Motherboard recommendations Please!

[Anonymous]

OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
I need a second capable system at home.

- I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.

- I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.

- So, basically, I want to buy:
A motherboard
Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
Case & power supply
Memory (512 mb)

And keep it to around $500 or less.

Recommendations?

TIA,
- jim

[Anonymous]

Thanks be to everyone for their input.
Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:

Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
Cooling Fan = $20
Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
Case with 300w/front USB = $77

Total = $441

Not bad.

- jim

"Jim Mims" wrote in message
news:97462EC281270119FE6DB11A4EBAECFE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
> I need a second capable system at home.
>
> - I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
> mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
>
> - I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
>
> - So, basically, I want to buy:
> A motherboard
> Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
> Case & power supply
> Memory (512 mb)
>
> And keep it to around $500 or less.
>
> Recommendations?
>
> TIA,
> - jim
>
>

[Anonymous]

If you are putting a Geforce4 or a Quadro4 you may need a bigger power
supply.
That going to be a power hungry system.


> Thanks be to everyone for their input.
> Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:
>
> Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
> Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
> Cooling Fan = $20
> Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
> Case with 300w/front USB = $77
>
> Total = $441
>
> Not bad.
>
> - jim
>

[Anonymous]

Good Choice Jim. I am sure you will be satisfied with the performance.

Just one suggestion, you might want to get higher quality RAM, like OCZ
overclockers or Corsair XMS3200 instead. HardOCP recommends this too, as the
nForce might not run reliably with CAS 3 RAM. I think it is a few more
dollars, like $20 more for high quality RAM with heatspreaders. I am not
saying Kingston is bad stuff, just make sure it is CAS 2 to save yourself a
potential big headache.

BTW if you can't find it, I can get a smoking deal on OCZ Overclocker DDR400
Ram CAS 2 with heatsinks in my store in Canada, email me if your interested.

----------
Ashley Fulks
Production Manager @ www.nisku.ca
Specialized Supercomputers for Inventor
http://www.nisku.ca/autocomp.htm


"Jim Mims" wrote in message
news:14CA2F0A6BDCD28611D248EFBA2025B3@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Thanks be to everyone for their input.
> Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:
>
> Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
> Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
> Cooling Fan = $20
> Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
> Case with 300w/front USB = $77
>
> Total = $441
>
> Not bad.
>
> - jim
>
> "Jim Mims" wrote in message
> news:97462EC281270119FE6DB11A4EBAECFE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
> > I need a second capable system at home.
> >
> > - I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
> > mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
> >
> > - I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
> >
> > - So, basically, I want to buy:
> > A motherboard
> > Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
> > Case & power supply
> > Memory (512 mb)
> >
> > And keep it to around $500 or less.
> >
> > Recommendations?
> >
> > TIA,
> > - jim
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

i second that... jim, how about checking out ebay for some combo deals?
there are some pretty good buys on there..... just be sure and check the
sellers feedback....

over...

[Anonymous]

Interesting.
Most of our PIII computers have 200w power supplies.
Now we're saying that 300w isn't enough?
Do you think I should bump it up to around 400w?

- Jim

"Paul Houlker" <666paulh@rimex.com666> wrote in message
news:0269507F94E9435BCF8E15036E2C9D6F@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> If you are putting a Geforce4 or a Quadro4 you may need a bigger power
> supply.
> That going to be a power hungry system.
>
>
> > Thanks be to everyone for their input.
> > Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:
> >
> > Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
> > Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
> > Cooling Fan = $20
> > Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
> > Case with 300w/front USB = $77
> >
> > Total = $441
> >
> > Not bad.
> >
> > - jim
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

Yes, every thing is getting more power hungry.

This is a link to a PDF from the AMD site. I read it as saying 300w is the
min.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/quic
k_ref_faq.pdf

> Interesting.
> Most of our PIII computers have 200w power supplies.
> Now we're saying that 300w isn't enough?
> Do you think I should bump it up to around 400w?
>
> - Jim

[Anonymous]

Jim,

I recently put together a system using the Asus P4PE motherboard (P4,
DDRAM, loaded with Serial ATA, RAID, LAN, Audio, FireWire and a ton of
USB 2.0 ports), a 2.53Ghz P4, and 512MB of Corsair PC2700 DDRAM. It
has a GeForce 4 Ti4200 on 2 21" monitors. XP, of course.

I dropped in a 430W Antec Tru-Power power supply that I picked up at
Staples.com - they had a $25 off $100 coupon, so I added an X-Acto
knife and got both for less than the real price of their 380W unit.

It runs GREAT. AutoCAD screams on it (it's not networked, so disk
performance isn't a bottleneck) and games are SWEET. VIZ performance
is very good, Photoshop is dreamy and it's flat out the best system
I've worked on. Ever.

It replaced a dual-CPU 1GHz P-III machine, and I notice some UI things
were more "buttery smooth" on the SMP machine, but not many.
Everything else is scads better.

It's also VERY VERY quiet. Using the stock Intel HSF combo, and the
Antec PS is controlled by the temperature, so if the system doesn't
heat up, the PSU doesn't spin up very much.

The parts for the MB, CPU and RAM cost about $560 from googlegear.com,
and tack on another $80 for the PSU and we're up to $640. You can
easily get a smaller PSU in a decent Antec case for $80, and save cash
with a 2.4GHz (about -$50 less).

If you really wanted to get a performance system for under $500,
you'll have to go with an Athlon based system. My wife has one and
it's great. However, I'm a fan of the P4 platform, since it's just
super duper stable and fast enough.

Matt
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
mstachoni@comcast.net

On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 07:27:24 -0800, "Jim Mims"
wrote:

>OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
>I need a second capable system at home.
>
>- I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
>mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
>
>- I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
>
>- So, basically, I want to buy:
>A motherboard
>Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
>Case & power supply
>Memory (512 mb)
>
>And keep it to around $500 or less.
>
>Recommendations?
>
>TIA,
>- jim
>

[Anonymous]

Gets my seal of approval! Sounds great - everything I've been hearing
about the nForce2 platform makes it the mobo of choice for Athlon
systems.

And you can't beat an $88 1.7GHz CPU 🙂

Matt
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
mstachoni@comcast.net


On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 14:49:53 -0800, "Jim Mims"
wrote:

>Thanks be to everyone for their input.
>Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:
>
>Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
>Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
>Cooling Fan = $20
>Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
>Case with 300w/front USB = $77
>
>Total = $441
>
>Not bad.
>
>- jim
>
>"Jim Mims" wrote in message
>news:97462EC281270119FE6DB11A4EBAECFE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
>> I need a second capable system at home.
>>
>> - I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
>> mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
>>
>> - I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
>>
>> - So, basically, I want to buy:
>> A motherboard
>> Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
>> Case & power supply
>> Memory (512 mb)
>>
>> And keep it to around $500 or less.
>>
>> Recommendations?
>>
>> TIA,
>> - jim
>>
>>
>

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much.
You know, I really don't mind spending the extra money.
One item that was of interest to me and I wanted to investigate, was the
noise factor.
I would like to have a system that was REAL quiet.

- Jim

"Matt Stachoni" wrote in message
news:rm1fvusi064l63i8kj3vj5dl0nilh25g9g@4ax.com...
> Jim,
>
> I recently put together a system using the Asus P4PE motherboard (P4,
> DDRAM, loaded with Serial ATA, RAID, LAN, Audio, FireWire and a ton of
> USB 2.0 ports), a 2.53Ghz P4, and 512MB of Corsair PC2700 DDRAM. It
> has a GeForce 4 Ti4200 on 2 21" monitors. XP, of course.
>
> I dropped in a 430W Antec Tru-Power power supply that I picked up at
> Staples.com - they had a $25 off $100 coupon, so I added an X-Acto
> knife and got both for less than the real price of their 380W unit.
>
> It runs GREAT. AutoCAD screams on it (it's not networked, so disk
> performance isn't a bottleneck) and games are SWEET. VIZ performance
> is very good, Photoshop is dreamy and it's flat out the best system
> I've worked on. Ever.
>
> It replaced a dual-CPU 1GHz P-III machine, and I notice some UI things
> were more "buttery smooth" on the SMP machine, but not many.
> Everything else is scads better.
>
> It's also VERY VERY quiet. Using the stock Intel HSF combo, and the
> Antec PS is controlled by the temperature, so if the system doesn't
> heat up, the PSU doesn't spin up very much.
>
> The parts for the MB, CPU and RAM cost about $560 from googlegear.com,
> and tack on another $80 for the PSU and we're up to $640. You can
> easily get a smaller PSU in a decent Antec case for $80, and save cash
> with a 2.4GHz (about -$50 less).
>
> If you really wanted to get a performance system for under $500,
> you'll have to go with an Athlon based system. My wife has one and
> it's great. However, I'm a fan of the P4 platform, since it's just
> super duper stable and fast enough.
>
> Matt
> mstachoni@bhhtait.com
> mstachoni@comcast.net
>
> On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 07:27:24 -0800, "Jim Mims"
> wrote:
>
> >OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
> >I need a second capable system at home.
> >
> >- I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive, keyboard,
> >mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
> >
> >- I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
> >
> >- So, basically, I want to buy:
> >A motherboard
> >Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
> >Case & power supply
> >Memory (512 mb)
> >
> >And keep it to around $500 or less.
> >
> >Recommendations?
> >
> >TIA,
> >- jim
> >
>

[Anonymous]

Matt, have you been out and about and heard about Darin S. Reed?
Very sad.

- Jim

"Matt Stachoni" wrote in message
news:j14fvuk1ka76njvmk7tb46q8iftqpmtp4d@4ax.com...
> Gets my seal of approval! Sounds great - everything I've been hearing
> about the nForce2 platform makes it the mobo of choice for Athlon
> systems.
>
> And you can't beat an $88 1.7GHz CPU 🙂
>
> Matt
> mstachoni@bhhtait.com
> mstachoni@comcast.net
>
>
> On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 14:49:53 -0800, "Jim Mims"
> wrote:
>
> >Thanks be to everyone for their input.
> >Here's where I'm leaning after an afternoon of looking:
> >
> >Motherboard - Asus A7N8X = $125
> >Processor - AMD XP 2100+ (1.73ghz) = $88
> >Cooling Fan = $20
> >Kingston PC2700 512mb = $131
> >Case with 300w/front USB = $77
> >
> >Total = $441
> >
> >Not bad.
> >
> >- jim
> >
> >"Jim Mims" wrote in message
> >news:97462EC281270119FE6DB11A4EBAECFE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> >> OK. I'm really going to do it this time.
> >> I need a second capable system at home.
> >>
> >> - I'm looking at using a spare 80gig hard drive, floppy drive,
keyboard,
> >> mouse, cd-rw and I already have XP Pro.
> >>
> >> - I want to make do with on-board video and sound for now.
> >>
> >> - So, basically, I want to buy:
> >> A motherboard
> >> Processor (say, between 2 and 2.4 ghz)
> >> Case & power supply
> >> Memory (512 mb)
> >>
> >> And keep it to around $500 or less.
> >>
> >> Recommendations?
> >>
> >> TIA,
> >> - jim
> >>
> >>
> >
>

[Anonymous]

If you want really, really quiet get a water Kooled system.

www.koolance.com

--
Kevin Nehls


"Jim Mims" wrote in message
news:478DAE784C238348F10B0F083F1FA43A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...

> I would like to have a system that was REAL quiet.
>
> - Jim

[Anonymous]

On Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:49:51 -0800, "Jim Mims"
wrote:

>Matt, have you been out and about and heard about Darin S. Reed?
>Very sad.

Yes, I'm working off the shock as we speak...I was too saddened to
post.

Matt
mstachoni@bhhtait.com
mstachoni@comcast.net

[Anonymous]

> One item that was of interest to me and I wanted to investigate, was the
> noise factor.
> I would like to have a system that was REAL quiet.
>
> - Jim

Then I would sugest an Enermax PSU

[Anonymous]

Forgot the link
http://www.enermax.com.tw/product-01.htm