what mobo for A64 3000+ ?

[GratefullySaved]

Hi gang,

Thanks to some Christmas goodness it looks like I'll be upgrading from an XP2100+ with 1GB PC2700 RAM up to a new Athlon64 3000+. I'll have to use my same PC2700 RAM on the new mobo, but I'm happy with that as I can't afford new RAM.

My question is simply what is the best but least expensive mobo that supports the 754 socket and can use my PC2700 RAM. I'd also love to have onboard sound and firewire ideally.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated, as my time to research all this is really limited.

I've built four PC's prior to this Athlon64 system, and have been up to speed on things prior to now, but it's been a full year and a half since my last upgrade and I'm a little rusty on the latest, greatest, and best combo deals to pursue.

Just to paint the complete picture, I essentially have $125 given to me, and a small budget of my own money to add to that in order to make this purchase work. I need to keep the TOTAL purchase price of CPU and mobo as FAR under $300 as possible. The Athlon 64 3000+ retail version (with HSF) is $150 from newegg right now. If anyone knows of better pricing please let me know.

Thanks sincerely to all who take the time to help,

GS

P.S. - My main use of the new computer will be for Photoshop 7 and possibly Painter 9, gaming, and good ol web surfing (which obviously means nothing in this scenario). Bottom line is it's a secondary image editing workstation that is also used for fun n gaming.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Chaintech $73 in the no longer stickied system thread
check reviews on Newegg, people like it.

 

[BW86]

Chaintech VNF3-250

Great Motherboard for a great price.

 

[Muscles]

No question it's the Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR. Take it from me. Out of the 7 custom built systems I've built just in the last 2 months I used the Soltek board on 6 of them. Not a single problem. It has every feature you need and more. I've built a lot of a64 systems the last few months for both clients and myself and I can honestly say it's the most rock solid board out there for socket 754.

Don't just take my word on it. 5 out of 5 star rating on NewEgg.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-180-061&depa=1

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: BW86
Chaintech VNF3-250

Great Motherboard for a great price.

If you can splurge a little more the DFI Lanparty is a great board. But if you can't don't worry the Chaintec is great too

 

[Kishan]

The motherboard is not the area to cheapen up. With that said 20 more bucks shouldn't be a problem, so I would advise to go with the DFI Lanparty. I had a Asus K8V SE Deluxe, and I definitley notice a speed difference with this board. Spend the 20 bucks

 

[Kccdx2]

DFI 4 754

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

I like my VNF3-250. It's been up and running a couple of days now, and I have no big complaints (other than a slightly warmer than I'd like CPU, but that's the case's fault).

 

[her34]

Originally posted by: Computer MAn

Originally posted by: BW86
Chaintech VNF3-250

Great Motherboard for a great price.

If you can splurge a little more the DFI Lanparty is a great board. But if you can't don't worry the Chaintec is great too

what makes the DFI better?

 

[karnick]

i would definitely say the Abit KV8 Pro, its great for overclocking as you can see in my signature.. you might be able to find it around $90.. it was on the hardocp must buy list... i am extremely satisfied..

 

[TorinoGT24]

Originally posted by: karnick
i would definitely say the Abit KV8 Pro, its great for overclocking as you can see in my signature.. you might be able to find it around $90.. it was on the hardocp must buy list... i am extremely satisfied..

I couldnt agree more. This board has more voltage and overclocking options than almost any nforce 3 board there is. 3.2 volts ddr is awesome for getting crazy fsb speeds. I run mine at 275mhz fsb at 1:1 with my samsung ram. It's been a great board!

-Collin-

 

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: Computer MAn

Originally posted by: BW86
Chaintech VNF3-250

Great Motherboard for a great price.

If you can splurge a little more the DFI Lanparty is a great board. But if you can't don't worry the Chaintec is great too

I have the Chaintech, and if you can deal with a shotty manual and lame website, it seems like a great cheap board. But if you have questions, just ask here, these guys know their shiot!

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

Originally posted by: laurenlex

Originally posted by: Computer MAn

Originally posted by: BW86
Chaintech VNF3-250

Great Motherboard for a great price.

If you can splurge a little more the DFI Lanparty is a great board. But if you can't don't worry the Chaintec is great too

I have the Chaintech, and if you can deal with a shotty manual and lame website, it seems like a great cheap board. But if you have questions, just ask here, these guys know their shiot!

Amen on that manual and lousy website. The price was certainly right for me though...

 

[Jinxt]

Fatest overclocking will be the Neo2 or the upcoming Neo4 from MSI. The latter is due on 12/28 at ZipZoomFry.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Jinxt
Fatest overclocking will be the Neo2 or the upcoming Neo4 from MSI. The latter is due on 12/28 at ZipZoomFry.

to bad he said socket 754.

for socket 754 i recommend the chaintech VNF-250. its cheap, and its stable. what more can you ask for?

 

[SonicIce]

EPoX "EP-8KDA3J"

 

[GratefullySaved]

Thanks you guys, what a great bunch of replies.

I'm sure I'll buy one of the boards mentioned here, Chaintech if I go cheapest route, or I'll just find some extra dough or even wait if I decide to go the extra mile with the higher end mobo and maybe even more RAM.

Thanks again,

GS

 

[MrCodeDude]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
EPoX EP-8KDA3J

Amen.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Muscles
No question it's the Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR. Take it from me. Out of the 7 custom built systems I've built just in the last 2 months I used the Soltek board on 6 of them. Not a single problem. It has every feature you need and more. I've built a lot of a64 systems the last few months for both clients and myself and I can honestly say it's the most rock solid board out there for socket 754.

Don't just take my word on it. 5 out of 5 star rating on NewEgg.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-180-061&depa=1

agree, I love my K8AN2E-GR

 

[Regs]

I guess the truthful answer is all 2nd generation motherboards for the 754 are very good. The DFI however is the overclockers dream board. The only board I would maybe push away is Gigabyte's with their lack of BIOS control.