for the past few months and they put the ECS boards on sale all the time but from what I understand, these boards aren't that great... especially for what I want to use it for: general computing, internet some graphics, music and web work and games. I don't need a beefy system. I don't plan on replacing the graphics card, but I do want a motherboard that won't bust my wallet and will still allow me to upgrade later on (and not get stuck with the stupid 512MB of RAM ceiling like I currently have).

My problem is one of budget. I, like quite a number of people, can't afford to be as tricked out as I'd like. I've got other expenses to maintain and want to eventually add things like wireless networking to my home.

What would be your suggestions for motherboards to look for and places to look for them? Am I wasting my time looking at the Fry's ads every Friday? I live in the greater Seattle area, so if anyone happens to live around here and has recommendations for top-notch shops, I'd be obliged.

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: Kaifu
What would be your suggestions for motherboards to look for and places to look for them? Am I wasting my time looking at the Fry's ads every Friday? I live in the greater Seattle area, so if anyone happens to live around here and has recommendations for top-notch shops, I'd be obliged.

www.mwave.com
www.newegg.com

For the intel side, I'd look at mobos with the 865PE or 875 chipset.
AMD, I'd go with nforce2 no question. example

Your current ram is kind of limiting because DDR is becoming the standard now. And I hope you know that along with your motherboard the cpu will go too. It's not worth getting another motherboard if you will not change your cpu.

If you're not ready to give up your ram just yet and budget is your main concern, I suggest geting Biostar M7VIGPro ($54) with an AMD XP2600 ($90) from mwave. Total of $144.

Otherwise I'd get Albatron PX865PE Pro ($80 from newegg) 2.6C $(164 newegg) and 512 PC3200 Corsair Dual Channel Value Ram for $60 after $30 Rebate from Fry's. Total of $304.

Refer to the Anandtech Motherboard & CPU price guide for more ideas.

 

[Kaifu]

Thanks for the advice. i planned on getting a new CPU and DDR RAM with the motherboard. probably a single stick of 512 to start unless there's a good deal (and there is from time to time) on a 1GB stick. Yes, i know the "limiting" thing more than you can imagine. I couldn't add a single kilobyte of ram if I wanted to.

What are some other good budget boards that don't compromise too much on quality? Fry's has ECS boards on sale every week, but they'd be something to steer away from for what I want, right?

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: Kaifu
Thanks for the advice. i planned on getting a new CPU and DDR RAM with the motherboard. probably a single stick of 512 to start unless there's a good deal (and there is from time to time) on a 1GB stick. Yes, i know the "limiting" thing more than you can imagine. I couldn't add a single kilobyte of ram if I wanted to.

What are some other good budget boards that don't compromise too much on quality? Fry's has ECS boards on sale every week, but they'd be something to steer away from for what I want, right?

No problem. ECS for me is 30/60. 30% bad experience 60% good. But I wouldn't settle for those odds. Get Albatron or Biostar for budget boards (see above) but the Abit and Asus makes budget boards too, just depends what processor you want to go with. I might stay away from Gigabyte, until more users provide postive feedback about their RMA process (all I've heard is bad so far).

 

[fwtong]

If you want to go AMD, once in a while, Fry's will have a sale with Shuttle AN35N-400 boards.

 

[Gravity]

I just got a gigabyte board from newegg, $54 clams. It has usb2, 32 mb vid on board, giga-lan on board and sound on board. So far the performance is very, very nice. 333 fsb and only 3 pci slots. If you want to save some jack, that might be the way to go. Gigabyte has a pretty good rep for their boards. I can't recall the model # now but if yer interested pm me and I'll look it up when i get to the office.