Help needed with mobo choices

[jl989z]

First, Hello everyone. I'm rather new here but i thought I'd try your patience. Within a month I'll be buying a new comp. I have a limited budget and my internet will be shut off in a week so I figured I'd get feedback now. Anyway, my budget doesnt allow $300+ video cards (I'm Canadian so that means anything decent) so I'll need integrated grphics. My choices at the moment seem to be:

1) ECS RS480-M Socket 939

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?DetailID=506&MenuID=90&LanID=9

2) MSI RS480M-IL

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=RS480M2-IL&class=mb

I'd love a DFI NF4 Ultra D but thats a bit more than I have so If anyone wants to suggest anything else heres my other components:

Case : Generic w/ 425 Watt PS = $53
PSU : Enermax 420 Watt = $108
Mobo : Dunno ECS = $115 or MSI = $135
CPU : AMD Athlon64 3000+ S939 Venice Retail box = $199
Ram : Corsair Value Select 1024mb dual channel = $149
HDD : WD 74Gb Raptor = $284
DVD : LG GSA-4163B 16 x 16 SuperMulti Drive = $68

Total = 1) $976 2) $996

All prices in CAD and taken from Tigerdirect.ca

Just remember my budget is only $1000 CAD (Well $1200 really but with 15% tax and shipping we can say $1000).

I might also buy the parts from pccyber.ca I live close to them and can avoid shipping.

Thanks for talking the time to help me out

oh and before you ask my primary uses will be menial tasks like Internet (when I get it back) ancient games (like civ2). I will definatly be buying a PCI-E graphics card probably 3-4 months after this comp is setup (when I pay it off) and real gaming will be an issue then.

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[jl989z]

cheapest I've seen in Canada for DFI NF4 Ultra D is $207CAD and I'd need video with that ( as you might have seen in my sig)

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[Rugger]

Endyen and Starfishy have experience up there in Canuckistan. Also Scottchen on the Graphics card forum. One of the sites that I see them refer often is Anitec.ca - give it a shot...

Get a less expensive HDD right now and put that money towards a cheapo X300 and the DFI mobo. When you get the money later, then upgrade to a Raptor....

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[jl989z]

"Canuckistan" ROFL I like that.

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

EDIT:
Like
HDD : Hitachi 40GB SATA = @68
Mobo : DFI NF4 Ultra D = $189
GFX : XFI GeForce 6600 256MB PCI-E = $156

Total would then be $990
I think your right so now I can overclock (have fun) with my system. I just hope the 6600 is good enough. But I'm still interested if someone could list better in CAD prices.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by jl989z on 08/03/05 08:34 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[jl989z]

Dont laugh but stupid question would ATI X600 Pro be better than 6600?

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[Rugger]

Not a bad setup at all. If you're not going to game at high resolutions then that card should be great for you.

If you can kick in a few more $, then I'd probably get a little better HDD - sweet spot is around the 200-250GB range for $/MB. That way when you upgrade to the Raptor you'll have tons of storage space to crush with video/music.

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[jl989z]

I have an Ultra Ata 100 40 gb here and it is never more than 10gf full. Granted I never loaded a new game since I got this POS 2 years ago. I only have a 17" CRT monitor that only does 1280x1024

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[jl989z]

Ya but as Rugger made me realize I can get better stuff at $6 less.

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[jl989z]

Can you guarantee this anitec.ca is a reputable site wusy?

EDIT: Nevermind its cluttered and un-organized

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by jl989z on 08/03/05 10:38 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[jl989z]

I got about 6 days before my Internet gets cut off and I'll be watching and bumping.

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.

 

[jl989z]

ROFLMAO yup you got me.

EDIT: Is OCZ dual channel 1gb (2x512) pc3200 @ $149 better?


I do NOT have the brains to overclock. Well I do have the brains but I never learned. once i get the cpu and MB i will post and learn how to do it.
Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by jl989z on 08/03/05 11:10 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[jl989z]

Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner. I got busy. Anyway with much help this is what I have selected:


Case : Generic w/ 425 Watt PS = $53
PSU : Enermax 420 Watt = $108
CPU : AMD Athlon64 3000+ S939 Venice Retail box = $199
Ram : Corsair Value Select 1024mb dual channel = $149
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=669369
DVD : LG GSA-4163B 16 x 16 SuperMulti Drive = $68
HDD : Hitachi 40GB SATA = @68
Mobo : DFI NF4 Ultra D = $189
GFX : XFI GeForce 6600 256MB PCI-E = $156

Total: $990.00 Tax + Shipping not included.

(All prices are from Tigerdirect.ca and are in CAD$ )

Thanks again people I hope to be back online in 3 months (or so). I got 3 or so days to download all the latest drivers for what I chose and any patches for the games I could play.

Compaq S5000nx
yes the one with an asus mobo and non exsistant apg slot. It was free so dont yell at me LOL.