Re: Best motherboard for $60

js5895 wrote:
Mike T. wrote:
"js5895" <JoshTmp@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1151355773.098602.97740@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm upgrading my 7 year old computer and I'm a novice at this. I'm
mostly shopping at Newegg and Tigerdirect
but I don't know which motherboard is the best for no more than $60.
The processor I think I'm going with
is the Intel Pentium D 805 2.66GHz, 533MHz FSB. I want to try to get a
board with today's technology so, later,
I have the option to expand. I also need support for my old hardware.
My current hardware is:

200W ATX 20 pin (might need a 24 pin with a higher wattage)
Pentium 3 500Mhz
60 GB UATA 100
13.5GB UATA 66
Toshiba 6x DVD-ROM
HP 9700 CDRW Writer
ATI Radeon 9200 8X AGP (Only 2 years old)
STB TV Tuner card (needs an aux header for sound)


OK, forget about future upgrades. You have a 7 year old computer, which
shows you are willing to hang onto major components for a long time. In
less than 2 years, all components will be replaced by something that is
guaranteed to be incompatible with whatever you build today. One good
example . . . you intend to build with an AGP video card. There's nothing
wrong with that, if you really like your current video card. But within 2
years, AGP video cards will be prohibitively expensive, if they are
available at all. So you can buy a PCI-Express X16 mainboard now, or you
can settle on using the ATI Radeon 9200 for about 9 years total. (until
your next system is about 7 years old)

Oh, and you definitely need a newer power supply, something around ~450W.

I'd advise you to ditch the ATI video card. Maybe it's only 2 years old,
but it's not advisable to build a new AGP system right now, unless you are
REALLY stuck on that particular video card, for some odd reason.

If I was trying to upgrade your system on a budget, I would do something
like this:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1647333&CatId=0
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1111756&CatId=0
(has the aux connector)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1389575&CatId=0
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=723375&CatId=0
(lowest price on name-brand RAM without the rebate hassle)

Good luck, -Dave

Thanks for your research. I'm going to switch to PCIe and move away
from AGP. Now I need a video card with a tv-out. So far I'm looking
at the Intel D945PWM motherboard. It comes with an nVIDIA GeForce
6200LE Turbo Cache PCIe card for $130. Also I'm changing the processor
to the Intel Pentium D 820 2.80GHz, 800 FSB. I like the ASROCK
775DUAL-VSTA VIA PT880 that Paul suggested but, now, it only has an
4x PCIe. I'm going to give myself more time to research.

Thanks for your help.


There goes the $60 budget. :)
.

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