Best cheap duron mobo

[Hunter_Killers]

I'm looking for a cheap upgrade from this P2 400 @ 520 on a ASUS P3V4X, i can get a duron 1.6ghz for $76 CDN but i'm not sure which mobo would be a good performer and using SDRAM while still being cheap, i will be getting a much better comp further down the road but this P2 is hell to play things like halo etc.

 

[ChipDeath]

good performer and using SDRAM

Doesn't really exist these days. You'd be MUCH better off just saving a little more cash, and getting an XP + nforce2 + DDR system.

How much $ do you have available, and what websites do you shop at? (I don't know any canadian sites)

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[Hunter_Killers]

Very little right now and for months, and i needed sdram as its what i already have since DDR is ~$140 CDN at any speed for 1 512MB module, thats about as much as this duron + and a ECS K7S5A Pro, i just don't want to get a cheap not so good quality mobo and have it screwing up on me.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Hunter_Killers on 04/21/04 03:41 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[ChipDeath]

Hmm... The problem with a board with both memory types (such as the ECS you list) is that even when coupled with DDR, it's not going to be much of a performer, and you'll be stuck when it comes to upgrading as it won't support faster bus speeds than 133(266DDR), which'll limit you to (IIRC) an XP2400+ CPU at best in the future (actually I think there were some rare 2600+ chips that ran @133FSB).

But given the choice between that ECS and a VIA KT133 board, I'd go with the one you suggest, as it should be ok I guess, and will certainly be a lot faster than your PII system. (although Halo is a hell of a performance hog for what it is :frown: )

I I was you, I'd only buy a 'combo' motherboard to do something like this:

1) Buy duron + mobo, use existing RAM
..Save for a little while..
2) Replace RAM with some reasonable DDR
..Save again for a while..
3) Replace motherboard with a nice nforce2 model
..Save some more..
4) Buy a Low-end Athlon XP & overclock it loads.

That way there's no single huge outlay of money, but it does end up costing more.

But like I say - it WILL be a lot better than your current rig, and if it's a good deal you'll probably be ok.

What other motherboards where you looking at?

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[ChipDeath]

Just did a quick bit of digging, and THG certainly liked that board when it was released.
<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20010924/index.html" target="_new">here</A>'s a review....

So if it's a good deal, and you really need to upgrade NOW, then I guess it's not a bad choice.

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[pat]

What's good with the ECS k7s5a Pro is that it has the newest features as USB2.0. LAN,...thing that was not on cheap kt133 mobo when they were hot...

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Hunter_Killers]

I am thinking of getting DDR, and getting a mobo from my friend, he has a <A HREF="http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-7VKML.htm" target="_new">GA-7VKML</A> is that a good one? I will be getting a totally new system after summer sometime.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Hunter_Killers on 04/21/04 05:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Cybercraig]

Buy an 800mhz PIII off of E-Bay and clock it at 133mhz to over 1 Gig. That is one of the best Slot 1 boards ever made. There are a lot things you can do to make it faster.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Now, let's eat!

 

[Hunter_Killers]

Ok well it turns out i can't get the mobo from him as he can't get down here for months, so what would be a good/cheap DDR mobo then.

 

[pat]

I just got an Asrock k7s41gx for 50$ can at NCIX.com. Not a great mobo, but it has LAN/USB2.0/sound/video onboard with support for my spare 2500+. Run good so far, but it is only a spare system. It support DDR333, because of integrated video.

regular price is around 65$

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[endyen]

Stick with the ecs board. The reason it is the #1 best selling mobo of all time, is because it's good. I especially like the single chipset solution, keeps the chip way cooler. Oc workbench used to have a few hacked bios for ocing. Just make sure your psu is solid.

 

[Nights_L]

For a Duron? I guess that you'll be buying a new pc soon right?
then just get a ECS K7S5A Pro board, then use SDRAM with it, I've built 2 PCs with that board, solid and fast..

 

[justaguy]

You could try this one:
http://www.cpusolutions.com/cpusolutions/Amazing/itemdesc.asp?ic=7ZMMHC-GIG

You're gonna run into some issues though by wanting to go with a Duron that fast and keep sdram. I doubt that the boards that use sdram have multipliers high enough to do that. Most of the "newest" sdram AMD boards support up to 1.0 GHz or maybe 1.2 GHz Tbirds. Those chips would need either a 10, 12 or 8, 9 Multipliers since some were fsb 133. Either way, the mobo's probably could run a modern Duron at a maximum of 1.2, maybe 1.4 GHz, but I seriously doubt that 1.6 is an option.

Your best bet may be finding a system on Ebay. I recenlty sold a K6-600 system without hdd or cd-rom for $39 US. You could probably dig up something with more umph (maybe an Athlon Tbird 1.2 or something like that) for under $200 CDN if you're lucky. You may even be able to find a system like the one I sold (essentially case, mobo, processor) and swap out the components you currently have (memory, hdd, vid card, etc.) so that you spend less and get the best possible system for your money.

Good luck!

Athlon XP 1900 (11x200) 42C (Load w/AX-7 & 8cm Tornado) - MSI K7N2 Delta - Corsair Value PC3200 - Gainward GF3 @ 250/550 - 80Gb WD 8Mb Cache -

 

[justaguy]

I just did some quick checking, and you should look at Ebay. You could pick up a KT133 mobo (probably the fastest SDR AMD chipset) and an Athon Thunderbird (not XP) in various speed grades. The combination, with shipping shouldn't run you more than $70-80 US. Less than $100 CDN, and performance of the TBird would be 70-95% of the 1.6 Duron depending on the speed of the TBird. Hope this helps.

Athlon XP 1900 (11x200) 42C (Load w/AX-7 & 8cm Tornado) - MSI K7N2 Delta - Corsair Value PC3200 - Gainward GF3 @ 250/550 - 80Gb WD 8Mb Cache -