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clarnibass

Member
May 10, 2005
71
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Hi

I'm buying a new computer soon (or at least parts for it). I need to decide first on which motherbaord to get. The processor is AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (or maybe the 3200+) socket 939. I'm not going to overclock.
I'll use this computer almost entirely for audio work (no games at all). I'll record instruemnts and work with Cubase and Vegas and use a lot of effects and virtual instruements too, so I understand I need a fast CPU and a lot of memory.

My biggest problem right now is deciding on the motherboard.

1. Does it matter if I get the Via chipset or Nvidia chipset? If Nvidia, do I need the Nforce4 or the Nforce3 is good enough?

2. If the motherboard has an integrated sound card, is it possible to make the compuer ignore it like it doesn;t exist (I'm going to buy a sound card)?

3. Should I get a motehrboard with a PCI Express slot of AGP slot? I was told some motherboards only support AGP 1.5V cards (for example the Gigabyte mobos are like this), but most cards are 0.8V and would not match. Do PCI Express cards have this problem too?

4. I see some motherbaords say they support AMD's Cool 'n' Quiet Technology. How important is this (I don't know what the C&Q Tech is)? For example, none of the MSI motehrboards support that it seems.

5. Which card would be best?

The companies we have here are Gigabyte, Abit, Asus, MSI (I might be able to find a few others but not in my city and I perfer to buy it here).

The models are: (What does ATX mean by the way?)
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 (nForce3 Ultra chipset) - ATX
Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 - 939 (nForce4x) - ATX
Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-9 - 939 (nForce4 Ultra) - ATX
Abit AV8-3rd Eye (K8T800 Pro) - ATX
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum - (nForce3 Ultra) - 939 - ATX
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum - (nForce4 Ultra) - 939 - ATX
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe (s939) Nvidia nForce4 chipset
Asus A8V-Deluxe (s939) Via K8T800Pro chipset

The store might be able to order other model by this companies, but these are all the models that are listed on their website.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much,
Nitai
 
QueBert

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,932
1,129
126
1. it doesn't matter. Please don't listen to fanboys, both chipsets have their advantages and disadvantages. I have an Nforce board, it works and that's all I can really say about it.

2. you can disable intergrated sound in the bios.

3. I don't know much about this, always sounded like a gimmick.

4. If you have an AGP card, get a MB with native AGP, you'll have less hassle. They have Hybrid boards with PCI-E + AGP, but the AGP is iffy, you loose a good 40%+ speed, but since you won't be playing games that's no reason. The voltage thing is kind of big though.

5. Card for what? sound wise stay the hell away from Creative, the cards have latency problems big time. I'm not a Creative basher, I own an Audigy, but if you're not gaming, and are going to be using the PC only to make music, I don't think you could make a worse choice then Creative.


Gigabyte makes good boards, Abit, Asus & MSI are all good enough. ATX is the form factor of the board. All you'll see is ATX or M-ATX (Micro) Nf4 boards will be PCI-E so no need to really go there. Nf3 250 or VIA you can't go wrong with a good brand. Any models you're looking at locally, I suggest you Google for at least a review or 2. You really can't go wrong with any company you listed though. MSI makes great, no frills boards.

 
P

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
9,640
1
0
1) You want speedy IDE/SATA, and for this, the VIA chipset currently has the lead.

2a) The word is "integrated" ... and you don't have to disable one sound device to add another.

3) There is no such thing as a "0.8V" AGP standard. 4x and 8x modes use 1.5V signalling. Everyone saying 0.8V did not understand what "reduced-swing signalling" is. So, nevermind, 4x/8x capable cards is what works in today's mainboards.

4) Cool&Quiet lets the CPU run fast only when required, and slow (thus cool) the rest of the time. Some mainboards scale the fan speed along with CPU temperature, and that's where the "Quiet" comes in.

5) Card? You talking sound or graphics? If the latter, you'll want something that offers solid 2D, preferrably dualhead and properly implemented DVI. You should go with a low-end, fanless ATI card, like a 9550SE AGP or X300SE PCIe, depending on your choice of mainboard.
 
C

clarnibass

Member
May 10, 2005
71
0
0
Thank yo uso much for you replies. Finally I get excellent answers. Everyone else I asked so far didn't really know what to tell me.

I think I spelled "integrated" correct no?

About "5.Which card would be best?" I meant which motherboard is best, sorry.
I guess I can go with any of the ones I mentioned.

For sound card I'm going with M-Audio Delta-44, and for graphics card I'll go with a fanless mid to low price ATI or Nvidia.

Thanks again for all the help.
 
Appledrop

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
2,340
0
0
out of those listed, i'd get the a8v deluxe. I have it, and it has given me no problems at all, super stable even with decent OC. I'd avoid the Nf3 gigabyte boards.
 
C

clarnibass

Member
May 10, 2005
71
0
0
Thanks for the replies.

Just when I thought I made up my mind, I started reading for a couple hours here on motherboards and it seems there is no good motherboards at all! Every time I think I setteled on one, I start reading about it and find it has tons of problems.
I was close to getting the AV8 by Abit, then saw you must have a floppy drive! I wasn't planning on getting a floppy drive.
Then found I have MSI now on this computer, which had no problems at all for about 5 years, so decided I want MSI, but it has a noisy chipset fan which can't be replaced with a heatsink.
Almost all problems I read about are related to people overclocking, so I thought they wouldn't matter to me. I also read so many good reviews on these boards (on newegg for example) so I'm really frustrated here.

All I want is to build a computer and not have any problems unless it is me who messes things up.
Maybe there is a way around the floppy in the Abit?

I'm getting close to buying an Intel instead...

Thanks.
 
R

Red and black

Member
Apr 14, 2005
152
0
0
Floppy drives are useful. Use one from an old machine, or buy a new one for $10 or whatever.

And of course you will see posts complaining about mobo problems on the mobo forum: people post in hopes of getting help. If things work, they're not going to start a thread "Hey I bought a FOO8V and it worked like it was supposed to."

But for what it's worth, all the parts from which I assembled my current desktop have worked just fine:

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30354
 
episodic

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
81
I've bought and put together over 5 AMD computers in a year with zero problems. I think most ppl go to fast and mess up. When you do it reserve a quiet afternoon, and proceed slowly.

I've used quality components - and I've used lowend stuff like pcchips - but as I said - never a problem.
 
Appledrop

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
2,340
0
0
Originally posted by: clarnibass
Thanks for the replies.

Just when I thought I made up my mind, I started reading for a couple hours here on motherboards and it seems there is no good motherboards at all! Every time I think I setteled on one, I start reading about it and find it has tons of problems.
I was close to getting the AV8 by Abit, then saw you must have a floppy drive! I wasn't planning on getting a floppy drive.
Then found I have MSI now on this computer, which had no problems at all for about 5 years, so decided I want MSI, but it has a noisy chipset fan which can't be replaced with a heatsink.
Almost all problems I read about are related to people overclocking, so I thought they wouldn't matter to me. I also read so many good reviews on these boards (on newegg for example) so I'm really frustrated here.

All I want is to build a computer and not have any problems unless it is me who messes things up.
Maybe there is a way around the floppy in the Abit?

I'm getting close to buying an Intel instead...

Thanks.
Click to expand...

umm, like i said, get the A8V, it is a really good motherboard imo. Dont go intel!

 
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