which motherboard do I buy?

[OmegaXero]

Ok, heres my situation. I'm looking to build a second system for gaming at my house. I run a LAN with a few computers, but most of them are less than adequate for playing current games at a decent speed. My current setup for gaming on my secondary computer is a k6/2 450 with a TNT 16 meg and 128megs of PC100 ram. I'm looking to take as much as I can from the k6 and plug the parts into a newer system. I was originally considering an intel system (I primarily run AMD and I thought Intel might be fun for a change). However, the prices of intel chips, even old ones, are sky high. I can get a duron 750 for next to nothing. Now my problem is finding a good, low cost motherboard for my duron. From the looks of things right now a FIC AZ11 is the lowest cost "name brand" board I can find. Does anyone know if this board is anygood? I'd love to get any suggestions or oppinions on this board and others like it.

 

[Boonesmi]

how much are you looking to spend?

if you go to a store like www.mwave.com
you can get a good via kt133 chipset board (good brands are asus, epox, iwill) and they are all pretty cheap.

or you can spend a little more and go with via kt133a and have more future in upgrading it (same brands)

i personally love the asus a7v or a7v133

 

[OmegaXero]

Yep Yep, I already run an A7V and I LOVE it. I haven't really considered money too much, but I don't want to spend a whole lot on this system. I'm just trying to figure out of the AZ11 is a good board or not. But I'm still really tempted to just pay ~20 more and just get an A7V.

 

[10101a]

I have no experience (good or bad) with FIC, but I have had pretty good luck with the Asus boards.

The Asus A7V133 is $118 at NewEgg.com
If you are unsure about the quality, read the AnandTech review of this board.

(The FIC AZ11 is $84 at Newegg)

Not sure of what your budget is, but $118 for a high quality motherboard with the VIA Apollo KT133A ain't bad in May of 2001.

 

[10101a]

Correction: (on 5-7-2001)

the AZ11E is $84 at newegg.com, $92 at mwave.com

the AZ11 is $78 at mwave.com