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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Taristin on January 09, 2004, 05:01:25 pm

Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 09, 2004, 05:01:25 pm
I'm interested in buying this motherboard/CPU bundle...

http://www.ateck.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=453056180

But I'm not 100% sure of everythig there. The site has the FSB listed as 266Mhz, but Asus has it as a 400Mhz...

http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-e-d/overview.htm

Now, I was debating between this board, or a new 64-bit board. But since I'm leery about spending the big bucks on a 64-bit chip, I've decided against it.

So... can anyone tell me if this board would be a good buy? And if there are any problems forseeable with any parts of it?

Your help is greatly appreciated. :)
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Falcon on January 09, 2004, 05:10:02 pm
hmmm I may not have any help for you,  I myself am searching for a new mb I've been looking everywhere for one, such sites like pricewatch and target-usa but no such luck. my budget is $200.

note: Ive finally decided, Im not getting a Xbox :)
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 09, 2004, 08:15:47 pm
The reason it says 266 on the site is that it's reffering to the speed at which the memory would run if you were running it synchronously with the processors FSB.

If you want an Athlon 64, I'd suggest getting the 3000+ (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-425&catalog=343&depa=1)  and the MSI K8T NEO-FIS2R (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-434&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1), which will set you back about $340 between them.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 09, 2004, 09:59:18 pm
Well, as much as I would like a 64, I have a feeling that shortly after getting a 64-bit chip, the technology would start advancing by leaps and bounds.

PLus, I don't want a VIA chipset, because ATi doesn't like to do 8x AGP with VIA MoBo's. Something about incompatability from the olden days, or summat. So n-Force 2 or better.  And I was reading the post Admiral LSD made about the MCP or whatever the letters were, that it should be the "-T" version, or stay away from it... There's so many things to take into consideration. I just don't want to get screwed over again.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Kamikaze on January 10, 2004, 12:38:28 pm
Absolutely no point in getting a 64 bit processor right now, it's a waste of money.

Reasons
1) I'm guessing you use Windows, it's not available in a proper 64 bit version
2) 64 bit applications are few and far between
3) 64 bits don't automagically make things go faster, quite possibly the reverse
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 11, 2004, 03:28:34 pm
However, the reasons for getting the Athlon 64 vs. the Athlon XP is very simple:
1) Better memory performance, even with half the bandwidth of the NF2.
2) Better performance overall.

Though realistically, I'd hold off getting an A64 until about March, when the entire desktop market shifts from Socket 754 and Socket 940 to Socket 939. This should also be about the time that graphics cards start switching to PCI Express from AGP.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 11, 2004, 03:47:56 pm
Eh? PCI Express? Whassat?
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Kamikaze on January 11, 2004, 03:53:30 pm
Next generation PCI slot, it'll be equipped on the BTX form factor. IIRC, it'll replace AGP too.

That's the problem with buying computers now, ATX cases, mobos, AGP vid cards will all be phased out very soon.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: aldo_14 on January 11, 2004, 04:45:02 pm
Personally, I'm waiting until well into next year before getting a new PC for those very reasons.  Technology is moving very fast, and I'd imagine nvidia and ATI will be developing next gen PCI 3d cards in particular......

NB:
PCI express gives something 8MB/s bandwidth.  That's much more than current AGP speeds IIRC.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 11, 2004, 05:07:36 pm
Wha..?!!  NOO!!!!  No no no no no!

I can't wait a year for new technology! *whimper*

WHy does this always seem to happen to me... :grr:
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Liberator on January 11, 2004, 06:46:38 pm
IIRC, standard 32-bit PCI has a max bandwidth of 133 MBps, while PCI Express will have various modes capable of 4-5 GBps.

 All you wanted to know about PCI Express, but were afraid to ask... (http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1087)
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 11, 2004, 07:28:38 pm
...well, I can't wait until the new technology comes out. It'll be:


So instead, I'm getting the Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard, with an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ CPU.  And get the Radeon 9600XT for it's 8x AGP ,and be well off for a few more months...

Considerring the PC that died was a Biostar A7SVK or summat, with a Duron 600, and a crappy PCI 32Mb nVidia GeForce 2 MX 200...

I'll be happy as hell when I get another $230.00 for the board.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 11, 2004, 09:07:09 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Kamikaze
Next generation PCI slot, it'll be equipped on the BTX form factor. IIRC, it'll replace AGP too.

That's the problem with buying computers now, ATX cases, mobos, AGP vid cards will all be phased out very soon.
PCI Express is going to come out before BTX, IIRC. And it does replace AGP.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Xelion on January 12, 2004, 09:06:27 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Grey Wolf 2009
The reason it says 266 on the site is that it's reffering to the speed at which the memory would run if you were running it synchronously with the processors FSB.


and because thats the max fsb the XP 2000+ supports

I've got this board, unfortunately it had a little accident before it got to me :sigh: through some suppliers and now I'm waiting for a replacement...

The features though are pretty good :nod: especially the 6 channel (5.1 surround) sound support, it stopped me spending $220 (AUD) for a sound card.

It does support RAID as well for SATA drives but the RAID technology sucks :no:
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 13, 2004, 09:42:42 am
Quote
Originally posted by Xelion


and because thats the max fsb the XP 2000+ supports
 


I've actually decided to spend a little more and get the XP 3000+... That's the one that supports 400MHz FSB, right?
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 13, 2004, 07:37:14 pm
I'd actually suggest just getting a 2100+ or a 2500+. Both excellent overclockers, both fairly cheap.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Taristin on January 13, 2004, 08:38:08 pm
Well, I ant the 400Mhz FSB... and if everything is going to be revolutionized soon anyway, I want to get the best for my money right now...

Tha, and I'm stubborn.

and... err... this morning I changed my mind to the 3200+... :nevous:
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 14, 2004, 05:42:23 pm
Get a 2500+, and just overclock it to 3200+. If you want to spend the money for a 3200+ or 3000+, then you might as well just get an A64. They cost the same amount, or less.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Xelion on January 15, 2004, 12:24:05 am
Quote
Originally posted by Raa Tor'h

I've actually decided to spend a little more and get the XP 3000+... That's the one that supports 400MHz FSB, right?


Yeah, well sort of... If you do decide to get XP 3000+ make sure to check whether it does support 400FSB because there is also one that supports the 333FSB.

Grey Wolf 2009 has a point, the 3200+ and the A64 have a small price difference of around AU$100 and the A64 has much better support for 64-bit and 32-bit. Although currently I would only recommend going up to XP 3000+, its not worth the money right now, I would suggest getting a decent graphics card :nod: and display. :D
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Kamikaze on January 15, 2004, 12:25:18 am
It's worth mentioning that A64 motherboards are still quite expensive right now.
Title: Motherboard Advice?
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 15, 2004, 11:51:35 am
Not really, actually. They go for about 120-140 USD.

Here's a little price comparison for you for the 3000+ and 3200+ models of both lines, and their motherboards:
AXP 3000+ (200FSB variant): $199
AXP 3200+: $207
A64 3000+: $219
A64 3200+: $270

MSI K7N2 Delta-ISLR (AXP - NF2 U400): $121
MSI K8T NEO-FIS2R (A64 - K8T800): $128
Soyo SY-CK8 Dragon Plus (A64 - NF3 150): $130

Not really much of a price difference between an A64 3000+ w/ motherboard and a AXP 3000+ w/ motherboard. As a note, I only listed the full-featured nForce 2 board, and I didn't list the KT600, since I'm lazy.