Motherboard recommendations?

[DB6]

I've decided to build my next computer and have looked around a bit but am frankly baffled by the amount of options available. I'm going to use an Athlon XP processor (2000+ or so) but don't know how to tell which motherboard would be the best. I don't need onboard sound or video drivers and want a fair few PCI slots (at least 5). It would make sense to go for a fairly advanced one so I can upgrade it in future. Any recommendations?

[Squiddley]

You're right about the plethora of choices around. As a starter, use your budget as a guide, then see what's worth the extra expense and what's not. Also take into consideration the type of RAM used by the motheboard, and how much it costs vs. how much you want. If you plan on sticking with AMD's socket A format, then I'd suggest a look at Abit (http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/mb_list.jsp?pCPU_SOCKET=Socket+A), Asus ("pick my Motherboard") (http://www.asus.com/mb/overview_amd.htm) and Gigabyte (http://tw.giga-byte.com/products/socketa.htm).

I would suggest not counting out onboard LAN, sound and graphics unless you want theatre quality sound and high quality graphics (e.g. gaming and/or CAD.) Onboard LAN is a winner because it frees up a slot and uses essentially the same chipset as the majority of LAN cards.

I'm using a Gigabyte GA7-VRXP with an XP 1800+ and am very pleased with it. Previously I've used both Abit and Asus, with equally good results.

You might also visit Tom's hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com) and AnandTech (http://www.anandtech.com) for reviews and more in depth information - both sites are widely considered to be excellent sources of such.

Have fun!

[scroggs]

I used an Abit KT7A-133 (Athlon 1.2 Ghz) and had no end of problems with graphics card compatibility. It's now a known and somewhat infamous affliction but, as a result, I'm staying clear of Abit. See this thread:click here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34055)

I now use a Gigabyte K7 Triton 400 mobo (GA-7 VAX), with an Athlon XP 2000+. Uses PC 3200 memory, AGP 8x (great for the Radeon 9700 graphics card owner!), USB 2.0, ATA133. It also has onboard LAN and (basic) 5.1 sound. £79 from Downtown Computers. Nice!

[DB6]

Thanks for the tips. Gigabyte looks OK.
Now if I can just decide which one..........

[Squiddley]

I oly look at AMD supporting boards, of which the GA-7-VAXP is a beauty. I took my Dad shopping the other day and he settled on one. When we got to putting it together it became a much nicer board than it looks... design, layout etc are super. Oh, the features are superb too ;) Also, the goodies in the box are good:
Amongst other things...
4 socket USB PCI bracket
3 socket IEEE1394 PCI bracket
Digital out PCI bracket
A huge poster on the top which clearly shows what's what and where
A sticker to place in the case so you have easy reference to the board's layout.

One thing to note though, is that the KT400 chipset is hardly an improvement over the KT333. It is still early days though, and once BIOS improvements are made, things could really brighten up for the KT400. It's Asus counterpart, the A7V8X, was 50% dearer, with fewer options. I think this is becoming an Asus trend, where they are now charging a premium for the brand.

[noblues]

- ASUS A7V333

Bought one yesterday (RL in watford for £77).

Running with an XP 1700 processor + 512 DDR ...GEForce M440 64Mbte graphics - DVD, CDR , LAN card .....

Has 6 USB's (inc 2 USB2's).
5 PCI slots
RAID support ....(not that most people will use this)
Very good inbuilt sound ....
Supports DDR 333 Mhz (I'm running one 256DDR at 333 and two 128's at 266 - all OK).

This board came out very well in reviews ...... excellent setup manaul and support CD .....

(I replaced an Elite ECS K7VTA7 - had no end of stability problems with - stay clear of these is my advice ).

Good luck !



ASUS A7V333

[Chaffers]

I put together a couple of Asus A7N systems a few months back which now look like real bargains. They do seem to be charging more though quite frankly its still well worth it.

Check out www.scan.co.uk for their deal of the day....

[ORAC]

get a board with the NVIDIA nForce 2 chipset. nForce2 (http://www.amdboard.com/nforce2.html)

Tom's hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/mainboard/02q4/021111/index.html)

[DB6]

OK I'm nearly there now, but on browsing through the Dabs Gigabyte motherboard section I'm still confronted by a bewildering number of options, so can anyone tell me what the following motherboard suffixes denote: A, V, R, L (I'm assuming X and P mean XP compatible)?

[ORAC]

The designators have nothing to do with the operating system, (e.g. Windows), but are concerned with the type of CPU they support and the chipset and functions they support. Read up on the models at the Gigabyte web site.

Gigabyte (http://www.giga-byte.com/products/products.htm)

[ironbutt57]

Do not claim to be by any stretch of the imagination an expert, but having built lots of bare bones systems that allow the user to add on later...never had any compatibility/setup problems with either "Abit, or Gigabyte mainboards" seem to be the most "peripheral compatible" mainboards on the market, with update downloads readily available, with the intel running a close third....but the last system I built was 3 months ago...so maybe I'm obsolete...no...not maybe..probably..:confused: :confused: :D :cool: