Simple System Configuration

[CivicSiRider]

I'm looking to build a simple system for a friend. Just looking for recommendations on a Socket a MB, w/ onboard sound/ compatible Video Card. Probably just going with a 1 ghz athalon, to keep costs low. I was thinking about an Iwill kk266 Plus. Anyway I guess I'm just looking for a recommendation on a barebones consisting of Socket A MB w/ Onboard sound, Video card setup. Something that is going to be quite stable so I don't have to keep messing with it. Any help will be appreciated. I don't build systems very often so don't exactly know what works best together.

 

[KCjeeper]

a simple fast system is the ECS K7S5A. It doesn't have onboard video, but does include sound, 10/100 ethernet and USB. You can use your old PC133 memory, or go with the newer DDR memory. Then go with a low priced GeForece2 MX board, and you are all set.

 

[CivicSiRider]

How reliable is ECS?
Anyone else have recommendations?

 

[Bovinicus]

That motherboard is fine as long as you're not really planning on overclocking. It is a great price and offers a good amount of upgrade flexibilty courtesy of it's DDR and SDR SDRAM support. Get a GF2 GTS-V as the video card. You can get it for about $70, and it performs much better than the GF2 MX. Or, you could go with the nForce chipset. I think that route may be more expensive though. You would also be required to buy two sticks of memory instead of one to get the full performance benefit. Also, be aware as to which slots you place the memory in if you go this route. Depending on which board you have, you want to arrange two sticks in a specific order or the board will drop the memory clock down to 100MHz instead of 133MHz for stability purposes.

 

[foofoo]

i'll probably get flamed for this but if you want reliability, i would reccomend against ecs. i've had nothing but problems with the k7s5a mbs that i've worked with/on. i would reccomend the shuttle ak31a mb, which is a good deal and i've found to be very reliable and stable and offers plenty of overclocking options if you're interested in that.
pair that with 256 mb ddr ram from crucial and maybe the $65 VISIONTEK Xtasy 5632 from newegg and you should be set.
good luck

 

[IgoByte]

The ECS board is fast, good and reliable and has onboard sound and NIC, which is definitely good. It's also one of the cheapest boards around, costing about $60. With boards like that around, I ask myself why even bother spending the money on something "better"?

I'd go with a 1.4Ghz (266) Thunderbird, and you can get a used one to save some money...

As for the video card, there are a couple of good low budget choices out right now. The Visiontek extasy might be a good thing to buy or maybe a GF2 MX 400...
In any case, video card shouldn't be more than $80.

 

[IgoByte]

Oh, for the ECS board, I'd go with PC133 SDRAM right now, due to the high DDR SDRAM prices. It accepts both types of memory.

 

[CivicSiRider]

Thanks for all the help. There will be no need for OCing, this system isn't going to be used much except for internet use and word stuff. I am trying to keep it cheap so I think a 1ghz w/ suffice. He really doesn't even need that. I'll look into the ECS board a bit. Sounds like a good price if the board is what you people are saying.

 

[MrHelpful]

From Newegg.com

AMD Duron 850MHz retail - $56
ECS K7S5A - $57
Crucial 256MB PC133 SDRAM - $39
Maxtor D740X 20GB - $70
CardExpert Geforce2 MX200 - $45
Enlight 7237 /w 300W PSU - $45

Total - $312 + shipping

 

[CivicSiRider]

Very helpful, Mrhelpful!