[Black Ace]

Hey, I'm looking for a new mobo/CPU combo, and I needed to know a couple things.

First of all, how much is my old mobo/CPU worth? It's a P3 450mHz?

Secondly, tell me what brand mobo i should (or should NOT) get, and why...

Finally, do you think a mobo with integrated Geforce4 MX graphics is better than my Geforce2 Pro 32MB?  At least until i can get a new card? I hate integrated, but...

**BA**

[Stryke 9]

Send me the old CPU. $50.

[Black Ace]

We'll talk once i get some suggestions for my new one... and you just want the CPU? What am I gonna do with an old intel mobo.

EDIT: Here is the one Im talking about above

[Stealth]

both of them, probably around $120 if you're lucky

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Specs?

What chipset? What slots? What form factor? What CPU socket?

[Black Ace]

For what? The one I'm looking for?

I put a link above... thats kinda along the lines that i like...

EDIT: You asked for it-- Intel (Tabor3) BX Motherboard R3


Specifications
Part number 4000504,4000510,4000532,4000533,4000585,4000586,4000608

Intel 440BX PCIset
82443BX PMC (492 mBGA)
82371EB PIIX4e (324 mBGA)
System Memory
100-MHz Memory Bus Speed (FSB)
Three 64-bit or 72-bit (ECC) 4-clock, 3.3V, unbuffered SDRAM DIMMs
Expandable to 384-MB of SDRAM (CAS latency of 2) using 64-Mbit chips
Intel 4-clock 100MHz 64-bit unbuffered SDRAM DIMM specification compatible
Uses gold-plated DIMM socket
ECC signal and multiple bit detection (single bit correction) supported, using ECC DIMMs, can be enabled and disable in BIOS
HDD Interface
Internal to core logic (PIIX4)
Supports up to four IDE devices
Uses two shrouded IDE connectors
Dual independent channel support for Fast IDE (PIO) mode 3, mode 4, and ATAPI compatible CD-ROM drives
Support for DMA modes 1, 2 (bus mastering), and Ultra-DMA33 on both channels Bus Mastering supported on both channels
I/O
SMC FDC37C707 Ultra I/O with BIOS code base to match BIOS, which supports two serial and one parallel port, single FDD, keyboard, mouse, RTC, and IR
I/O connectors include:
Stacked PS/2 style mouse (top) and keyboard (bottom)
Stacked DB25 connector for parallel port and two DB9 serial ports
USB Interface
USB controller integrated into PIIX4
Two USB ports (one rear panel stacked connector), another USB header on board (a jumper must be used to enable/disable this header, when enabled the lower stacked USB connector will be disabled)
Stacked USB connectors
Battery
Socketed Lithium coin cell 3V (~5 year life) and external battery connector
Speaker
On board piezo speaker
Speaker header for off board speaker (part of front panel header)
BIOS
Intel/Phoenix code base
4-Mbit flash support (TSOP)
Pentium III processor detection and initialization
Memory auto-configure and ECC support
AGP set initialization module
Autodetect keyboard, mouse, floppy, IDE, serial, and parallel devices
CD-ROM boot
Password secured boot
User and administrator mode for system Setup screens with two separate password protected accesses
Supports NON-volatile storage in BIOS flash
PCI Configuration space and DMI support
USB support with support for Legacy input devices
Audio disable support in BIOS
Supports bootable LS-120
Ultra DMA/33 support
ATAPI support for IDE CD-ROM and tape drives
Int 13h extensions to support drives larger than 2GB
AC power loss state retention management
Power Management
BIOS control (on/off) of Power Supply fan
BIOS control (on/off) of Processor Fan sink
BIOS control of Dual Mode LED (Full-On/Suspend)
Legacy APM 1.2 Power Management support of on-board peripherals
Supports Soft-Off (Touch for one second or less puts the system in Suspend mode. Touch and hold for four seconds puts the system in the Full-Off state, where Full-Off has all power removed except Power Supply 5V Standby).
Support for WOL
Energy Star Compliant
SMM, VESA monitor specifications
Power down of ATAPI green enabled devices
Standard 20 pin power header provides standby current used to maintain CMOS real time clock
PCI/AGP/ISA slots
Seven total slots:
Five PCI, one 1x AGP, one shared (PCI/ISA)
All PCI slots are masters, rev 2.1
All slots support full length cards
Manufacturing
Surface mount technology, single sided assembly
Four layer PCB
Form Factor
ATX form factor (12.9" x 9.6") - has existing BAT/AT plus three new holes (10 holes total)
ATX 2x10 power supply connector - includes 3.3V and PS-ON
Front Panel
2x8 front panel header:
Supporting Soft-off power switch
Sleep switch
IR interface
HD LED
Dual Mode (two color: green and yellow) Power LED (also called Sleep LED)
Reset Switch
Speaker
Multiple 3-pin auxiliary fan connectors
Stuffable Custom (1x26) header to match case configurations

[mikhael]

The mobo/cpu you have ain't worth much, unfortunately.

Make sure whatever motherboard you get is not using cheap Taiwanese capacitors. A lot of the 'budget' companies, and some of the larger ones (Asus) have been using cheap parts from Taiwan that tend to leak all over your motherboard and die. This can lead to memory or CPU failure.

Personally, I just ordered an AthlonXP 2600, and an Abit KD7-S.

Keep in mind, going from the mobo/cpu you have now to a something that uses DDR (like the KD7-S) you'll have to replace your RAM as well. The physical interface is different.

Your GeForce2 Pro will be better than ANY GeForce MX card, especially an integrated one.

[Black Ace]

Originally posted by mikhael
Make sure whatever motherboard you get is not using cheap Taiwanese capacitors. A lot of the 'budget' companies, and some of the larger ones (Asus) have been using cheap parts from Taiwan that tend to leak all over your motherboard and die. This can lead to memory or CPU failure.

Cool. But how do i know?

And yeah, I know about the RAM too... DDR3200... mmmm

[Admiral LSD]

If you're serious about getting an nForce2 board (and there really isn't a better choice for AMD procs) avoid boards based on the MCP south bridge and go for models based on the superior MCP-T such as the EPoX EP-8RGA+:

http://web.epox.com/html/motherboard.asp?product=EP-8RGAplus&lang=1
(this one has the nForce2 IGP and thus integrated graphics)

or the EP-8RDA+ (I have this one, it's a good board. Easily one of the best nForce2 boards):
http://web.epox.com/html/motherboard.asp?product=EP-8RDAplus&lang=1

The MCP-T scores you an extra LAN MAC (which for reason I can't fathom isn't implemented on any of the EPoX boards despite pads exiting for it on at least the 8RDA+. It's not really a big deal, a standalone router is a much better idea), onboard Firewire and the best implementation of onboard audio (nVidia SoundStorm APU) to date. Oh, and if you can find it, try and get a rev 2.0 board as this has full guaranteed support for the new 200Mhz FSB Athlon CPUs (nForce2 Ultra 400).

[Grey Wolf]

I know MSI and Gigabyte have come out with boards with the new chipset, and out of those two, I'd say to get the MSI. If there is an ABit one out there, though, get that.