What's a decent MOBO (AM2) for the non-OCer?

[ApolloX54]

I need a decent MOBO for my X2 3800+. It's a budget build and I can spend around 100 on the MOBO

Socket AM2 (I miss the 939....)

Who makes quality MOBOs anyways?

 

[misry]

Lookup the one in my sig and see what you think.

 

[ausch30]

I have had the best results with ASUS boards. The model really depends on what you have in your system for example how many drives and what type are you going to use, do you have or need external USB/Firewire headers for connections on your case and/or card reader and how many. Also if planning SLI or Crossfire which brand of video card you prefer. Once you find out exactly how you want your system configured just look for a board that fits that configuration and has the newest chipset within your price range from either AMD/ATI or Nvidia.

 

[ApolloX54]

Is the nForce 570 one the the newest cause I was looking at this

Asus Mobo

 

[noidly1]

590 crosshair

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=117&l3=0&model=1283&modelmenu=1

 

[SEALBoy]

You can leave the forumz now.

 

[ApolloX54]

Yeah, but I can't spend more than a hundred on the MOBO...

All I need is for it to be stable and AM2..

 

[SEALBoy]

I have the ECS C51GM-M. It uses an older chipset (nForce4), and isn't worth squat for overclocking. But it runs stable and its cheap as hell.
In fact, look at this page and find one that suits your fancy.

 

[ApolloX54]

Thanks

I just need a dependable board that I won't OC with until later on this year

Is the difference between the 570 and the nForce4 the ability to OC?

IS so then I won't even need that..

 

[SEALBoy]

Well if you plan on overclocking then you should probably go with a 590/570 board. I don't know about other nForce4 boards, but mine has extremely limited overclocking options. Basically all I can do is raise the bus speed from 200 to 300 in intervals of one, and choose from 4 preset RAM ratios. I've tried looking for an HT multiplier, but come up empty. I've got my X2 3800 up from 2.0GHz to 2.25GHz, but I'm handicapped from here due to the lack of an HT multiplier.

 

[ApolloX54]

Well I don't plan to over clock at all and this is a budget gaming build so I'm going by reviews on newegg and looking...

I found this board and it looks good for what I want, yet it seems the compatibility list is old something cause everything I have isn't up there.... mostly

 

[yquo]

With onboard video

58 usd ECS ATI Xpress 1100
85 usd Asus GeForce 6150
90 usd Abit GeForce 6150

Without onboard video

56 usd ECS nForce4
129 usd MSI ATI Xpress 3200

 

[ApolloX54]

Ok I have a 7900GS so I don't need onboard video and I'm pretty sure I don't want a micro

 

[Newf]

Ok I have a 7900GS so I don't need onboard video and I'm pretty sure I don't want a micro

OK, let's make this easy...
The Asus M2N-E is a good board. It's been around long enough for BIOS issues to be worked out. It's right at your budget limit though.
Take a look at this as another alternative:

MSI K9N Neo-F AM2 nf550 ATX $73+6 2/11/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130050
This seems to do what you want and should have decent overclock headroom.

The reason you see nF4 chipsets for AM2 is because the memory controller in on the cpu. The switch from DDR to DDR2 did not really affect the northbridge. In any event, get the newer 5xx chipset if you have the cash.

As to the guy who thinks integrated video mATX boards make sense for a gaming rig:

 

[ApolloX54]

That's something to think about, but I might wait since I'm not worryign about overclocking till the summer or so..

I'm just going to stay system for this first build...