Which is the better buy Abit or MSI motherboard

[lenix]

Motherboard: ABIT AW8-MAX LGA 775
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 640
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN 9500A 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
Hard Drive: HITACHI 250GB SATA 3.0Gb/s / Western Digital 160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s x 2 / SEAGATE 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s
Video Card: XFX PVT70GUDE7 GeForce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
Memory: OCZ Gold Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400)
Media: NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A / LG Lightscribe DVD-something 🙂

The list above is my old build from about 3 years ago with some minor upgrade.


I'm currently looking at Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 and ABIT I-45CV LGA 775 / MSI P6NGM-L LGA 775, all from Newegg

Now the question is I'm not looking into building something extreme like I did a few years back but some something above average with a budget.
I don't know which motherboard I should go for. Or do you guys have any more suggestion? I can't go more then $50 dollars on the motherboard.
I'm not to worry about the other parts because I'll be taking my old build apart and salvage it as much as I can. Btw there is nothing wrong with my old build,
just that I need some core in my system 🙂

 

[akhilles]

If you just want a stock pc, you can pick up any of the G31/G33/G35.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...17&bop=And&Order=PRICE

 

[o1die]

Depends on whether you want to overclock. I recommend against it for normal usage. I use a g31 board made by msi for compaq; it lists support for the e7200; and my local fry's has the e7200 with ecs board for $130 (ends today).