Which Mainboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark W
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark W

It's been a couple of years and it's time to up-grade. I want to start fresh
and build another. Just asking a question for some good research for pinning
down a good reliable, stable board, (no-overclocking) modern and up to date.


50 - 50 on games and application word processing. Just need to know a
starting point.

Don't care too much for Tom's hardware.

Thanks for any helping in getting started.
 
Mark said:
It's been a couple of years and it's time to up-grade. I want to start fresh
and build another. Just asking a question for some good research for pinning
down a good reliable, stable board, (no-overclocking) modern and up to date.


50 - 50 on games and application word processing. Just need to know a
starting point.

Don't care too much for Tom's hardware.

Thanks for any helping in getting started.
Click to expand...

Try some mb forums. No review site is gonna be the bottom line for
stability. Neither are forums. Access, read and decide.
Try the ABXzone.com Forums, under chipset (intel or amd). Read the posts.

Try Hardocp.com, Sharkyextreme.com, www.tech-report.com to name a few.
Most of these sites have forums. You have to remember that ppl don't
post just to say their mb is performing perfectly.
 
Personally...
I like the ABit NF7-S with the optical audio out (popular with gamers).
Slick board... and stable.
I've been using Shuttle, asus, epox and others up to this point... sick of
the via chipsets
and using nforce2 at least.
 
My experience/suggestions............
1) Stick with one manufacturer. I've done 6 PC's in the last 8 years all
ASUS mobo's I don't remember the reason for picking ASUS, but I feel
sticking with one manufacuturer is best because you become familiar with
their documentation, BIOS flasking and other downloads. I also like the
fact there is a specific ASUS newsgroup which has been a great help.
2) Leading edge or bleading edge? Don't get the first mobos off the line.
Wait for the first rev number change like from 1.01 to 1.02 or whatever.
Sit tight about a year and you will be rewardes with reliability and price.
3) Don't by the high end CPU's. Upgrade at 2 years, for example my Athlon
1000 cost $314 and this week I replaced it with 40% faster CPU for $40.
4) Stick with one family of CPU. Intel or AMD for similar reasons as mobo.
5) Similarly stick with same manufacturer of Memory, Hard Drives, CD,
Floppy, DVD. Once you are familiar with their dowonloads, diagnostic
software, etc. Switching to there newer model will be a piece of cake.
6) If you upgrade, do it soon. I find that compatible parts become
difficult to find at 2 1/2 years out, especially CPU's. And older styly
memory eventually becomes more expensive.




stick with ASUS
 
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