Recommend AMD/NForce-based motherboard

[vitoprimo]

My requirements:

Rock solid stability
AMD-based
Capable of installing 3GB of RAM (PC2100 DDR is fine)
Supports AMD line (support for Barton is a nice-to-have)
ATA/EIDE x 4 devices (ATA100 is great; ATA133 is a nice-to-have)
NForce chipset (any NForce chipset; VIA not acceptable)
PCI x 4
Built-in USB 2.0 x 2
Built-in IEEE 1394 x 1
Built-in Ethernet 10/100Mbps x 1
AGP 1X or 2X support
Built-in sound support
Supports Matrox G400/G450/G500 dual-head video cards
ATX form factor
Inexpensive (preferably under $100US)
Rock solid stability

What I don't need:

Overclocking
SATA
Gigabit Ethernet
Built-in dual Ethernet
RAID
"High end" sound support

As a point of reference I'm currently running two Epox 8RDA+ boxes. I'd buy more of these (even though they don't support Barton) except they aren't sold in the USA anymore.

In short I'm looking for a "trailing edge" motherboard that's extremely stable and with (what I believe is) a useful life of 3 to 4 years.

Recommendations?

 

[pspada]

FIC's AU13 MAX has all that, I believe. And it takes a hammer to make them non-functional.

 

[slpaulson]

An Abit NF7-S is $99 shipped from newegg.
I like it alot because it's sound has digital output, and the it also has dedicated rear and center channel outs, instead of sharing with the mic and line in jacks.
It's also a very stable and mature board.

 

[MDE]

IDK if you'll find any nForce2 board that'll take an AGP 1x or 2x card without burning up. I'd second the Abit NF7-S. It has SATA RAID and SoundStorm, but it also has FireWire, 5 PCI slots, up to 6 USB 2.0 (2 on back panel, 4 via brackets) will take up to an XP 3200+ (as will all nForce2 boards), and is the most stable board I've ever used.

 

[Insane3D]

Abit NF7-S v2.0 or the new Abit AN7. 🙂

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Abit NF7-S v2.0 or the new Abit AN7. 🙂