Looking for Socket 939 Motherboard Under $100

[TheJoelster]

Ok so here is the scoop. I already have a ATI X800 XL (PCI-E) and wanted to get a Socket 939 CPU, most likely the AMD 3200+ Venice Retail and was looking at the Asus A8N5X as it seems many people like it. My question is being that the nForce 4 motherboard will that be overly compatible with the video card I chose? Please let me know! Thanks

 

[Operandi]

The chipset doesn?t play any role in compatibility, as long as the board has a PCI-E 16x slot it's going to work fine.

Having said that I don't particularly like that board due to it's active cooling on the chipset. The fan is loud and prone to failure, look around and you find many with dead fans. Instead go with the A8R32-MVP, it's expensive but you get what you pay for in this case.

 

[TheJoelster]

Ok Well I guess the better question is what is the best Socket 939 motherboard I can get for under 100 dollars?

 

[Operandi]

I've had good luck with MSI, the RX480 looks good.

 

[Howard]

You could just replace the HSF on the chipset with a passive cooler like this one: http://www.jab-tech.com/Zalman-Northbridge-Cooler-ZM-NB47J-pr-1829.html

 

[TheJoelster]

Any other suggestions on Motherboards?

 

[TheJoelster]

I really don't want to anything that technical, as I am sure that is not a big deal, i just want to be able to put the system together and not have to worry about fan failure.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Howard
You could just replace the HSF on the chipset with a passive cooler like this one: http://www.jab-tech.com/Zalman-Northbridge-Cooler-ZM-NB47J-pr-1829.html

That blocks the PCI-E 16x slot on almost all nForce4 boards.

 

[TheJoelster]

Ya I need the PCI-E slots as well!

 

[TheJoelster]

What do you think of the ASRock 939Dual-SATA2?

 

[dev0lution]

Choose any that fit what you're aiming to do. Nforce4 boards will work fine with your card, as the A8N-E I have does. Not necessarily recommended, but it's been fine for my own purposes...

 

[TheJoelster]

Is there any that are highy reccomended for stabiltiy that are for Socket 939 that are good in quality?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: TheJoelster
Is there any that are highy reccomended for stabiltiy that are for Socket 939 that are good in quality?

ASrock is too low-end in my opinion. I think the MSI I linked to is the best option in your price range. MSI is known for quality, they are one of the top board manufactures, I don't see any reason not to go with that board.

 

[TheJoelster]

Reading the reviews on the MSI board, seems to have problems as well...

 

[firewall]

MSI k8N Neo4 Platinum

 

[TheJoelster]

Just wanting a great stable motherboard with SATA/PCI-E support that is under $100.. Please let me know if anyone has any better reccomendations that are not prone to fan failure! Thanks

 

[dev0lution]

Originally posted by: asadasif
MSI k8N Neo4 Platinum

Yup, I built several demos with the Neo4 SLI board (see work rig in sig) and it's not a bad piece of hardware. Easy to work with and stable..

 

[keeleysam]

I'm still a big fan of the EPoX 9NPA+Ultra and the EPoX 9NPA3Ultra (the former is better than the latter).

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

I was looking at the ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 myself.

 

[Dman877]

I just built my dad a workstation (4200+, 2 gig kingston value ram, old 9800 Pro) on the ASRock Dual board and it's been rock solid for a few months. His system isn't oc'd though so I can't comment on that.

 

[Man0warr]

I second the EPoX 9NPA+Ultra, great board for its price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123236

 

[TheJoelster]

So far I am hearing not to go with the Asus A85NX and not go with ASrock boards as they are "cheap". I like the EPoX board but it is a bit higher in the price range (really wanting like a $70-$80) then I wanted to spend plus I have heard from a few people poor experiences with there boards. I am not looking to overclock and really only want to use the system for light gaming and just normal applications so having a stable motherboard is my primary concern.

 

[TheJoelster]

What does everyone think of the MSI K8N SLI-F, it has the SLI which I have heard good things about and is an MSI which I also heard good things about? Would this be a good option?

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: TheJoelster
So far I am hearing not to go with the Asus A85NX and not go with ASrock boards as they are "cheap". I like the EPoX board but it is a bit higher in the price range (really wanting like a $70-$80) then I wanted to spend plus I have heard from a few people poor experiences with there boards. I am not looking to overclock and really only want to use the system for light gaming and just normal applications so having a stable motherboard is my primary concern.

The ASRock boards are the "value" line from Asus, maybe that makes you feel a little better about them. I'm sure some ATers can tell us a dozen reasons why ASRock boards are crap. However, I've had good luck with mine, and seen a lot of positive feedback on these forums.

Do you need an ATX MB, or is MicroATX ok? I guess the real question is do you need more than one regular PCI slot. Maybe this would work for you.

The MSI K8N SLI-F would be a good choice, but I thought we were avoiding active cooling on the NB? I thought you didn't want to worry about the fan failing?

Here is an AOpen board that has active cooling. However, you could replace the fan with the Zalman HS, and it wouldn't block the graphics card slot. Looks like they don't put the mount for the CPU HSF on for you, so you'd have to do it. This isn't a big deal and would only take a couple of minutes, but I guess you have to consider everything.

Note that the AOpen board and both of the MSI boards listed in my post use 24 pin power supplies. The ASRock Dual-939 uses a 20 pin power supply.

 

[TheJoelster]

Well I am not really in that big of a need of PCI Slots. I just need one for a Firewire card. I am getting right now the Antec Solo. Would that work with a Micro ATX board? (Obviously i am a bit of a noob) And is there any disadvantages other then less ports on a Microatx motherboard? I like the board that Nick5324 picked out, does anyone else have any suggestions?