Req: general advice and MB recommendation...

[mammothbaby]

Hey Folks:

My three year old Thunderbird system is in its final throes, and I've thus decided to try to build my own system. Many of the components from my old system are still usable (NIC, hard drives, RAM), and I've decided to buy all of my other components from NewEgg (seems easiest). I'm looking to build the system for around $500, focusing on upgradeability and cost effectiveness. I don't need a bleeding edge system -- just one with lasting power (okay, okay, and it should be able to run HL2 and Doom 3).

I've decided on the Athlon XP 3000+ for my processor, and a Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro for video. For a case, I've gone with the Antec Black ATX Mid-Tower. Other components going into the system: Lite-On Black 52x32x52x16 Combo Drive, 1 gig of PC2100 RAM (from the T-Bird system), 160 gig HD (Western Digital 7200), 40 gig HD (Western Digital 7200), and maybe an Audigy 2 ZS.

My knowledge of hardware falters when it comes to motherboards, so I need some recommendations on what kind of MB to combine with this processor/video card combo. As you can see from my other selections, I'm trying to find the best combination of price/performance, but with the added factors of stability (very important) and upgradeability (for the motherboard). I won't be overclocking anything in the system, so heat and OCing shouldn't factor into your recommendations. Also, would you recommend buying a 3rd party soundcard, or do the onboard sound solutions on new motherboards perform well enough?

Thanks in advance!

Aidan

UPDATE: Thanks to mechBgon for pointing out that the Athlon 64 2800+ is only a few dollars more than the Barton. Looks like I'll be going 64 after all. I still need motherboard recs for the 64 though...

 

[mechBgon]

You just posted an identical thread in Motherboards a few minutes ago. Please don't cross-post on multiple Forums since it's considered bad form.

 

[mammothbaby]

Sorry mech. I was hoping for some more general comments on the system in the hardware forum, as opposed to strictly motherboard advice from the MB forum. I also realized afterward that the higher volume of traffic in the general hardware forum would probably lead to more/faster responses. Excuse the faux pa; it won't happen again.

Aidan

Edit: Also, the posts are not identical; this one has a bit more info and asks for sound advice as well.

 

[Regs]

Edit, NM. Since this is general hardware, I would recommend the A64 3000 instead of the regular XP 3000. This with an Epox 8KDA3+. This will improve your overall performance by a considerable and very noticable ammount.

Now if you want to stick with the XP, there is likely nothing better than the DFI NFII Ultra LanParty. Reveiwed here .

 

[mammothbaby]

Regs:

My budget is relatively tight -- the 8KDA3+ is out of my price range (trying not to spend more than 100 on a motherboard), though I can probably squeeze by with the 64 3000 (as long as I don't go over 200 on the processor).

Aidan

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: mammothbaby
Regs:

My budget is relatively tight -- the 8KDA3+ is out of my price range (trying not to spend more than 100 on a motherboard), though I can probably squeeze by with the 64 3000 (as long as I don't go over 200 on the processor).

Aidan

Sorry Aidan, I edited my post 100 times on that one.