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fatboyjim · 07-02-2002, 02:40 PM

Building a BUDGET PC at the moment, finding the cheapest yet best parts for the PC

Is the SoA VIA KT133A ATX mobo any good for £50?

I am looking for a CHEAP yet DECENT graphics card, any ideas? I mean the cheapest I can get but it can play quite recent games

Thanks a lot,

DrZaius · 07-02-2002, 02:47 PM

Hi Jim,

Well, I've never heard of SoA so they're probably generic PC Chips type boards. When building a budget system the motherboard is the last thing you want to cut back on, save a little more and get a good brand KT133A board (EPoX, Soyo, etc.). I bought an new EPoX 8KTA3L+ online for only $45 a few months back, so they can be found. As for the graphics card, look at the ATI Radeon 7500 or a GeForce2 GTS-V if they are available. Hope that helps.

**Alaron** · 07-02-2002, 02:52 PM

Pick up the VisionTek Xtasy 5632. Its a Geforce2 GTS-V with 32megs of ddr on board. Its only $48 on www.newegg.com . Its the card that I use and I do a bit of gaming. A great card for the money.

DrZaius · 07-02-2002, 02:54 PM

Alaron56: NewEgg doesn't ship to the UK.

Mr N8 · 07-02-2002, 02:56 PM

An ATI Xpert 2000 Pro is a nice card. 32mb memory, and TV out. I'm not exactly sure on the conversion, but if you could get an ATI Radeon 7500 for that price, it is a really nice card, too. I think it falls in that price range. If it doesn't the ATI Radeon 7000 with 32MB DDR and Tv-out is another great card that has great 2d, and decent 3d. It would only cost in the area of $35 USD, so less in GBP.

**Alaron** · 07-02-2002, 03:03 PM

Oh geez. My mistake, I didnt see the UK location. Sry Dr.Z and fatboyjim. I guess Im a bit slow today.

fatboyjim · 07-02-2002, 03:08 PM

Thanks for the posts, so anybody else have good recommendations for cheap yet reliable Motherboard solutions? (NOT PC-Chips please, I've had certain 'dealings' with those guys in the past

)

thanks for the help all, Alaron56, don't worry about the location mistake, thanks for trying to help

Nuclear Krusader · 07-02-2002, 03:24 PM

You can't go wrong with MSI mobos. They are darn good.

Avoid PC Chips, Matsonic, ECS, LMR like the plague. Don't buy a mobo with anything integrated. The mobo is the foundation of the system, better cut prices in other parts.

Mr N8 · 07-02-2002, 03:56 PM

MSi is really good. Also take a look at gigabyte and shuttle boards for some good budget boards.

davidhooper · 07-02-2002, 04:11 PM

I'm pretty sure SoA stands for Socket Athlon and so isn't a manufacturer.

fatboyjim · 07-03-2002, 03:17 AM

Thanks for the comments it was on dabs.com listed as this

It's Gigabyte after all

The link is here:
http://www.dabs.com/136JWS

Click on that then close the main window. The product info is in the small popup

Jim

Penguin · 07-03-2002, 08:34 AM

Gigabyte is an excellent budget board. The GeForce 2 cards are also a good choice for budget graphics. They will run all of the current games.

fatboyjim · 07-03-2002, 08:55 AM

Thanks, I'll take a look and let you know what i find

07-02-2002, 02:40 PM	#1
fatboyjim Member (12 bit) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 2,469	Cheap graphics card Building a BUDGET PC at the moment, finding the cheapest yet best parts for the PC Is the SoA VIA KT133A ATX mobo any good for £50? I am looking for a CHEAP yet DECENT graphics card, any ideas? I mean the cheapest I can get but it can play quite recent games Thanks a lot, Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Jim

07-02-2002, 02:47 PM	#2
DrZaius Member (13 bit) Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 7,030	Hi Jim, Well, I've never heard of SoA so they're probably generic PC Chips type boards. When building a budget system the motherboard is the last thing you want to cut back on, save a little more and get a good brand KT133A board (EPoX, Soyo, etc.). I bought an new EPoX 8KTA3L+ online for only $45 a few months back, so they can be found. As for the graphics card, look at the ATI Radeon 7500 or a GeForce2 GTS-V if they are available. Hope that helps. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-02-2002, 02:52 PM	#3
Alaron Kickin' it Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 7,723	Pick up the VisionTek Xtasy 5632. Its a Geforce2 GTS-V with 32megs of ddr on board. Its only $48 on www.newegg.com . Its the card that I use and I do a bit of gaming. A great card for the money. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Fold for PCMech: Team 13761

07-02-2002, 02:54 PM	#4
DrZaius Member (13 bit) Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 7,030	Alaron56: NewEgg doesn't ship to the UK. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-02-2002, 02:56 PM	#5
Mr N8 Member (12 bit) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 2,094	An ATI Xpert 2000 Pro is a nice card. 32mb memory, and TV out. I'm not exactly sure on the conversion, but if you could get an ATI Radeon 7500 for that price, it is a really nice card, too. I think it falls in that price range. If it doesn't the ATI Radeon 7000 with 32MB DDR and Tv-out is another great card that has great 2d, and decent 3d. It would only cost in the area of $35 USD, so less in GBP. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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07-02-2002, 03:03 PM	#6
Alaron Kickin' it Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 7,723	Oh geez. My mistake, I didnt see the UK location. Sry Dr.Z and fatboyjim. I guess Im a bit slow today. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-02-2002, 03:08 PM	#7
fatboyjim Member (12 bit) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 2,469	Thanks for the posts, so anybody else have good recommendations for cheap yet reliable Motherboard solutions? (NOT PC-Chips please, I've had certain 'dealings' with those guys in the past ) thanks for the help all, Alaron56, don't worry about the location mistake, thanks for trying to help Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-02-2002, 03:24 PM	#8
Nuclear Krusader Mondsreitersmann Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Skingrad Posts: 8,781	You can't go wrong with MSI mobos. They are darn good. Avoid PC Chips, Matsonic, ECS, LMR like the plague. Don't buy a mobo with anything integrated. The mobo is the foundation of the system, better cut prices in other parts. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Darum still, füg' ich mich, wie Gott es will. Nun, so will ich wacker streiten, und sollt' ich den Tod erleiden, stirbt ein braver Reitersmann.

07-02-2002, 03:56 PM	#9
Mr N8 Member (12 bit) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 2,094	MSi is really good. Also take a look at gigabyte and shuttle boards for some good budget boards. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-02-2002, 04:11 PM	#10
davidhooper Member (8 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: UK Posts: 129	I'm pretty sure SoA stands for Socket Athlon and so isn't a manufacturer. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-03-2002, 03:17 AM	#11
fatboyjim Member (12 bit) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 2,469	Thanks for the comments it was on dabs.com listed as this It's Gigabyte after all The link is here: http://www.dabs.com/136JWS Click on that then close the main window. The product info is in the small popup Jim Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-03-2002, 08:34 AM	#12
Penguin Member (9 bit) Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 459	Gigabyte is an excellent budget board. The GeForce 2 cards are also a good choice for budget graphics. They will run all of the current games. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-03-2002, 08:55 AM	#13
fatboyjim Member (12 bit) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 2,469	Thanks, I'll take a look and let you know what i find Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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