Please recommend an AM2 board with the following:

bluemax

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2000
7,182
0
0
I currently have a Dell E521 with an X2 processor. It didn't come with a DVD-RW drive, nor does it have parallel for my old laser printer. I have 3x DDR2 533 1GB sticks in there. 2 will be pulled for me - 1 stays in the Dell.

I'm going to buy a Sempron for THAT machine, and pull the X2-3800+ with its BIG heatsink and use it on my own board, along with my old IDE DVD burner, and my laser printer (along with the crummy Dell USB ink jobby.)

Things that are important to me:
1) Must have room for a big heatsink! The Dell heatsink is tall, but probably also wider than the retail heatsink. Not having playwed with any AM2's yet, I couldn't tell you for sure.
2) Full ATX, not micro. I need PCI slots for a modem and sound card (with a little room to grow) so 3 or 4 PCI slots is much nicer than 2.

3) Good overall performance! USB, LAN, PATA & SATA shouldn't hog many resources and slow things down when you use them. Mind you - is there much real-world difference in this case?

4) Fanless design is preferred. I hate noise... I'll have to silence my X1300 Pro VIVO another time...

5) I might overclock a little. :) Stability is more important, but a free 10-20% won't be turned down!

6) NOT over $100! No $200 boards here, thanks! :)


If you know of any boards that come to mind, #1 is the biggest factor. You might know about the USB/IDE/LAN/etc performance issue and recommend a CHIPSET based on that.

If you happen to know of a great Canadian deal, let me know. ;)

Your advice is really appreciated, and thanks in advance!
 

Subbaculcha

Member
Aug 23, 2004
130
0
71
DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2. About $90 at newegg. Great overclocker (running a 1.6 sempron at 2.6...easily).
Only downside is chipset is very hot (stock chipset HS/fan sux), so plan on about $20 for a heatsink. I'm using the Thermalright HR-05-sli
Good luck.
 

bluemax

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2000
7,182
0
0
SOMEWHERE in my disaster of a house, I have a Zalman NB heatsink... I should just buy another one at the same time, if the NB really gets as hot as all that.

ESPECIALLY if I'm going to run my CPU fanless - well - mostly fanless. It'll be in a Sonata II with a 120mm tricool case fan in Medium setting close at hand. I'll throw a 90mm quiet fan I have sitting around onto the front for extra airflow.

I should consider one of those Zalman kits for my Radeon X1300 while I'm at it - those puppies shouldn't need a fan. :(