Suggestions for a Budget Motherboard (Socket A)
 

Onodrim and I are looking into getting a new motherboard for her computer (not really looking into - it's necessary) but we're not looking to find one that costs a lot - maybe $40-$60 at the most. This mobo needs to be ATX and will be used with DDR Ram and an AthlonXP 2000+. Thing is, I've not looked into motherboards for quite some time so I have no idea what chipsets are good any longer.

So....any suggestions? :)

Do you want it upgradeable for future processors and RAM? Does it need onboard video, sound, LAN, or SATA/RAID? Does it matter if it supports the 2000+ and the RAM but nothing further than that?

If ya can fill out the LasQuestionaire then it'll narrow it down a lot. There's a mobo on NewEgg that'll support your processor and RAM for $26.

As for chipset...if you're gonna spend $40-$60, then it doesn't matter. :)

-Lasereth

The better it is in that price range, the more preferable. All that is NECESSARY is that it supports the AthlonXP 2000+, has 2 slots for DDR RAM, and has onboard sound and LAN. SATA/RAID is absolutely not necessary, and upgradability is pretty forsakable as well. Her motherboard got fried so we're getting a new one just to create a working computer again, not really to upgrade.

40-60 is not a hard limit, especially since onboard LAN will save her about $15 anyway, so, say, 65 is doable. Onboard sound is absolutely necessary, onboard LAN is preferred.

Hope that helps :)

NewEgg.com has a nice mobo for $26:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...185-010&depa=1

I wouldn't spend any more than that according to your needs. Forget this chipset or that chipset...this one will do fine. :)

-Lasereth

Well, one thing I didn't mention is that, while it likely won't be used for upgrading, Onodrim will be playing games on it, such as UT2k4 and NWN. I know the mobo isn't a HUGE thing when it comes to performance but I also know that it does play a role as well. So, if a semi-significant performance gain can be had by a somewhat more expensive mobo, that's fine too.

that mobo got KT266 chipset.... and if games are gonna be played then its well worth a few extra dollars on it...

go for the KT400 or KT600..

There won't be a gain by buying a better motherboard. Having a better chipset has an affect on games every now and then, but even in the most extreme of cases the increase is barely (if at all) noticeable. When you're buying a budget motherboard, the chipset doesn't matter. The only motherboard I'd buy if you want to spend more than $65 is the Abit NF7-S which is the best mobo on the market if ya ask me. It's about $80-$90.

-Lasereth

Get an Asus A7N8X series. The revision 2 is awesome, but for a few bucks less you can get the A7N8X-X. I use it and it's friggin awesome. Athlon XP 3200+, 1Gig of DDR, AGP 8X, onboard lan and damn good sound via the nvidia nforce2 chipset. If you want good sound, don't by a non-nVidia chipset if you want good sound.

I whole-heartedly agree with moonpie, you can't go wrong with an ASUS A7N8X. I have an A7N8X Deluxe 2.0 and it's been a great mobo. For the price range you are looking for, the A7N8X -X for $61 would be a great choice. But the on-board sound on the -X board probably isn't as good as the Deluxe. Here's a link for the -X
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-468&depa=0

Hope that helps.