Upgrading please help me.

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 21, 2003, 10:51 PM

Yo all I’m not sure if this rite forum again but here.

I’m thinking about upgrading my cpu and mobo for max of 200$

this is the deal I got now

MOBO

Epox Motherboard for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Processors, Model# EP-8RGA+
Specifications:
CPU Supported: AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron processors
Chipset: nForce2
FSB: 333MHz Max
RAM: 3x DDR SDRAM PC3200, 3GB Max
IDE: 2x E/IDE Ultra DMA/133
Slots: 1x AGP(8X), 6x PCI(32-bit)
Ports: 2x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard, 2x Serial, 1x Parallel, 2x USB, 1x RJ-45, 2x IEEE 1394 (via Headers)
Onboard Video: Geforce4 MX Graphics
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC650E 6-channel audio
Onboard LAN: Realtek RTL8201 PHY
103$

CPU
AMD ATHLON XP 2500+ "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- RETAIL
Specifications:
CPU: 1.83 GHz
Type: XP 2500 Barton Core
Cache: 512K L2, 128K L1, Total 640KB
BUS: 333MHz
Socket A
Retail Box (Heatsink and Fan included)
90$

I’m sticking with the Barton 2500+ because over 300 reviews were 5 stars and a lot of recommendations.

But I’m looking for a good mobo that has at least 400 fsb for AMD that has no onboard graphic card and has Nforce2 400 ultra and 5.1 onboard sound.

( I’m not that good in knowing what’s good and what’s not in mobo's and cpu's so I don’t know what’s worth it and what’s not and I’m sure u people in this forum know a lot about these stuff so id really be happy if u could help

)

can any one recommend any real good mobo for the price like the best deal for the price u have seen :P

remember under 200$ all together

(Oh what’s the difference by Nforce 2 400 , 400 ultra , 415 what’s the difference)

please help

thanks Nathan.

Vengeance · Sep 21, 2003, 11:53 PM

http://secure.newegg.com/app/specifi...tem=13-131-468

$82.00 at new egg, Should have everything you need.

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 21, 2003, 11:59 PM

thanks man.

hmm is there like a better version for like 100$ ? with like better sound and more stuff cuz id liek the best mobo i can get for the price

Ohh and 1 x AGP(1.5V only) ?? whats that 1x agp? and whats that nforce 400 is it better than ultra or somethin

BWX · Sep 22, 2003, 12:07 AM

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews...JsX3BhZ2U9Mw==

Get this Barton - http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_i...oducts_id=2028

And I would go with an Abit NF7- if you want another choice. I just got one, it's a great board, I think most will do 237mhz fsb or so.

Vengeance · Sep 22, 2003, 12:08 AM

That just means that it has one AGP slot. Not to sure about the sound, Best thing to do is got to newegg and do a search for MoBo's click on AMD's and they will all pop up. Just look at all of them, see what one has what you want for what you want to spend.

Oh and I'm not the best guy to listen too

I bought my PC ready made

lol I'm just trying to point you in the right direction

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 22, 2003, 12:30 AM

whats the dif from the newegg barton and the one u gave me 3$ more ? :?

shuki · Sep 22, 2003, 12:38 AM

alpha, do yourself a big favor and buy the NF7-S. It has onboard soundstorm 6.1 sound, onboard nic and onboard firewire. a very solid board!

I would just order from newegg. $85 OEM barton 2500 and $113 NF7-s. You'll be a happy camper

BWX · Sep 22, 2003, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ev!L-aLphA
whats the dif from the newegg barton and the one u gave me 3$ more ? :?

Not much, some people have tested that "AQXAE" and seem to have gotten better OC's - but know one can guarantee anything.

excaliberpc.com does a free bios upgrade and tests the board for 400mhz fsb operation w/ a 3200+ chip for free too- Just to let you know. -and guarantees a ver. 2.0.

But I'm sure NewEgg is easier to deal with- although excaliber isn't bad either.

FluffyChicken · Sep 22, 2003, 04:45 AM

Mother boards to buy.
Gigabytes 7NNXP or baby brothers 7N400's
ASUS A7N8X 's (v2 and above)

Make sure it has Soundstorm (not all nForce2 400/400Ultra have it)
nForce2 400 is the single channel version (cheaper)
nForce2 Ultra is the dual channel version (need 2xsame ram sticks to work fully)

There is actually very little performance difference, if you don;t intend to use 2 identical RAM stick to use the dual channel, you may want to save some money and get a single channle version

BWX · Sep 22, 2003, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FluffyChicken
Mother boards to buy.
Gigabytes 7NNXP or baby brothers 7N400's
ASUS A7N8X 's (v2 and above)

Make sure it has Soundstorm (not all nForce2 400/400Ultra have it)
nForce2 400 is the single channel version (cheaper)
nForce2 Ultra is the dual channel version (need 2xsame ram sticks to work fully)

There is actually very little performance difference, if you don;t intend to use 2 identical RAM stick to use the dual channel, you may want to save some money and get a single channle version

What? I thought ALL NForce2 chipset MB used dual channel.. Both Abit's NF7 and NF7-s are dual channel. And if you are lucky like me, you don't need exact same ram to use dual channel, I have completely different modules, but I still have the 10% performance gain and dual channel is enabled. 1x -PNY 512mb pc2700 & 1x -Crucial 256mb pc2100 in slot 3- It acually works! And went through memtest86 overnight w/ no errors.. Crazy huh?

running at 294mhz - (my Palamino is still locked)-but the crucial mem is OC'ed and runs fine. Abit's boards rock.

FluffyChicken · Sep 22, 2003, 06:54 AM

nope of the nForce2 400's only the ultra is dual channel.
an 10% is maybe a little exagerated

true over the kt400/600 it is a larger improvement not the nforce in single channel mode though.
Maybe about 1% in general use (nothing noticable)
10% to 20% compared to the Kt600 yes but that's chipset not the dual channel talking..

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1858&p=8

BWX · Sep 22, 2003, 07:04 AM

No, I probably don't have a true 10% gain, but in Sisoft sandra I got an extra 220mb/s up from 1990- I got an extra 150 to 200pts average gain in 3dmark03 and about 3500 pts. in Aqhamark. Also got noticeable boost in 3dmark01- about 300 to 400 pt's average gain.. Definitely a big boost for my system. I bet if I had 2 fast matched sticks, the gains would be much better though.

Judas · Sep 22, 2003, 07:56 AM

Abit's NF7-S Revision 2.0... keep the barton 2500.... And you'll be the happiest camper...

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 22, 2003, 08:24 PM

cool but i have 2 different typs of ram 1 is 2100 512 ddr ram
and 1 2700 512 ddr ram 2 different companies and i dont know if ill have problems :/

but thanks for replying fast all ill check them all out!

i think im gonna go with the barton 2500+ and the

ABIT NF7-S ,nForce2 SPP chipset Support AMD Socket A with 200/266/333 FSB ,8X AGP,SATA 150 ATX motherboard Retail
Specifications:
Supported CPU:AMD-K7 Duron/Athlon/Athlon XP Socket A
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce2 SPP chipset with MCP2-T
FSB:200/266/333MHz
RAM:3x 184Pin DDR Supports 3 DIMM DDR 200/266/333 (Max. 3GB)or
2 DIMM DDR 400 (Max. 2GB)
IDE:2 x Ultra DMA 33/66/100/133 (up to 4 Devices)
Slots:1 x AGP8X/4X, 5 x PCI slots
Ports:1xFDD, 2xSATA,2xUSB2,2xPS2,2xCOM,1xLPT and Audio Ports
Onboard Serial ATA: Supports transfer rates 150MB/s (1.5G bps)
Onboard Audio:6-Channel AC 97 CODEC
Onboard LAN: 10/100Mb Operation supports ACPI & Wake on LAN
Onboard Firewire: IEEE 1394a at 100/200/400MB/s transfer rate

im not sure about that revision v2.0 or what ever here is the info on the nf7-s
http://secure.newegg.com/app/specifi...tem=13-127-143

tell me if it has revision v2

thanks alot all

Bane the ECF · Sep 22, 2003, 08:43 PM

Good choice, I'd pick the Abit NF7-s or the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe myself.

Bane