Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: J3Vr6 on February 12, 2004, 02:25:15 pm
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Well, my dreams of having a faster computer than my 450 is dead for now. If you remember from this thread (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,20110.0.html), I was given a computer that wasn't working and they told me that if I got it to work that I could keep it. After struggling to get it to work, I finally decided to bring it to the IT department at work.
Yesterday they fiddled with it and returned it, telling me that it looked like the motherboard was dead. So I'm stuck with my psychotic 450 that doesn't even work right :rolleyes:
I was thinking of just buying a new motherboard for the computer, but I don't know crap about that and don't want to spend too much money on it. Can someone help me figure out a good motherboard that will let me upgrade later on to at least XP 2600 processor? I went to e-bay and pricewatch, but I can't really understand any of it anyway and don't know one brand from another...
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The MSI 745 Ultra support up to 2400+ after a BIOS update. You can get it here (http://www.cnetpc.com) for less than $50 if you're on a budget. If you're not on a budget, I recomend one of MSI's Nforce2 boards.
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http://www.partspc.com/store/product3417.html - $108.00 American.
That is the Microstar K7N2 Delta-ILSR (MS-6570) Socket A AMD (400FSB) DDR Motherboard (MB)
It was ranked fairly high on tomshardware.com. The only down side is that it sucks when it comes to compression like divx.
here is the article: http://www6.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20030523/nforce2_11boards-05.html
and the conclusion
http://www6.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20030523/nforce2_11boards-19.html
(http://www.swooh.com/peon/redmenace7/MB-K7N2DSR_LG%5B1%5D.jpg)
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Or an Asus A7N8X Deluxe (http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-d/overview.htm) ...
http://www.partspc.com/store/product324.html
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If I'm gonna buy a motherboard, it's gotta be waaaay cheaper. I don't use the computer at home enough to justify spending $100 on it.
This is so depressing.
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well new motherboards are also going to require memory and other things as well.
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Asus A7N8X....its great!
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Originally posted by IceFire
Asus A7N8X....its great!
Yep. Asus has one of the best boards by reputation. I have an abit kf-7s (also an nforce2 board), which had been pretty reliable so far.
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I saw on tiger direct a motherboard by the company Syntax. It was $10.00 after $29.99 rebate. It was 266 FSB, DDR memory up to 3 gigs, and upgradable to 2600xp.
But that's the problem. I don't know if "you get what you pay for" holds true for motherboards also. What would make this one so bad compared to an asus or something?
EDIT: And remember, I don't wanna spend a lot of money. I will only really be using the computer for games and even then I go into spurts of playing and just letting the computer sit there. I won't be doing any internet surfing for a while, either...
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I know from experience, if you're going from an pre-2001 system you will likely have to spend more than $100. I built a new system recently, I ended up spending just over $200.
MSI 745 Ultra(MS-6561) - $38.00 shipping included from
http://www.cnetpc.com/productinfo.asp?item=MB-MS6561
They take money orders if you don't have a credit card.
Kingston 256MB DDR333 - $40.00 from Amazon.com
VData(unbranded) 128MB DDR333 - $22.00 from a local store
AMD AthlonXP 1800+ - $60.00 from the same local store
OEM ATX Mid-Tower case w/ 400 amp PSU - $45.00 yet again from the same local store.
Everything else was recycled from my previous case. In you shopping try not to stray from the Asus/Abit/MSI area as they often package extras in for the slightly high price. Gigabyte, Shuttle, Chaintech, and Biostar might also be good. Read LOTS of reveiws before you decide on which one to buy.
Basically recycle what you can and go from there.
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Um, you only pay for pre-2000 parts if you're a total sucker or live out in the sticks. Go visit your local garbage dump, there'll be literally dozens of pre-2000 systems lying around from when some company finally upgraded and at least half will have working motherboards.
'Fact, so long as you're not too picky about things being latest generation, and at least a little patient, you really never have to pay for hardware at all, 'side from the occasional pissing little thing like a replacement fuse or whatnot.
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MSI is probably the best brand currently, in my opinion. Very stable and quick to release products like Asus, but they overclock nearly as well as an Abit.
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I am recycling. I'm recycling my Geforce 2mmx, my cd burner, my cd player, my 2 harddrives, 256mb of memory, the case, and the 1400xp processor. So all I need is the motherboard.
I don't know if this tech was pre 2000 or 2001, but I can't find an Asus or biostar for less than 60 beans that's upgradable.
Greywolf, is that motherboard upgradable to 2600? I want something that will last me at least a little while. Plus what would overclocking do? I've always heard about it, but never seen it done or know what it really does.
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with that old motherboard you might need a newer power supply. I am not sure though.
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The motherboard is only 2 years old...
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my understanding is anything about a PIV including the AMD processors have a newer power factor. I am not sure.
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what type of mem?
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It's DDR, 184 pin... I don't know if it's 2100 or whatever.
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doesn't matter, you just need to know if it;s DDR, RDRAM, SDRAM and if your mobo takes it.
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So help me out guys, that MSI looks decent for 38.00 but it doesn't say if it can go up to 2600. It just says it's 2000+. It looks like this one has no shipping charge, not sure.
The syntax one does say it goes up to 2600 and is 10.00 after a $30.00 rebate, this one is $11.00 shipping. What would you guys do?
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Keep in mind, I don't know if Syntax is good or not. I dont have time to search for reviews :(
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The MSI board I listed ships with AMI BIOS v1.4 Brand Specific, the v1.6 BIOS update adds these features:
Supports AMD XP2400+ & XP2600+ CPU.
Revamps the problem of unable to use BroadCom LAN card in the system.
Supports Load High Performance Defaults.
Revamps the memory count failure taht occurs when quick boot is disabled.
Revamps the detection problem of DataFab USB CF card reader
Revamps memory compatibility issue with Hidden Load High Performance Defaults item.
http://www.msicomputer.com/support/bios_result.asp
The only thing you're going to run into is you have to dig around on the MSI site to find updates, they don't list it in their active product list. The updates are there, you just have to look for them.
BTW, this is kind of a bare bones board, it doesn't ship with lots of extras, but it is a very good board in my opinion.
Here's a couple of reviews:
http://www.cpu3d.com/review/msi745ultra/
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2002/msi/745ultra/745ultrap1.htm
Some basic info about the chipset:
http://www.sis.com/products/chipsets/oa/socketa/745.htm
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If you can find a KT3 Ultra 2 still in the channel, that'll work fine too. The KT600 model is rather nice, too, but that'll cost more, as it's still being made.
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Well, I took Liberator's advice (plus it was the cheaper of all the options) and ordered that MSI. Ships out in a few days, with about a week shipping time.
I have no idea what I'll be doing, so this will be fun :D
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Don't forget the DDR needs to be binary, you'll need two sticks to function properly.
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(scooby doo voice) argh? (/scooby doo voice)
so now I gotta buy another ddr thingy? The one I have won't be enough?
So which memory should I get, then? 2100 or what?
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The 745 will support 3GB of RAM usign DDR266 and 2GB using DDR333. I'd go with the PC 2100 as it's a little cheaper.
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Ok, now I gotta find a place that sells that too :(
How do I know what type the one I have is?
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You don't need 2 sticks of RAM for any motherboard. With a board based upon a NF2, it's a bit of a performance boost if they match, but otherwise, you don't need 2 sticks. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
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So whattaya tryin to sell me, Liberator? Trying to sell me crack, is that it?!
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Dude, hardware failure sucks. :sigh: Hope things are up and running for you again quickly.
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Thanks Setekh. I got my confirmation that I'll have my motherboard on Thursday. Liberator was trying to sell me crack and got me to buy another stick of memory, so I don't know when that's coming in. I needed it anyway, though, so I won't rape his puppies.
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Originally posted by J3Vr6
Liberator was trying to sell me crack and got me to buy another stick of memory, so I don't know when that's coming in. I needed it anyway, though, so I won't rape his puppies.
:wtf: Well, that's... reassuring. :D
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Originally posted by J3Vr6
Liberator was trying to sell me crack and got me to buy another stick of memory, so I don't know when that's coming in.
crack? :wtf: :confused:
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uh huh, that's right... But your puppies are safe. kittens, I'd keep them locked up though...
Oh, and I got my MSI motherboard in!
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I was trying to say that mine wouldn't load Windows properly without two sticks of memory installed.
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actually check ebay...occasionally you will find stuff cheaper there than on pricewatch.