need ATX motherboard advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephan
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Stephan

Hey everyone.

I'm shopping for a motherboard for a system I'm about to build.

I'm pretty sure I want a P4, and it needs to be ATX, other than that, I'm
open to anything.

What should I look for?

Is onboard anyting a bad idea? I'm not fussy about sound and networking, but
I'll require a Matrox video card.

What other options are necessary, good, or simply fun?

What is Onboard SATA: ?

I somehow remember that Asus and Intel make good boards. Is this true?

Jeff
 
Stephan said:
Hey everyone.

I'm shopping for a motherboard for a system I'm about to build.

I'm pretty sure I want a P4, and it needs to be ATX, other than that, I'm
open to anything.

What should I look for?
Click to expand...

I recommend getting a board with an Intel chipset. I'd also get a retail
board instead of OEM for the warranty. I'd get a retail processor too
but pretty much everything else OEM.
Is onboard anyting a bad idea? I'm not fussy about sound and networking, but
I'll require a Matrox video card.
Click to expand...

Onboard sound and networking is usually not bad. I use both.
What other options are necessary, good, or simply fun?

What is Onboard SATA: ?
Click to expand...

It's for SATA hard drives. You don't need it unless you will be using a
SATA drive. I think most new boards have SATA now anyway. Google SATA
for more info.
I somehow remember that Asus and Intel make good boards. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Intel boards are usually rock solid if you don't need low level control
like overclocking. Asus is popular. Also look at Abit, they make great
boards at pretty good prices.

http://www.newegg.com is a good place to shop, compare, and buy. If I
were buying a new P4 board right now I'd probably buy the Abit IC7 in
one of its various configurations.
 
Hey everyone.

I'm shopping for a motherboard for a system I'm about to build.

I'm pretty sure I want a P4, and it needs to be ATX, other than that, I'm
open to anything.

What should I look for?

Is onboard anyting a bad idea? I'm not fussy about sound and networking, but
I'll require a Matrox video card.

What other options are necessary, good, or simply fun?

What is Onboard SATA: ?

I somehow remember that Asus and Intel make good boards. Is this true?

Jeff
Click to expand...

BigJ:

By common experience ( check the ASUS NG ) recent ASUS mobos (last 2 yrs)
exhibit poor QA and insane sequences of BIOS updates.
 
I just put together a system with a P-4, 2.6 using an Intel D865PERL MB.
Everything was easy to hook up and it comes with great instructions. Also
has SATA and I used a Maxtor 80Gb SATA HD. When I finished the build and
turned it on, everything worked great from the very start.
Roy
 
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