AMD 3400 + motherboard only $89.99

[skljohnson]

I ordered this ATI AIW AGP Card for my HTPC along with the Biostar board.
At $85AR this should be a good and quiet card as it has no HSF.

I have had good luck with my Tiger Direct MIR's in the past, except for a gift card they issued me once instead of a check.

My other ATI 9600 AIW (AGP 128MB) has a fan and is a little noisy at times. It also has a stereo FM radio built in but I will not need it with a HT receiver. I have never had problems setting these cards up either like I've read in some forums.

I will be fleabaying my older ECS K7S5A pro and XP 2200+ which have served me well over the years. This combo will be much faster.

Thanks OP for heads up on this deal! It should be here tomorrow, I'm excited!

 

[NuKe9]

Thanks for the info guys! I may just end up adding the Chaintech AV-710 to my order. Looking to pass bitperfect audio to my amp. I may also get one of these HSF's to upgrade my main rig as well, heard alot of good stuff about the AMD heatpipe coolers.

I once put up a K7S5A in the FS forums, it was like a damn feeding frenzy! That board has a rabid following, should do well on fleabay as well.

 

[degaffman]

Geezerman, where can you get that AMD dual core CPU & Asus mobo combo for $180? I couldn't find it on newegg.

 

[GeezerMan]

Originally posted by: degaffman
Geezerman, where can you get that AMD dual core CPU & Asus mobo combo for $180? I couldn't find it on newegg.

Oh, it was not a combo deal. I was just quickly adding up what it would cost both ways. I figured for the 3400 setup it would be 99.00 for mobo and cpu, 75.00 for Ram, and 35.00 for a cheapo AGP video card since I don't have one that would work. That's a total of 209.00. Then I figured for a 3800+ dual core, it is 152.00, Ram is 75.00, and a mobo with integrated video is 60.00, total of 287.00, difference of 78.00. Of course, for many in here, they already have ram and a video card to use, and you might not care for intregrated video on a dual core setup. Buy a video card for a 3800 X2 setup, and cost goes way up. Also, ram cost might go up on a 3800 X2 setup since many would want more ram for it versus the 3400. For me, it would be just a spare PC setup.

 

[cparker]

There was a 3800 x2 plus Mobo combo at Outpost a week or two ago for 179. I don't recall the mother board make, but it was micro atx with integrated graphics and was an AM2. I checked out the board the time and I remember that it did not get "rave" reviews on other sites. Assuming you have to pick up all your components new, I estimate that the 3400/biostar combo would cost around 350. That would include a gig of quality ram (100 bucks or so), a decent hard drive on sale (40 or so), geforce 6200 agp card (35), a case/ps for around 60, and a quality hs/f 20. This is nicely balanced for normal use (not really for serious gaming), seems hassle free and very "crisp" and fast to use based on my own experience. I can't comment on the 3800 x2 as I've never used one.

 

[addup]

dead?
back up to $99

 

[uhohs]

fry's right now has a 4200 x2 with the same matx mobo for 199.

 

[altonb1]

I'm up and running on this thing now, BUT...

I can't seem to get the USB ports working. In Device manager, all devices are installed fine and especially the USB devices look correct, but if I plug in a USB mouse or any other USB device, i don't get the new hardware pop-up alert showing that they have been found. USB was installed from the driver CD.

I have an old 2-button mouse w/o a scroll wheel through the PS/2 port at the moment, but one of the reasons i wanted to upgrade was because I have USB 2.0 devices and the old mobo was only 1.1.

Any suggestions?

 

[cparker]

Which mother board? I just checked my usb ports on my biostar and it works fine. I did install the drivers off the cd that came with the board and all seems fine. This is with Windows 2k. I also set up another nforce 3 board that I got on a different deal (the ECS one) and it also works fine with XP home. You might try another usb device, just to make sure. If the board is defective you can rma it for a replacement. (The board is warranteed on this deal, the chip is 30 day return as it's oem as I recall.)

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: cparker
Which mother board? I just checked my usb ports on my biostar and it works fine. I did install the drivers off the cd that came with the board and all seems fine. This is with Windows 2k. I also set up another nforce 3 board that I got on a different deal (the ECS one) and it also works fine with XP home. You might try another usb device, just to make sure. If the board is defective you can rma it for a replacement. (The board is warranteed on this deal, the chip is 30 day return as it's oem as I recall.)

I got the Biostar board. The thing is, everything else works on the system EXCEPT the USB ports. I even have functioning ethernet, although I had to download the nVidia suite of drivers as the driver on the CD did not seem to be correct for the ethernet port on-board.

I figure an RMA through NewEgg will cost me $6-8 for shipping the product back, plus time that my system is down, so I don't really want to bother. I sent NewEgg an email this morning asking if they would offer free shipping on a PCI USB 2.0 card. The shipping is only $4.99, so if they will waive it on the additional purchase, I'll spend about the same as it would cost for RMA shippinh of the board and they won't have to deal with sending me a replacement board. i think it would be a win-win compromise if they will agree.

Overall, I'd be surprised if they say no. I don't think I have ever seen a more customer-friendly company than NewEgg; their attention to customer service is the reason that lmost of my system is made of components purchased through them. My last 3 motherboard/cpu purchases were throught them...as well as my ram, DVD-burner, video card, case, psu, etc.

 

[GeezerMan]

I finally talked my buddy into an upgrade, he has my old PC now, even offered to build it for free just for the practice. Newegg just told me the deal is dead. Oh well.

 

[GeezerMan]

Anyone know how much better the Biostar TForce6100-754 board is compared to the BIOSTAR K8T80-A7 that was in the combo deal? Should be a much better board. We may buy the 3400+ and go ahead and pay 65.00 to get the TForce6100-754. We could add a PCI-E card later since it does have onboard video.
Thanks

 

[Horo]

well i just finish putting together the combo and its great i notice a HUGE difference from my XP 2500+ lol. I also OC the cpu to 2.62 (218x12) and i was wondering if anyone knew a program that can monitor the cpu tempature on the biostar mobo i been searching around could not find one.... and also a way to disable the biostar splash screen at bootup?

 

[Jolt2]

I just ordered this combo today from Newegg. I ordered it after I read GeezerMan relay. This deal was still on for me. It has already shipped too and I ordered it late.

Horo, if you go to the Biostar web site and look up the new BIOS firmware for the board, you will find the newest firmware comes in two version. One is with splash screen and the other is without splash screen. You will have to flash the BIOS to remove the splash screen.

I hope this is a good upgrade for me as I am moving from a XP2500, which was overclocked to a FSB of 200MHZ making it a XP3200. I guess now I'll find out. I am a little worried about my memory because I will not be picking up much gain from the bus speed from what I have now so I don't know if i'll see much gain.

 

[GeezerMan]

Well, I think I snagged an even better deal. When I messaged Newegg online yesterday morning about the combo deal, they said it was dead. The web page still said the CPU had a combo deal, however, the combo selection tab on the page was not there at that moment. I called them later on, and the rep said it was still a good combo deal. He told me to just look below for the mobos. Well, all I saw were some compatible mobos, you know, suggested mobos, one of them being the TForce6100-754. I asked if he was sure that mobo was part of the deal. He said choose the CPU and the mobo and it will total out to 99.00 in my shopping cart. Well, it didn't, so he manually adjusted my price to total 99.00 by crediting 66.00 to it.. Free shipping too. A few hours later, the combo deal showed up online as it did before. The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal. Maybe a better board anyway, and it gives us onboard video and PCI-E should a upgrade be wanted. Good deal.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: GeezerMan
Well, I think I snagged an even better deal. When I messaged Newegg online yesterday morning about the combo deal, they said it was dead. The web page still said the CPU had a combo deal, however, the combo selection tab on the page was not there at that moment. I called them later on, and the rep said it was still a good combo deal. He told me to just look below for the mobos. Well, all I saw were some compatible mobos, you know, suggested mobos, one of them being the TForce6100-754. I asked if he was sure that mobo was part of the deal. He said choose the CPU and the mobo and it will total out to 99.00 in my shopping cart. Well, it didn't, so he manually adjusted my price to total 99.00 by crediting 66.00 to it.. Free shipping too. A few hours later, the combo deal showed up online as it did before. The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal. Maybe a better board anyway, and it gives us onboard video and PCI-E should a upgrade be wanted. Good deal.

I didn't look for a BIOS upgrade yet, but now that i see that there is a newer BIOS available that will remove the splash screen, I may just have to flash it this evening. However, it doesn't bother me that much, so I'll see what the new BIOS "fixes" to see if I should even bother.

In any case, as an update to my above pos about the USB card: NewEgg sent me an email yesterday advising that they would just send me the PCI USB 2 card for free. Not only did they pick up the shipping costs, but they also picked up the cost of the card. I was pretty happy, so I posted EXCELLENT reviews at ResellerRatings.com, BizRate.com & Epinions.com.

NewEgg is the shizzle.

 

[unclebud]

"i was wondering if anyone knew a program that can monitor the cpu tempature on the biostar mobo i been searching around could not find one.... and also a way to disable the biostar splash screen at bootup?"

cpidle + motherboard monitor maybe. gl
for disabling the biostar screen, disable "quiet boot" i think

"The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal."

now that's a good deal i think. i don't like my m7vig400, but i would definitely buy that if that deal was active without calling newegg. thanks for posting!!!
here's a review of the 939 version (i think):
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2539&p=4
edit: also, it seems that the 6150 isn't necesarily better for games per some reviews

 

[GeezerMan]

Originally posted by: unclebud
"i was wondering if anyone knew a program that can monitor the cpu tempature on the biostar mobo i been searching around could not find one.... and also a way to disable the biostar splash screen at bootup?"

cpidle + motherboard monitor maybe. gl
for disabling the biostar screen, disable "quiet boot" i think

"The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal."

now that's a good deal i think. i don't like my m7vig400, but i would definitely buy that if that deal was active without calling newegg. thanks for posting!!!
here's a review of the 939 version (i think):
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2539&p=4
edit: also, it seems that the 6150 isn't necesarily better for games per some reviews

I think I'll play with overclocking this setup. Any recommendations for Ram?
I'll use the onboard video for awhile, and a Arctic Cooling Alpine64 HSF
Thanks

 

[unclebud]

don't know, maybe buy these if still available in one's area
http://www.compusa.com/
304799
PNY verto pc 3500
i like the ones i bought

 

[Horo]

Originally posted by: unclebud
"i was wondering if anyone knew a program that can monitor the cpu tempature on the biostar mobo i been searching around could not find one.... and also a way to disable the biostar splash screen at bootup?"

cpidle + motherboard monitor maybe. gl
for disabling the biostar screen, disable "quiet boot" i think

thanks for the tip i knew about MBM but it doesnt support the Biostar board =( and cpuidle runs with it so bla but i can still use it thos thanks, i looked around for quiet boot i dont see one but theres a flash to disable the splash screen.

thanks for your help tho

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: GeezerMan
Well, I think I snagged an even better deal. When I messaged Newegg online yesterday morning about the combo deal, they said it was dead. The web page still said the CPU had a combo deal, however, the combo selection tab on the page was not there at that moment. I called them later on, and the rep said it was still a good combo deal. He told me to just look below for the mobos. Well, all I saw were some compatible mobos, you know, suggested mobos, one of them being the TForce6100-754. I asked if he was sure that mobo was part of the deal. He said choose the CPU and the mobo and it will total out to 99.00 in my shopping cart. Well, it didn't, so he manually adjusted my price to total 99.00 by crediting 66.00 to it.. Free shipping too. A few hours later, the combo deal showed up online as it did before. The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal. Maybe a better board anyway, and it gives us onboard video and PCI-E should a upgrade be wanted. Good deal.

Great deal. I was running that board for a long time.

 

[GeezerMan]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist

Originally posted by: GeezerMan
Well, I think I snagged an even better deal. When I messaged Newegg online yesterday morning about the combo deal, they said it was dead. The web page still said the CPU had a combo deal, however, the combo selection tab on the page was not there at that moment. I called them later on, and the rep said it was still a good combo deal. He told me to just look below for the mobos. Well, all I saw were some compatible mobos, you know, suggested mobos, one of them being the TForce6100-754. I asked if he was sure that mobo was part of the deal. He said choose the CPU and the mobo and it will total out to 99.00 in my shopping cart. Well, it didn't, so he manually adjusted my price to total 99.00 by crediting 66.00 to it.. Free shipping too. A few hours later, the combo deal showed up online as it did before. The Biostar TForce6100-754 board was not part of the deal. Maybe a better board anyway, and it gives us onboard video and PCI-E should a upgrade be wanted. Good deal.

Great deal. I was running that board for a long time.

Any compatible ram suggestions?
Thanks

 

[niji1875]

Good price even if it is socket 754.

 

[PrelateBishop]

Can I throw in the 1GB DDR PC2700 (333) memory I have sitting around and use with this setup? The BIOSTAR board states that it uses DDR PC3200 (400). I would think that I could use it, but it would just be marginally slower. Then again I could be wrong, hence why I am asking the question.

 

[Jolt2]

Form what I'm being told from someone who has the Biostar board is that it has memory settings of:

ram settings

100, 133, 166, auto
1t/2t
cas
trcd
tras
trp
vdimm auto, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9

It should be able to run PC2700 with a setting of the 166. I good read of how to overclock the 754 and 939 can be found at http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=300

It has links to a lot of software tools for overclocking the 754 and 939 socket CPU's.