Intel Motherboard Recommendations

[gbriank]

I had originally planned to build an AMD system. Unfortunately, I have heard too many stories of lockups. I need a stable system. Here is what I am looking for:

Intel 1.5 to 2 gigahertz
motherboard (recommendations???)
512 mb DDR233 or DDR333 RAM
Case (Recommendations??)
1.44 mb disk drive
80 mb Harddrive
VisionTek or AOpen GeForce4 Ti4200
Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer
16X DVD Drive
Microsoft USB Keyboard and Optical Mouse Combo
19" Monitor (Samsung 955DF)
Creative Labs 2700 or 5300 speakers
Microsoft XP Home
Microsoft XP Office (Small Business Edition)

RECOMMENDATIONS desperately needed! Please let me know if there is anything I have forgotten on the list or alternative products. Also, if you can recommend any shops to purchase from that would be great too. MWave seems to have the best prices.

It has been a while since I have assembled a machine from scratch. Anything I should be aware of? Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[Crashman]

Processor: Intel 1.6A 512k cache $129
Motherboard: Asus P4S533 $116
Case: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-125-603-01.jpg/11-125-603-04.jpg/11-125-603-05.jpg/11-125-603-03.jpg/11-125-603-06.jpg/11-125-603-02.jpg" target="_new">Cheiftec w/400w power supply </A> $50
RAM: Kingmax PC3200 256MB $70x2=$140
Floppy: get one out of the garbage
Hard drive: Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM $111
Graphics: <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=Ti+4200,+3.5ns&order=Description" target="_new">Gainward ti4200 3.5ns</A> $138
You seem to have the rest of the parts picked out, but those aren't the parts I'd buy.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[Oracle]

I'd love to agree with Crashman, but SiS has a less shining reliability history than Intel with regards to chipsets. I'd go with a top tier mobo maker with a i845E chipset like the Asus P4B533 or the Gigabyte GA-8IE, GA-8IEX or GA-8IEXP (depending on the features you want). The GA-8IEX adds a great Creative sound chip which drops the need for an Audigy X-Gamer card, and the GA-8IEXP further features Firewire ports.
Go with DDR400 if you can.
The Antec 880 is a good case.
I wouldn't mind the VisionTek or the AOpen, just go with the cheapest one or best value (ie, bundled stuff).
Go with the 5300 speakers.


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[Oracle]

Also, avoid IBM drives. Maxtor, WD and Seagate should be the preferred choices.
Pioneer 16X DVD drive is excellent.
Since you're not likely to use your floppy pretty much, Crashman's solution is pretty much mine as well.
Have you considered a CD-RW or a second HDD. Since reliability is important to you, backups are a must.
You could get a CD-RW or another 80Gb HDD and run both HDDs in RAID-1 configuration (of course, you'll then need a mobo with a RAID controller or you could insert a RAID PCI controller).


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

you want the 2.26ghz (533FSB) pentium 4, Abit IT7 is nice. I like it anyway. I think IT7 II is out or coming out soon or whatever. You want DDR333 or DDR400. Antec SX1080B is really nice! I have the 1040B and i love this case.

For sound card i'd look into Santa cruz. Does everything the audigy does except doesn't have the useless firewire port and it's cheaper.

check out www.newegg.com. Mwave kills you on shipping! It might look cheap but they get it back from the over insane shipping sharges. Newegg also has awsome support. only negative thing i have against them is the difficulty on cancelling an order. You have to call them to cancel.

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=9933" target="_new"> My Rig </A>

 

[Cooj]

The Antec and Chieftan cases are pretty much the same. Depends what you want, steel or aluminum, if you want to spend more get a Lian Li. I don't think a 400w PSU is need to run what you want. 300 is probably enough but that's just my opinion.

I would actually go for hte Visiontek ti4200 because it's simplistic but pulls out the results.

Cooj