Need a new mobo - Recommendations needed

[Seph Kimara]

Well my DFI Lanparty UT NF4 Ultra-D has has the chipset fan die on me, and I've also been getting the horrendous "cold boot" problem associated with this(and apparently other DFI boards). It's time for me to move on I reckon.

For a start I'm in the UK, so links to boards on UK sites are preferred.

I need recommendations for a replacement based on these specs

ATX Form factor
AMD Athlon 3700+ (Socket 939)
Sapphire ATI x800 (PCI-Express)
2GB (2x1GB) Dual Channel RAM
2x IDE Seagate HDDs (1x150GB, 1x80GB)
2x IDE Optical drives (1x DVD, 1x DVD-R/W)
1x FDD
A few PCI slots (my USB card)

My power supply is an Antec truepower 2.0 430w, though I don't think that matters too much.

Onboard sound is required, I have no soundcard to work with. (An inexpensive recommendation for this would also be nice if a board without onboard sound cannot be provided)
Onboard networking isn't exactly required (as I run the machine without any attached network) but is a bonus in case that situation changes.

I believe the MSI K8N Neo4 (http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=312220) fits the bill in a way, but does anybody have any experience with this board they can share? Is there anything better that isn't too expensive?

The sooner the recommendation comes in the better. I want my machine back online ASAP, this one is hellishly slow and pretty old. Thanks in advance.

[Freakitchen]

A couple of months ago this would have been an easy question to answer - I'd have said get an ASUS board, and most likely the A8N5X.

However as 939 is now discontinued, boards are getting VERY tough to find, especially here in the UK. The only ASUS board I can find in stock, having looked at a number of shops, is the A8N32-SLI board - which is overkill for what you need:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-118-AS

With that in mind, the MSI you linked to doesn't seem like a bad choice at all. It has the right specs for what you need, and their boards are pretty decent these days. I say go for it while it's still in stock!

And just for your information, all motherboards these days come with on-board sound - often 5.1 / 7.1 ready, and at least one Ethernet port.

FK

[Seph Kimara]

Thanks for the reply. I'll wait a bit more to see if anybody can turn up anything else, but I'm doubting it. Even turning up that MSI board was a fluke.

[Freakitchen]

The remaining boards do seem to be from either sub-standard manufacturers (ECS etc), or with sub-standard chipsets (VIA, SiS), so it makes sense to get a good one while you can.

If you wanna browse some other retailers, take a look at Scan, Novatech, Overclockers UK and Ebuyer.

FK

[Seph Kimara]

Just for reference, if I were to upgrade my CPU to an AM2 X2 (say a 3800+), what would be a decent board that isn't too expensive, still keeping in mind the other requirements? I'd be kinda surprised if they still came with 2x IDE ports though...I haven't really looked into it much.

Though I'm guessing I'm pretty boned in that regard

[Freakitchen]

Switching to AM2 would also mean changing your memory - the new socket uses DDR2 memory, the ideal type being DDR2-800.

If you were prepared to change your motherboard, processor and RAM, it would make sense to go for an Intel Core 2 Duo system. They consistently outperform AM2 systems. The recommended combination here is a C2D E6300 processor, on a ASUS P5B motherboard, with Corsair Value Select DDR2 - 667 RAM.

FK

[jfk]

First of all, you can replace your chipset fan with this one, which is a better unit:

http://www.jab-tech.com/Evercool-VC-RF-pr-3229.html

Secondly, with a DFI board, the "cold boot" issue is virtually always a PSU problem, caused by using a PSU that is not on the recommended list. DFI boards really like their power, and lot's of it. Your PSU is not on that list, for even a low-end DFI setup. I'm willing to bet a fair piece that your PSU IS the culprit, in spite of your comment that "here is my PSU not that I think it matters much". I think it matters a GREAT deal. That PSU is on the low power end for a DFI board, and I believe is the cause of your cold boot issue. Here is the DFI recommended list:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10854

Personally, instead of changing out the mobo, I'd pick up the Evercool fan (I'm sure you can find it from a vendor in the UK) and replace the PSU with one from the recommended list, and I think your problems will disappear. Oh, I'm sure you've done this, but I would make SURE that ALL four power connectors were connected to the mobo. I have that same board and have never had a cold boot issue, even after it sat for two weeks while I was on vacation. Came home and it fired right up.

[TimPoet]

But then again he did say:

... this one is hellishly slow and pretty old.
Perhaps a cpu/mobo/ram upgrade would serve him better.
You can save some money and get older Intel compnents that would still be faster but cheaper. You can go for the Pentium D dual core procs and an Asus mobo with the 945 chipset.

edit: FYI

http://procesorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sspec=sl8zh

http://uk.asus.com/search.aspx?searchitem=1&searchkey=P5ND2-SLI+

[jfk]

But then again he did say:
Perhaps a cpu/mobo/ram upgrade would serve him better.
You can save some money and get older Intel compnents that would still be faster but cheaper. You can go for the Pentium D dual core procs and an Asus mobo with the 945 chipset.

edit: FYI

http://procesorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sspec=sl8zh

http://uk.asus.com/search.aspx?searchitem=1&searchkey=P5ND2-SLI+

Perhaps, but I seriously doubt a 3700+, and two gigs of ram is "hellishly slow", though that would depend on one's interpretation of "slow". I mean, c'mon, it's not like it's an old PIII or something!:cool: Besides, if he's only changing the mobo and nothing else, that is going to have little to no effect on the speed.;)

I guess my main point was the fan was easily replace AND the "cold boot" issue you hear about is usually a result of an underpowered DFI board.

[flanzig1]

Guys, he said that the PC he is using is slow, not the one he is fixing.