Need MoBo recomendation for AM2 4200+

[Mugsy]

I was considering a 939 as an inexpensive upgrade, but due to its questionable future and slightly higher running temps, I'm focusing now on an AM2, particularly the A64 X2 4200+.

Needs:

o ATX mobo under $150 US.

o MUST have at least 3 standard PCI slots. I have an HDTV card and SCSI card I'm not looking to give up. And until I get a PCIx video card, I'll be using an old PCI card.

o MUST support FOUR IDE devices (IDE1 & IDE2). I have three EIDE HD's and a DVD-RW (too many only have IDE1 now).

o AT LEAST three 3-pin case/cpu fan headers/connectors. Heat is a serious problem for me, so I have lots of fans in my case that need power. I can use Molex plugs and splitters if need be, but I'd prefer no to so much.

PREFERABLY: RAID and SATA 3GB support. 4x DDR2 800 support.

A number of boards I looked at were arranged really badly, for example, putting the Floppy connector below the PCI slots so that the cable would push on them... ditto for putting the power molex on the far side of the DIMM slots. That's just stupid.

No real preference of chipset or number of PCIX slots other than at least one 16x and one 1x). The more, the better of course.

I don't expect to overclock, but having the option would be nice. And if I can't download the user manual, bios or drivers for the MoBo off their website ("HELLO, EPoX!"), don't even bother.

Thanks.

 

[elbert]

I was considering a 939 as an inexpensive upgrade, but due to its questionable future and slightly higher running temps, I'm focusing now on an AM2, particularly the A64 X2 4200+.

Needs:

o ATX mobo under $150 US.

o MUST have at least 3 standard PCI slots. I have an HDTV card and SCSI card I'm not looking to give up. And until I get a PCIx video card, I'll be using an old PCI card.

o MUST support FOUR IDE devices (IDE1 & IDE2). I have three EIDE HD's and a DVD-RW (too many only have IDE1 now).

o AT LEAST three 3-pin case/cpu fan headers/connectors. Heat is a serious problem for me, so I have lots of fans in my case that need power. I can use Molex plugs and splitters if need be, but I'd prefer no to so much.

PREFERABLY: RAID and SATA 3GB support. 4x DDR2 800 support.

A number of boards I looked at were arranged really badly, for example, putting the Floppy connector below the PCI slots so that the cable would push on them... ditto for putting the power molex on the far side of the DIMM slots. That's just stupid.

No real preference of chipset or number of PCIX slots other than at least one 16x and one 1x). The more, the better of course.

I don't expect to overclock, but having the option would be nice. And if I can't download the user manual, bios or drivers for the MoBo off their website ("HELLO, EPoX!"), don't even bother.

Thanks.

Heres a nice mobo that should meet your needs at a low $83.99 price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131024
While some of the connectors are below the PCI there are 4 so just dont use the last PCI slot and it should work great.

 

[Mugsy]

Heres a nice mobo that should meet your needs at a low $83.99 price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131024
While some of the connectors are below the PCI there are 4 so just dont use the last PCI slot and it should work great.

Yeah, I've been using NewEgg for much of my "reasearch" and that "M2V" is #2 on my "short list".

My leading candidate right now doesn't even meet one of my own demands: Asus M2N4-SLi, with only two PCI slots, but with an extra 16x. Giving up one PCI slot for an extra 16x seems like a "sacrifice" I could live with (since I don't intend to use that PCI video card forever).

I'd really like to hear from anyone that actually has an AM2 that can recommend the board they are using from experience.

Thanks.

 

[elbert]

Heres a nice mobo that should meet your needs at a low $83.99 price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131024
While some of the connectors are below the PCI there are 4 so just dont use the last PCI slot and it should work great.

Yeah, I've been using NewEgg for much of my "reasearch" and that "M2V" is #2 on my "short list".

My leading candidate right now doesn't even meet one of my own demands: Asus M2N4-SLi, with only two PCI slots, but with an extra 16x. Giving up one PCI slot for an extra 16x seems like a "sacrifice" I could live with (since I don't intend to use that PCI video card forever).

I'd really like to hear from anyone that actually has an AM2 that can recommend the board they are using from experience.

Thanks.
I could recommend the mobo I use but its the EPOX for $75 on newegg.

 

[Mugsy]

I could recommend the mobo I use but its the EPOX for $75 on newegg.

I like the EPoX layout, especially one of the few with a chipset fan, but when I went to their site for more info, everything came up "page not found". Not even a reply from their Sales Dept to my email. Very bad sign.

Had the board performed well for you? Any complaints?

 

[elbert]

I could recommend the mobo I use but its the EPOX for $75 on newegg.

I like the EPoX layout, especially one of the few with a chipset fan, but when I went to their site for more info, everything came up "page not found". Not even a reply from their Sales Dept to my email. Very bad sign.

Had the board performed well for you? Any complaints?
I've not had any issues out of the mobo yet. I'm running the X2 3800+ OC'ed with a 7600GS, I'm waiting on DX10 before buying a good GPU, and 1GB of RAM. I thought about going with 2GB's or RAM but it takes 8GB's to max out 2 RAM slots so 1GB was good enough for now. I've had no problem finding drivers and bios updates from EPOX. Here's were I go.
http://www.epox.com/USA/index.asp

The only thing I wish is it had SATA2 but, no HD can max out PATA so, 1.5GB SATA is enough bandwidth for any HD.

It does better than I expected to tell the truth. The mobo fit my case perfectly with the back plate in the package. I had to upgrade the audio drives because the CD version was old but it was a simple download from http://www.realtek.com.tw/.

If I had it to do over I would have went for a Nvidia 550/570 mobo to ensure the mobo to work with K8L. Maybe this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130049

But for you to use this 1xPATA mobo you'll need an ATA to SATA adapter like this one.
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/storage-adapters-cables/icp-vortex-sata-pata-adapter/