Selecting a Motherboard

[Skullbones]

I don't know too much about motherboards so maybe someone can help me out. I am trying to buy a new computer. I am going to get a

Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz 1MB Cache 800MHz FSB with Hyper-Threading Technology

I am primarily going to use the computer for gaming. I was looking at buying a hp pavilion but the problem is they don't tell you what type of motherboard they will put on it. Another option is to go to another site and customize my computer so I get an ASUS. Would having an ASUS make that much of a difference or would it be safe to just go with whatever comes with the HP. I have the money for both but if is not that big a difference i'll go with the cheaper one. I don't know how much importance there is on motherboards. Does it have any effect on gaming? Thx.

[kram 2.0]

I think that the best idea would be to build your own computer entirely - HPs aren't generally too friendly to and add ons and stuff that you may want to do. With building your own one, Asus P4P800 DX with Intel 865PE chipset would be the best.

Hope that helps,
kram

[Skullbones]

Do you know any good websites to custom-build your own computer? I don't need a bunch of stuff like: speakers, moniter, keyboard, mouse, graphics card. Any major computer site makes you buy it all. Know of any company that lets you pick whatever you want?

[Spartan]

There is a tutorial on this very site. Also look at www.tomshardware.com and www.anadtech.com . You can shop prices at www.newegg.com .

-Spartan

these are relevant if you want to build your own computer

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by Spartan There is a tutorial on this very site. Also look at www.tomshardware.com and www.anadtech.com . You can shop prices at www.newegg.com .

Cummon - use the one that drisley wrote at PC Mech! PC Mech "BYOPC", though a little bit old, tells you exactly what to do.

Good sites? On top of what Spartan said, Newegg, try ZipZoomFly - they're pretty competitive in pricing too.


Hope that helps,
kram

[lil Jimmie]

mwave does barebone systems that you can add on or mobo combos that you can base your system on.

[GimmeDaMic]

Go with an i865PE chipset, I am. From all the tests I've seen, it runs about par with the i875 and better sometimes. I think we're wanting the same thing, so you could check my thread in this same section and see there.