MB for Barton 2500?

[beckx020]

I'm on a limited budget, but I want to build a new PC. I believe I will get the barton 2500 CPU. Is there a particular MB that works best with this processor? The MB would need built-in video or a video card that works with that MB. I would like raid 1 on the MB. I would like a MB that will let me overclock and HSF that will keep the CPU cool if I do. The HSF must be as quiet as possible. I will be starting with 2 sticks 512M 2100 DDR for RAM and all the other parts will come from other systems.

Any recommendations? I have about $300 for the MB, Video, CPU, HSF.

CPU = $130 which leaves about $170 for the rest.

[reboot]

SL-75FRN2-L nVidia nForce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR ATX mboard w/Audio, LAN Retail at Googlegear.com $92

ECS K7VMM+ Via KM266 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR/SDR M-ATX Motherboard w/Audio, Video, LAN Retail $59.99

Soltek SL-75FRN-RL nForce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail $111

The 3rd one is the only one with IDE RAID on it.
If you purchase a Retail CPU (comes with HS/Fan) AMD Athlon XP 2500+ 1.83GHz 333FSB Processor Retail $137 at googlegear, then you'll have more left over for the motherboard.

[Amspete]

Try the MSI K7N2G-ILSR

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/detail_spec/product_detail.asp?model=K7N2G-ILSR

This board has gotten great reviews and is loaded with features:

Onboard Audio:Realtek ALC650 6-channel audio
Onboard LAN:Chipset integrated 10/100 Base-T
Onboard Video: Integrated TV-out encoder Geforce 4 MX Video
Chipset:NVIDIA Nforce2 IGP+MCP2-T the chipset of choice for XP's
Serial ATA RAID

[Bigjay0213]

My advice is to NOT buy an Asus board. I have the same processor and am putting together a new build, and had to RMA my A7V8X because it wouldn't post; it has problems with the Barton core, as I found out from another review site, and then i couldn't even get it to post with my friend's Thoroughbred CPU, so it was obviously faulty. And their tech support is HORRIBLE, from what I've seen; submitted my problem a week and a half ago, and they closed the case a couple days ago and didn't even care to respond to it. THANKS ASUS!!

I'm gonna go with an MSI as well, the K7N2-L (basically the same board that was just recommended without some of those added features).

[TwoRails]

Every maker can put out a bad mobo from time to time, but I will build ONLY with Asus. The are one of the top boards out there and win most reviews they are in and are highly recommended. The A7N8X is Maximum PC's "Best of the Best" choice for an AMD mobo.

My personal mobo is the A7N8X dlx, not the A7V8X, and it flies, is very stable, and fast.


TwoRails

[beckx020]

Several questions so I can make the decision on the MB.

The raid boards mentioned something like supports 1 ata ide and 2 sata for raid. I assume that means you could use one ata ide and 1 sata for raid 1, but not 2 ata ide?

Since this will be my first overclocking, I don't know if the stock HSF will be ok (or quiet). Would the $15.00 for the GlacialTech Igloo 2500 be a waste of money?

I think it will be a decision between the MSI and Soltek boards with video onboard. So I can afford any of them in my spending limit. Which one overclocks the easiest for a newbie?

Thank you for all of your inputs.

[Bigjay0213]

Yeah, I've heard a lot of good things about the A7N8X, won lots of awards and all. Kinda pricey though, a little more than I wanted to spend. My last board was an Asus, and I know they make some of the best boards out there. Maybe it's slight compatibility problems between the KT400 chipset and the Barton processor core or something (although my board was just bad, wouldn't post with *any* processor). I'd just rather go with a board that I KNOW is 110% compatible with my proc (I saw a review for the processor and it was tested with the MSI K7N2 board, ran perfectly), plus it's only like $90.

I don't know much about the Soltek board, but the MSI board, I think, is pretty good for overclocking.

[TwoRails]

Sorry I've been gone... been working 13 plus hours a day.... Any mobo that will run a 333 fsb AMD will work with a AMD of either a 200 / 266 / 333 model. The size of CPU cache doesn't determine the compatibility.

Barton is just an AMD XP and is pin compatible other XPs. It should even work in mobos that don't support a 333 fsb, but it would clock down in speed.

I don't want to turn this into a heavy "brand name" discussion, so even though I know Asus mobos are 100% compatible, I would say that you should look at various manufacturers that make a compatible mobo, pick the features you like in the price range you can afford, then search the Web for reviews on that mobo to see if it is any good or not.

Visit actual hardware sites like www.tomshardware.com and the like. Read their reviews on that mobo. See if it's fast, reliable, stable. Learn the pros and cons.

Then pick another brand or two, and see how they compare. You'd might be surprised at what your budget will allow and the features you can get. And even a mobo that is 10 - 15% faster than another equally equipped mobo.

HTH

TwoRails

[Alfie]

Look at Asus,Abit,Epox or Soltek boards.