Budget Mobo

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:08 pm

Looking to build budget system for a friend

What kind of motherboard do you guys think I should go with? I was thinking onboard audio, video, and lan.

Was thinking DFI or Biostar

Haven't really heard much about either, except a friend told me Biostars are known for catching on fire

It's going to be just a simple setup, only an athlon xp 2100+ and 128 mb pc2100

Thanks for your feedback

WolfgangPC · Post by **WolfgangPC** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:16 pm

What about ECS??

Set · Post by **Set** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:17 pm

I always recommend ASUS and Abits The mobo is such a importen part of the PC IMO its not wise to skimp on it

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:19 pm

I've heard nothing but good about Asus...

What kind of prices are we talking for ECS & Abit

Are you guys using these?

LT-73 · Post by **LT-73** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:26 pm

Forget onboard video, it sux big time.

ECS makes awsome budget boards with onboard LAN and sound.

Boards you should stay away from:

DFI
Biostar
Gigabyte

WolfgangPC · Post by **WolfgangPC** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:27 pm

I always recommend ASUS and Abits The mobo is such a importen part of the PC IMO its not wise to skimp on it

I totally agree, I am running the P4C-800 Deluxe, and I love it, I will never use another MoBo company than ASUS, in my opinion they always set the standard and everyone else just follows them.

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:28 pm

Well I'm glad I decided to ask,

Seeing as how the 2 i was looking at are both on your list of mobos that blow. lol

If no onboard vid, then where can i get a cheap vid card
She doesn't play games that need high quality (snood, solitare)... Just go with a cheap pci then?

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:29 pm

i bought a used PC that came with a Biostar M7NCD Pro and a XP 2500.

seems to be a decent board for the money, am running the 2500 @ 11 x 192 folding 24/7.

it will go higher but i haven't tried too much yet.

i have no idea how the onboard sound is, it doesn't run any speakers.

WolfgangPC · Post by **WolfgangPC** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:34 pm

For a Vid-card, u could go a GeFocre 4 64Meg DDR MX 440 with TV out, here in Canada they only run 65 bucks, so they must be peanuts in the U.S.

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:38 pm

uhhhhh

65$ is a little outta the price range...we're talkin like 600$ for the whole system, monitor & printer included

I was thinkin somethin more like 20ish

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:43 pm

Take a look at the Albatron nf2 board...it has onboard gf4mx, sound, and nic and runs about $90. I've built a few systems with these boards and have had zero issues with them so far.

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:54 pm

ASUS

This look like trouble...?

It seems like a lot of you guys have built systems for people...what kinds of cases do ya like?

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:19 pm

Originally posted by Shilly
ASUS

This look like trouble...?

It seems like a lot of you guys have built systems for people...what kinds of cases do ya like?

That board will work good too, i have built a few systems with it as well. As far as cases go you cant go wrong with Antec cases with Antec psu's.

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:22 pm

Thanks l2k & everyone

You guys rock

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:22 pm

Iv'e built a bunch of budget puters with the ECS K7S5A Easy to setup and stable with onboard lan and sound.

LT-73 · Post by **LT-73** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:48 pm

Originally posted by Shilly
ASUS

This look like trouble...?

It seems like a lot of you guys have built systems for people...what kinds of cases do ya like?

Yeah that board will do as long as he isn't overclocking, lol. As for case, check this out:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.a ... 14&order=1

Plenty of aiflow and space. i had 2 of em and after modding them up they looked shweet! Now they both have new homes.

Can't beat the price either!

DiskDoc · Post by **DiskDoc** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:55 pm

Originally posted by LT-73
Forget onboard video, it sux big time.

ECS makes awsome budget boards with onboard LAN and sound.

Boards you should stay away from:

DFI
Biostar
Gigabyte

add Jetway to your black list as well.

Shilly · Post by **Shilly** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:57 pm

Excellent, I'm likin' the case

Nope, no overclocking. It's funny you mention that though because my friend has this 800mhz compaq that he bought as a display model a couple years back (nicknamed the "circus box"). Hes using the ugliest monitor you've ever seen, it's a 15" that looks like its left over from the B:/ Drive days.

I was trying to get him to overclock it to see what he could get out if it...he was scared it would ignite though. I don't blame him, it has 0 fans

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 7:21 pm

Right now I'm running an ECS p4vaxd2+

Yea its stable, but its not really overclockable, and it isnt the fastest board by far, but its great for a budget system.

Trev