Please help with motherboard selection!

[mblauste]

Someone please give me some advice! I been driving myself nuts trying to pick out a new motherboard. I was set on buying the Asus P3V4X but then I keep reading about performance and stability problems with certain drivers with the VIA chipset.

Now I am not sure whether to get the i815e motherboards I am probably going to buy a 700mhz chip and I don't really care about overclocking. I also want the longest life out of motherboard, meaning I won't have to buy a new one in 6 mos. because it is outdated.

I also was thinking about getting the ABIT BEII motherboard, but I heard the BX chipset probably won't be around much longer. So what motherboard would you guys reccommend and what chipset? I don't want to run in a lot of compatibility problems, and I am also willing to wait a little while, if i815e is the way to go and a manufacturer is coming out with a good board.

Also should I go with the 700E or 700EB processor?

Thanks alot

 

[AL77]

My friend has the p3v4x (I built the system for him) and there really hasn't been a problem. The memory performance could be a bit better I suppose, Sisoft Sandra scores are in the ~370/420 range using PC133 Cas2 memory. Anyway, I think it's a good board for the price. Running an assortment of games and benchmarks, it has been very stable.

However, that was before the 815e chipset came out. If I were buying a mboard today to house an Intel cpu, I would definitely get an 815e based board - my choice: The Asus CUSL2. It's expensive relative to the p3v4x, but it has forward looking features such as ATA100, and currently desired features like 133FSB support & AGP 4X (although AGP 4X doesn't seem to be that effective right now, it might be in future video cards).
Edit: Also based on reviews, it's performance beats the p3v4x/Via 133a.

IMO, forget about the BX chipset which lacks the above features. The 815e (note 'e' designation, which adds ATA100) is the way to go, so spend the extra money and get the features and future upgradability that the 815e chipset affords.



<< I am probably going to buy a 700mhz chip and I don't really care about overclocking....Also should I go with the 700E or 700EB processor? >>


Then you should buy an EB chip such as the 733EB. There is no 700EB chip as 700 is not the product of a valid multiplier and the 133Mhz FSB. The 133 Mhz chips are 533, 600*, 667, 733, 800*, 866, 933, 1000
*also available in 100Mhz FSB support

Depending on your budget, you might want to also consider the 800EB, as there was just a price cut by Intel. So my recommendations for you are either the 733 and 800EB processor, and the Asus CUSL2 motherboard.

Good luck

 

[ccc]

I think you should go with 700E, then crank up
the FSB to 133, so you will have 933MHz out of 700
(make sure you got the new stepping, cb0)

 

[Raincity]

I pretty much second everything AL77 said. I had nothing but bad luck with any mainboard with a via chipset that i have over touched so I never will mess with another Via board again but I have heard alot of Via's issues have been resovled now but it will take alot to 85gain my trust. The 815 e is pricey right now and may want to go witha BX board if money is tight, many bx boards can be found for under a 100$ now. You may want to consider a 750eb or 800eb since you dont want to overclock the processor, the little extra it cost for a 800eb may be worth it for you.Good luck in whatever you decide.

Rain

 

[steelthorn]

I have the p3v4x and I love it. I run all my games with no problems whatsoever. Very stable board.

 

[LXi]

Best BX boards: MSI BX Master, Asus CUBX
Best VIA 133a boards: Asus P3V4X, MSI MS-6309
Best i815E boards: Asus CUSL2, MSI i815E Pro(MS-6337)

I recommend i815E over the other two if you can stand the price. Or go with VIA if you want the extra features. BX are not recommended to run at 133MHz.

You should go with 700E and overclock that sucker.

 

[jaydee]

Ahh just screw it all and get a Thunderbird.

 

[LXi]

jaydee: Screw Thunderbird.

 

[mblauste]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

It seems like I should probably go with the 815e chipset. The only thing is, is it seems like there isn't too many choices out there for motherboards besides the ASUS CUSL2 and the MSI one. I am sure there are others but they are the only two I really hear about. I would probably want the CUSL2 one, but do you think it is better to wait until some more boards come out. Since I really don't need the integrated video and sound, and it also doesn't support much RAM, do you think a lot more 815e boards will be coming out in the near future?

I would like to overclock my CPU, but I am a college student, and I don't really ahve time to be screwing around with my computer all the time. I did it with my old computer and I always had to tweak it. That is why I would just like something that is realiable and will last me awhile.

Do you think the BX chipset has any life yet too it? It sounds like its the most stable, which is why I am considering it. But I do like the extra features of the 815e. How important is a 133mhz BUS besides for 3D gaming? And will 100mhz BUS play most games fine?

Thanks again