new motherboard

[muc0n]

im planning on building a new computer. i have never built a whole computer from scratch and i want to make sure all my parts will be compatible. here is the processor im going to get <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=19-103-350" target="_new"> pro </A>. and here is the motherboard im planning on getting <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=13-128-194" target="_new"> mb </A>. both are socket a so i think it should work. also with this should i get one stick of 512mb ram or two sticks of 256mb ram or will that not matter at all. here is the full system im planning on getting <A HREF="http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishHistoryReview.asp?position=HISTORY&submit=VIEW&ID=384041" target="_new"> system </A>. its just a budget system that i want to play new games like hl2 or doom3. any info or suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Prof133]

- In that price range i'd suggest Epox 8RDA+ for motherboard.

- Get two memory modules that you may benefit from the Dual DDR feature of the nForce2 chipset.

<b><font color=blue>Oh, I can shed light on that ...</font color=blue></b>

 

[muc0n]

what makes the epox board better. also ive heard some people having problems with the epox boards being compatible with different types of hardware or games. not sure if thats still the case or not.

 

[neveroldmilk]

Epox mobo really have compatible problems,so IMO get ASUS and ABIT`s mobo.

 

[pIII_Man]

i have not heard of any problem...many people use them w/o problems and are great overclockers

i second the recomendation for epox


Proud owner of DOS 3.3

 

[endyen]

Get 2 X 256 ram, but what kind of video card?

 

[Prof133]

what makes the epox board better.

Great for overclocking, utilizes the nForce APU, very good price, etc.

also ive heard some people having problems with the epox boards being compatible with different types of hardware ...

Any specific hardware? I've just done a check and seen folks running a multitude of configurations with this motherboard.

<b><font color=blue>Oh, I can shed light on that ...</font color=blue></b>

 

[muc0n]

i currently have a radeon 8500. im going to wait a bit and probably get a 9600pro or maybe a 9700 non pro. going to try and wait for the prices to hopefully come down a bit for the holiday season or when the new video cards come out.

 

[muc0n]

im not planning on overclocking so what is the nforce apu. i know the gigabyte board im getting also has the nforce2 chipset. ive read that that is the best chipset out for amd. also im not sure what specific configurations give problems i just remember reading in different forums, including this one, about people having problems with epox boards. maybe it was with an older type because i havent heard anything in awhile.

keep the opinions coming id like to have the best system possible for the price. thanks.

 

[Prof133]

so what is the nforce apu.

An audio processing unit. It provides excellent audio and additionally does not burden the CPU with a load of sound management tasks like soft audio solutions (Realtek ALC650 and C-MEDIA CMI8738 onboard chips, for example) do. But, not all nForce2 motherboards utilize the nForce APU. All nForce2 motherboards with the MCP-T southbridge utilize the nForce APU with the exception of the Chaintech 7NJS-ZENITH which has the nForce APU disabled.

i know the gigabyte board im getting also has the nforce2 chipset. ive read that that is the best chipset out for amd.

True indeed.

<b><font color=blue>Oh, I can shed light on that ...</font color=blue></b>

 

[muc0n]

i may go with the epox board unless people have specific examples of hardware/software conflicts. here are technical pages for each motherboard. it seems like the epox has more additional features. but how important are these things like voltage settings. i really dont plan to overclock at all or do anything special.
<A HREF="http://secure.newegg.com/app/specification.asp?item=13-128-194" target="_new"> gigabyte </A>

<A HREF="http://secure.newegg.com/app/specification.asp?item=13-123-191" target="_new"> epox </A>

 

[Prof133]

but how important are these things like voltage settings.

Yeah, that would play a role in overclocking - not a concern in this case.

- The gigabyte board uses the standard MCP southbridge thus it does not have the nForce APU.

<b><font color=blue>Oh, I can shed light on that ...</font color=blue></b>

 

[muc0n]

ive decided to go with the epox board. although im not worried about overclocking right now, i might in the future want to. plus the epox is slightly cheaper. anyone have any new info to add. thanks for all the help.

<A HREF="http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishHistoryReview.asp?position=HISTORY&submit=VIEW&ID=406790" target="_new"> new system </A> -can someone check this out and let me know if it works right.

 

[pIII_Man]

this memory is cheeper and has better timmings...heatspreaders will not be necissary for these modules...as they use a special type of memory chips that run cooler...

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16820144606" target="_new">golden dragon</A>


Proud owner of DOS 3.3