Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > Recommendations? I need a P4 motherboard that's going to LAST

Recommendations? I need a P4 motherboard that's going to LAST

Forum Motherboards & Memory : General Motherboard - Recommendations? I need a P4 motherboard that's going to LAST

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
maxplanck   05-19-2008 at 07:18:08 AM

I currently have an ECS 648fx-A and it is falling apart! Had problems with this MOBO for years, finally I can't stand the half-broken Video output anymore.

I would like to simply swap my MOBO out for a new one. Can anyone recommend a MOBO for a P4 2.8Ghz that will actually last, and not start falling apart in a few years?

Also, does anyone know what company, in general, makes reliable MOBO's that last for more than 5 years?

Thank you

Message quoted 1 times
Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
ausch30   05-19-2008 at 07:46:40 AM
- 0 +

ECS is a low end manufacturer. Good companies are Asus, Gigabyte, Abit, Evga, Intel, DFI, et al. The best motherboard for Socket 478 is the Asus P4C800-E Deluxe (P4P800-E Deluxe is also very good) but the only way to find one of those is through E-Bay. There are very few motherboards available anywhere the support the Northwood since the last one was released about 5yrs ago.

I would say your best bet would be to think about a new build but if you really want to keep what you have then look to the auction sites for a new board.

------------------------------
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
-Aristotle
 Reply to ausch30
DXRick   05-19-2008 at 07:47:00 AM
- 0 +

I am still using an Intel 845PERL mobo with a P4 3.0, DDR 400 RAM, and an AGP slot. Is that the type of mobo you are talking about? No one makes one that takes DDR memory anymore.

If you get a new mobo, you will need to also get DDR2 memory for it. If it is the onboard video that is the problem, why not just get a cheap AGP video card?

Reply to DXRick
maxplanck   05-19-2008 at 08:52:22 AM
- 0 +

I have 2 GB of DDR400 SDRAM, so I would like to get a MOBO that supports it.

Onboard video is the problem with my current MOBO, but the problem is upstream from where the signal splits off to AGP/PCI Slots. So, it's messed up no matter whether I use AGP or PCI video card.

I will look for the Asus P4C800-E Deluxe or the Asus P4P800-E Deluxe. Does everyone else agree that these are the best MOBOs for socket 478?

EDIT: I don't need fancy onboard audio or the ability to run fancy graphics cards. I would like to find a MOBO with onboard firewire, that uses a Texas Instruments Chipset. (This computer is only used for Audio Production, which uses external firewire sound cards, which are best compatible with Texas Instruments chipsets.)

But if the only MOBOs that last are the ones that come with fancy onboard audio etc., I'll pay for it.

I want to avoid building an entirely new system because I know that 8 core processors are on the way, and my current system meets my needs well enough for the moment.

Thanks for replying


Message edited by maxplanck on 05-19-2008 at 09:04:33 AM
Reply to maxplanck
bobbknight   05-19-2008 at 09:18:24 AM
- 0 +

maxplank I would have thought the institute would be able to afford better than a replacement board for a skt 478, J/K.
Right now it seems that anyone with a new skt 478 to sell that supports AGP, wants a premium price for it.
Hell DXRick' Intel board is selling for $340 of a site from Pricegrabber!
You might be better looking at a replacement where you can use PCIe.
Anyway heres the link for the boards available on Pricegrabber, and NewEgg.

PriceGrabber: http://preview.tinyurl.com/5s8bz2

NewEgg: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3ye7yy

Good luck

Reply to bobbknight
FieldAgentChloe   05-19-2008 at 09:27:38 AM
- 0 +

I built a system with the Asus P4C800-E Deluxe but it went down after a big power surge. I picked up an Asus P4V800D-X to rebuild the system. This is a socket 478 MOBO with both AGP and PCI Express. This is a rock solid MOBO.

Asus P4V800D-X ---- VIA PT880 Ultra Chipset 800MHz FSB Dual Channel DDR400 Socket 478 ATX Motherboard w/ AGP 8X & PCI-Express X16 Graphics, Audio, LAN, SATA, RAID, USB 2.0

Newegg Asus P4V800D-X comments at:
http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6813131147

One on ebay at US $129.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ASUS-MOTHERBOA [...] dZViewItem

Reply to FieldAgentChloe
leo2kp   05-19-2008 at 09:38:16 AM
- 0 +

"I want to avoid building an entirely new system because I know that 8 core processors are on the way, and my current system meets my needs well enough for the moment."

Yes, that's true, 8-core processors are on the way.

But my question is, if your 2.8GHz P4 is good enough for you, why would you wait for an 8-core solution? A low-end dual-core AMD processor, motherboard, and DDR2-800 RAM would cost nearly half as much as a new P4 board at $350. If you're not waiting for an 8-core solution, why mention it? lol. Basically any change you make with hardware that's 2 years old or newer is going to be faster than what you've got, and a lot cheaper than what you'll spend on a board for your P4. It just seems odd why you'd want an 8-core rig when a single-core P4 is good enough for now. You should really be looking at a dual-core IMO.

Board: Asus with Firewire and onboard video
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131174
$79.99

Processor: 2.4GHz Athlong 64 X2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103064
$66.00

RAM: 2GB DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820609027
$39.99

Total: $196.20 with shipping.


Message edited by leo2kp on 05-19-2008 at 09:45:55 AM
------------------------------ "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliott
 Reply to leo2kp
apache_lives   05-19-2008 at 10:18:30 AM
- 0 +

maxplanck wrote :

I currently have an ECS 648fx-A and it is falling apart! Had problems with this MOBO for years, finally I can't stand the half-broken Video output anymore.

I would like to simply swap my MOBO out for a new one. Can anyone recommend a MOBO for a P4 2.8Ghz that will actually last, and not start falling apart in a few years?

Also, does anyone know what company, in general, makes reliable MOBO's that last for more than 5 years?

Thank you



Not worth spending the $$$ on such old crap, ebay whatever works and invest in a new system for the time - even a Celeron 420 M would destroy your P4.

No motherboard will last that 5 years your expecting, let alone the rest of your components.

As for your "sufficient" - you'd think that till you used a Quad Core system with 4gb, and realize how blind you were about "sufficient" :lol: - but no need to go that far, as others have suggested, get a cheap dual core to keep you going.

One tip for a long lasting system - get a branded psu - things last ALOT longer.

------------------------------ Q6600@3510/1560 + TT BigTyphoon+Mod
8gb Kingston 800mhz
Gigabyte EP35-DS3P
XFX 8800GT/512
 Reply to apache_lives
Bronze Motherboards badge o1die   05-19-2008 at 12:31:47 PM
- 0 +

I agree with the new power supply.You can get an antec or fortron fsp for around $50. And I would limit your board to about $50. You can find refurb boards at computer geeks or mwave. The 865 chipset is the best for overall value and performance.

Reply to o1die
Scotteq   05-19-2008 at 02:18:28 PM
- 0 +

P4??


Replace the whole computer.

------------------------------ Which Chip? Well, it depends on which set of thieving b@stardz you choose to support: The ones who use insider trading to enrich themselves while running their company into the ground, or the ones who illegally pay vendors to not support the first group.
 Reply to Scotteq
maxplanck   05-19-2008 at 09:19:50 PM
- 0 +

I'm posting from a year 2002 Mac Powerbook G4 667 MHz. In 6 years, not a single hardware failure.

I really hate OS X, and I hate Macs in general, but if no PC components on the market are going to last more than 5 years, then perhaps I should buy a Mac and run XP on it.

Is that really true, that even high grade PC components don't usually last 5 years?


Message edited by maxplanck on 05-19-2008 at 10:05:45 PM
Reply to maxplanck
Scotteq   05-19-2008 at 10:47:42 PM
- 0 +

It's not that good components can't or won't last for 5 years - They very well can and do. Rather, it's a matter of practicality: a Pentium 4 is no longer worth upgrading since there are *much* better alternatives for equivalent money.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Which Chip? Well, it depends on which set of thieving b@stardz you choose to support: The ones who use insider trading to enrich themselves while running their company into the ground, or the ones who illegally pay vendors to not support the first group.
 Reply to Scotteq
apache_lives   05-20-2008 at 11:18:42 AM
- 0 +

Scotteq wrote :

It's not that good components can't or won't last for 5 years - They very well can and do. Rather, it's a matter of practicality: a Pentium 4 is no longer worth upgrading since there are *much* better alternatives for equivalent money.



From experience it seems to make a 5+ year pc you need to meet the following critearies:

Intel or AMD processors (depending on series and platform options, Intel has the stronger platform)
Gigabyte motherboards (socket7 motherboards still working anyone? - got 3 of the same model that will not die)
Intel Chipsets (nvidia and via are horrid for long term, cant comment on ATi chipsets...)
Kingston for memory(or other high end names)
AcBell PSU's (dont ever doubt them)
WD or Seagate HDD's (maxtor and samsung = rubbish)
Cooling - sufficent but not over the top to flood the system with dust

Anything from MSI, ECS/EliteGroup/PCChips, Maxtor, Spectek, PowerTec, HEC and a few other brands will just cause headaches.

Believe it or not if you put one of those dry bag thingys into the case it drys up the dust in the case and makes the pc last alot longer, dust doesnt stick and attract moisture etc.

------------------------------ Q6600@3510/1560 + TT BigTyphoon+Mod
8gb Kingston 800mhz
Gigabyte EP35-DS3P
XFX 8800GT/512
 Reply to apache_lives
vinodg   05-20-2008 at 01:10:02 PM
- 0 +

I think intel and gigabyte are the good company. You can get mother board from this company but pentium is out of fashion and not reliable one while comparing with latest stuffs. So, better get latest stuff instead of upgrading pentium 4.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by vinodg on 05-20-2008 at 02:52:04 PM
------------------------------ Cool Gifts and Gadgets Blog for the Tech Geek in all of us.

 

Reply to vinodg

apache_lives   05-20-2008 at 02:14:59 PM
- 0 +

vinodg wrote :

I think intel and gigabyte are the good company. You can get mother board from this company but pentium is out of fashion and not reliable one while comparing with latest stuffs. So, better get latest stuff instead of upgrading pentium 4.
http://giftgadgetgateway.comCool Gifts and Gadgets Blog for the Tech Geek in all of us.



Its super super super super super rare to see a dead CPU in a normal environment - iv seen Intels with burn marks and it still worked, and hammered them (overclocking) and never killed one (cant say that bout AMD - too many v's took out a few easily, seen a few too many dead from mis-handling etc but its easier to kill an AMD full stop - all deliberate ofcourse), but motherboards made from hundereds of components like regulators, capacitors, transistors etc - easy to bend boards, short things (static through usb, spikes through power etc) and heat and power for extended periods of time causing rapid ageing on the capacitors etc.

What do we all think of ATi chipsets for Intel and AMD cpus - the ones iv seen seem aok? Iv seen an ATi based motherboard from Intel (branded) - odd but true.

------------------------------ Q6600@3510/1560 + TT BigTyphoon+Mod
8gb Kingston 800mhz
Gigabyte EP35-DS3P
XFX 8800GT/512
 Reply to apache_lives
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > Recommendations? I need a P4 motherboard that's going to LAST
Go to:

There are 515 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.492 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them