Need Mobo for BASIC new P4 machine

[funkmonkey]

Have built my own digital audio/video machine a few years ago.
My brother wants a simple machine for home. Fast, but basic. Was thinking (based on price from newegg) about the P4 2.4A Prescott.

Onboard video and audio is a plus. Ability to tweak it out in the future (AGP graphics, PCI stuff) is a good idea too.

I am getting a headache trying to figure out what to get.

Any and all input appreciated.

Jeff

 

[Crashman]

If you're thinking onboard video, I'd go AMD. The nForce2 IGP chipset offers a fairly good onboard video solution, and you could get an XP2500+ or better as the CPU.

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[funkmonkey]

Sorry that I was unclear. Have the flu and a bit groggy.
He wants to go with a P4, and I need to know what my best option for a mobo is. Saw some in the $60 range that were well reviewed and basic.
Input as to what to get appreciated.

 

[Crashman]

You really want a good motherboard. The best motherboard I've seen for the price is the Gigabyte GA-8ISXT-FS, it goes for around $40. It's a full-featured board with the i865PE chipset, supporting dual-channel mode and just about everything you can think of (firewire, SATA, etc). It's cheap because Gigabyte produced these for Fujitsu-Siemens, who then flodded the market with leftover boards when they changed their model lineup. I've used them, they're great boards.

I'm not certain if the board supports the Prescott core at all however, so getting a good board on the cheap might mean spending the saved money on a Northwood core P4.

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[funkmonkey]

I think he's going to settle on a Celeron D (prescott core) or maybe he'll go with the same speed P4 (2.4Ghz most likely).
Any insight on the ABIT IS7-E2? Specs are: I865PE chipset, "prescott ready", FSB 400/533/800, 6 ch audio, 5 PCIs, up to DDR400, no video, onboard LAN.

I'd like onboard video, but a cheap AGP card will do, esp if getting a great mobo and a CeleronD which opens up some $.
Thanks.
JZ

 

[mozzartusm]

The Abit IS7 is a great board for the price. Heck its a great board compared to some that are much more expensive. Are you sure you want to go with a CELERON? I would rethink that.

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[Crashman]

All the IS7 series was made Prescott Ready with a BIOS update 1 year ago. Any boards on the market today should have new enough BIOS.

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[mozzartusm]

So Celerons arent as bad as they once were? Its been a long time since I had one, but the last one was only good for typing.

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