Yet another "which mobo?" post - please help anyway!

[perlmonger]

Since I value everyone's input, please feel free to add your $.02.
I have been buying parts for my new system whenever I find them on the Hot Deals forum. So far I have the required drives, OS, and 2 - 256 MB sticks of Crucial PC2100MHz DDR Ram. I now want to gather up the rest. I originally wanted to go with the ECS K7S5A and an XP1800. This is still, in my opinion, a viable setup since I am obviously looking for the most bang for the buck. (which I don't have an endless supply of, bucks that is) Enter the 1.6a Northwood. I don't want to start a AMD vs. Intel pi$$ing match, but would this be a competetive solution? If so which motherboard would I use? (Remember the ram I already have) I also wonder if there is a better AMD platform now available. I don't need a raid controller, but I would like to have on-board lan and sound. I want good on-board sound and would like USB 2.0 support if I were to go with a different board. What is everyone using out there?

I may be off the boards for the next 24 hours so If I don't reply don't think I'm not keeping up with your replies.

Thanks

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Since you already have 2100DDR I think the XP is the better bang for the buck for you because P4As really need the extra bandwidth that DDR333 and especially RDRAM provide to see their full potential. Besides sounds like you are on a tight budget. So I would say get the XP1800+ and the Abit NV7-133R. The boards featuring onboard USB 2.0 that I've seen all seem pretty pricey and the NV7-133R has everything else you were after + the ATA133 RAID thrown in for 86$ It also has excellent onboard sound and will be a good choice for 2 256mb sticks of 2100DDR because of the dual channel DDR support. You could always add a 2.0 controller card later, if or when you really need it

 

[LastRide]

I am no expert in overclocking as I have been absorbing as much as I can by reading a "lot" of threads.I just purchased a 1.6a myself with a P4B533 Asus Mobo and DDR 2700 Samsung ram.I'm still waiting for the stuff to arrive.Anyways,you made somewhat of a mistake getting DDR 2100 ram,should have got 256MB 2700 Samsung or Kingston if you want to get a 1.6a P4 mobo.Corsair might be over your budget.This is if your planing to overclock.For mobo's the P4B533-V (expensive $156 cdrexpress) is a good board that supports 4/5 ratio and maybe 3/4 above 132FSB if the dip switch trick works on it.I haven't read anybody confirm that it does yet but I believe it may.Some people like the Epox 4G4A (no raid model),Abit BG7 and couple others.I recommend reading the threads to see what people are saying about their boards.I drove myself crazy wondering which mobo to get myself.It was time to make a decision so I grabbed the P4b533.I wanted the P4B533-V but didn't want to spend the extra money for onboard video which I don't need but still a good board,just shutt it off.The V board will run your ram at stock 333ddr if you have 2700 ram as where my board I have to overclock it to get it there.The epox is cheap at $93 new but missing the 12 volt comnnector which some people complain about stability,others are doing good.Seems like every board has its faults and you won't find a perfect board for overclocking.The XP 1800+ is a good choice for the money and by the sounds of your budget.The Epox 8KHA+ (the + is better 266a) is a very good board for the AMD route.I seen them for sale here for $50-$65 shipped.With your 2100 ram you will have a nice system.Maybe even get the 1900+.Thats the one I was going to get before I changed my mind.People are getting high overclocks with the 1600+ and this CPU is dirt cheap right now.Maybe someone can help you out more but I recommend you look around the forums and see what you like at your price.All the boards I mentioned I believe support 2.0 USB except the 8KHA+ but you better double check on that.With the 1.6a your guaranteed atleast 2.13 and a good chance of 2.4 and maybe higher.The Intel route is going to cost you more money.You want a good power supply,case fans and case if you go Intel and you want to O/C.The stock heatsink and fan is good to 2.4 if you hit it. All in all you might be better going AMD since you have the ram and the parts are cheaper.

 

[Boonesmi]

if i was buying today i would probably go with a board based on the kt333 chipset my favorite is the epox 8k3a+... but you may want to wait for some of the new boards that are just being released (kt400 and nforce2)

for awhile i used an ecs k7s5a and i noticed a pretty large increase in performance when i upgraded (actually ive used 3 or 4 dif boards since i used the k7s5a)

my 8k3a+ system currently runs a fsb of 166mhz with the memory also at 166mhz (the 8k3a+ has the 1/5th pci divider so the rest of the system is still in spec)

 

[o1die]

If you're looking to save some dough, computer geeks may still have the abit kr7a-raid for only $59, same price for the shuttle ak31a at newegg. Both boards have the kt266a chipset. You can find a cheap lan card and get usb 2.0 separately if needed. I've used the soyo dragon lite for my p4, but it's not a particularly good overclocker. The lite version for the xp might be your best bet for value. The ultra and platinum versions are too expensive.

 

[txgixer]

Abit IT7 Max

 

[perlmonger]

Thanks for the input everyone! I finally got a chance to read your replies. I bought the PC2100 during the best buy 25 bucks after rebate deal when the stuff was going for like 60-70 a stick. I've been holding it ever since. I agree with DAPUNISHER and Last Ride about the Ram, If I was buying today I would buy the PC2700. What chipset would you guys recommend? kt266, kt333 etc?

Thanks again

 

[LastRide]

You really can't go wrong with either 266a or KT333.From the reviews I have read the KT33 is not much of an improvement over the 266a chipset.The bugs have been worked out with the 266a and the review sites I read actually still recommended a good 266a.They were disappointed with the KT333 performance that didn't improve much over 266a.You won't get 2.0 USB with a mobo that has a 266a chipset (i think) since they brought that out more with the KT333 boards,but take a look.They even recommend waiting for the KT400 boards instead of a KT33 board.If you really want 2.0 USB then go ahead and get a KT333 board.I seen some real good prices on these boards.Here is a roundup here on anandtech on the mobos that have the KT333 chipset. KT333 Roundup

The MSI KT3 Ultra ARU has 6 channel audio,LAN,Raid and 2.0 USB.There is another board called KT3 Ultra and a new board called KT3 Ultra 2.Here is a review of the KT3 Ultra board $77.
MSI KTR Ultra

You can check here for the differences on the 3 boards.There are a few good boards out there and its hard to recommend one.Epox 8K3A+ is a good board but doesn't support 2.0 USB if thats what you want.
KT3 Ultra ARU-KT3 Ultra and KT3 Ultra2 NEW

For a 266a chipset board all I can recommend is the Epox 8KHA+ cause I have read great reviews on this board and my cousin has the 8KHA 266 (not the plus) and has Excellent results with it and a good overclocker.With an AMD 1.4 thunderbird 266FSB,8KHA 256 2100 ram and a Ti4200 visiontek he scores 8900 without overclocking the card.He does have his CPU at 1.5-1.6 overclocked.The + version 266a is a little better.This board doesn't have the features your looking for except for onboard sound.There are some other good boards out there too Soyo SY K7V Dragon Plus with 6 channel audio,10/100 Mbps Ethernet by ICS PHY Controller,Raid and some other features and excellent overclocking.I read this board boots up slow but an excellent board.

 

[LastRide]

Asus has launched their KT400 today so keep an eye out.

 

[Cerb]

Admittedly, I haven't messed with but a few KT333 boards, but From building the first machine, I have been sompletely sold on the MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU. Aside from onboard LAN, it has all the bells and whistles, everything is color-coded and keyed, making the overall time between taking it from the box and the first boot with all the brackets in no more than 5 min. It could take reasonably high FSB speeds (after it worked at 150MHz I didn't try higher, as the PC was being made for a paying customer ), the sound is great...and quite frankly, the only bad thing I can say about it is that it doesn't come with an onboard NIC.
The only other thing I will say is that if you're overclocking, stay away from the Shuttle KT333 board. I'm running it myself, and while it is a nice little board (what you'd expect from shuttle...works great, but the only extras are 2 more USB ports), it only took 139MHz FSB for me before it had problems.
The only other KT333 board I've messed w/ is the Asus, which was quite nice, I just like the MSI better.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Cerb
Admittedly, I haven't messed with but a few KT333 boards, but From building the first machine, I have been sompletely sold on the MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU. Aside from onboard LAN, it has all the bells and whistles, everything is color-coded and keyed, making the overall time between taking it from the box and the first boot with all the brackets in no more than 5 min. It could take reasonably high FSB speeds (after it worked at 150MHz I didn't try higher, as the PC was being made for a paying customer ), the sound is great...and quite frankly, the only bad thing I can say about it is that it doesn't come with an onboard NIC.
The only other thing I will say is that if you're overclocking, stay away from the Shuttle KT333 board. I'm running it myself, and while it is a nice little board (what you'd expect from shuttle...works great, but the only extras are 2 more USB ports), it only took 139MHz FSB for me before it had problems.
The only other KT333 board I've messed w/ is the Asus, which was quite nice, I just like the MSI better.

On the Shuttle board are you using the onboard C-Media sound?

I had a AK35GTR and it overclocked well if you turn off the c-media sound. The sound card is great, but dos not like to overclock.

But if I got a board today I would look at the Shuttle AK35GT2R or the epox.

 

[perlmonger]

Thanks everyone, I now have some good boards to research. In regards to the on-board lan and usb 2.0, these features are not absolutely required. I can add both later with a reasonably inexpensive pci card. I do have concerns with the PC2100 however. Should I just sell it and and go with the PC2700? I'm not completely up to speed with the chipset/memory/bus speed configurations yet. I like that MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU board but with the KT333 chipset, I'm wondering about the RAM.

Thanks again for all the input!

 

[LastRide]

You will be ok with 2100 ram in the KT3 Ultra ARU.If you ever decide to go with 2700 ram you know the board supports it.Ya,you will lose a little with 2100 but still be fine.The KT3 Ultra is cheap $77 with 6 channel audio and ATA133 if you don't want to spend the extra money on the ARU model that has lan,raid and 2.0 USB.At $108 for the ARU at newegg is an Excellent price for what you get.You can read what people had to say about the 2 boards at newegg.Sound like a couple people had issues with the ARU 36 voters while the regular KT3 Ultra had solid reviews 28 voters.That goes with every board where someone has issues.