Best mobo (integrated everything)

[Como]

I'm looking for the best motherbaord you guys know of, that has decent graphics (can play the sims at 1024X768 seem-less-ly, and then some) onboard sound (preferably 2 channel, but if its 5.1 so be it, i'll just run it as 2 channel anyway), onboard LAN, ect.

its basically a build for my girlfriend, she needs the case+ everything in it for about $400, as she has a $500 limit and wants wireless keybaord and mouse, and some speakers. (so i figured i'd pick up a keaybaord and mouse at office max or staples when they went on sale, some old speakers somewhere, and used those, for about $100)

i dont really care if its amd or intel, but a faster speed would be nice. i'd like to throw at least a 2Ghz in there (or a 2000+) to keep her happy for a few years with it.

only games she plays are the sims and some horse game that seems to run fine on her compaq presario thats probly 6 years old, so integrated graphics are good.

Already chose a case w/ a PSU, its no name but has a 300W PSU, should be fine for her use (internet and sims),
"300W ATX12V support Intel P4 and AMD CPU; Pentium 4 CPU mounting ; 80 mm side fan for extra cooling needs (fan included) ; Spacious interior fits motherboard size up to 12" x 11". "

so i take it its P4 ready. with the mobo i'll be throwing in probably an 80GB harddrive, and she wants XP home, which is pricey, and i'd like 512 ram, but 256 should hold...i'll also need a floppy, which takes a massive $10-15 to get.

i also need at least a cdRW drive. i'd perferr to put a DVD-R + CDRW, but that depends on the finances after i get the general down.

So, whats the best integrated mobo?

are there any other things i should consider?

will a noname 300W run fine with an integrated mobo, a 2G proc, and an 80G hdd?

is there something else i should be asking? (havnt had my caffine fix yet today...)

thanks!

[Krusty]

Shuttle Nforce2 motherboard for about $90 (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-150-041&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1)

Comes with a built in geforce4 mx card, supports 333Mhz bus speed (sorry, not 400) and has everything you need built in --including what I have heard to be very good quality 6 channel audio.

I built a $400 system (including monitor) for my sister not too long ago. I used an asus a7n266 mini atx origional nforce board. They cost around $70 and have a geforce2 built in. Only problem with it is that it only supports ddr266. That's why I'm recommending an nforce2 board. I picked out the shuttle because I recently bought a shuttle AN35n and I'm pretty happy with it so far. You can find some other nforce2 boards with video on newegg here (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=property&DEPA=1)

I'd say get her a generic case with 350-400W psu.

EDIT: oops, newegg link is broken. just search for motherboards with integrated geforce4 mx 420 video.

[syberspy9]

i would agree that is a nice board and i have heard good things about it all i can say is thats what i would buy

[Como]

alright, good deal. the case is decided on, and it comes with a 300W...she picked the case out for looks, she's kinda artsy...and the case is cheap. its like $25, but seems suitable.

So, at newegg so far i've got a case and a mobo...it takes ddr333, which i believe is 2700...

2x256 of crucial 2700 is (2X42) $84

the mobo (shuttle nforce2) $88

WD 80G $69

AMD 2500+ (barton 333) $92
(with HSF)

samsung floppy drive $10 (including shipping)
($4 shipping?!)

DVDr + CDRW $ 51
(lite on)

this all comes to $419...a litle high, and i still need an ata-100 cable or 2. (yeah, i dont have any lying around, only ata-33's...even this computer uses an ata 33 on my ata 100 hdd!)


its a little bit over price, and thats before shipping...baybe i could save a few $ and get a headache, order elsewhere. oh well...am i missing anything? i'm considering going to the 2000+, its pretty cheap, $30 or so cheaper, but its a 266, not the 333....how big of a drop in performance would that have?
did i miss any parts?

(edit) son of a *****, i forgot about the OS. XP home is what, $60? ACK, that would take me down to what, an 1800+ and 256 megs of ram to pay for it? :-\ this isnt looking well...

[druidelder]

Only the case has shipping, so thats not so bad.

The mobo is retail, so it will come with at least one IDE cable.

Search around for the mouse/keyboard. I haven't paid more than $30 online for my last two wireless kb/mouse combos (both have been logitech combos).

You might be able to get some generic RAM cheaper elsewhere. Check pricewatch.

You might consider the Biostar (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-138-234&catalog=22&depa=1) board as it's ~$25 cheaper (not sure when sale ends though). It supports 400MHz fsb processors.

Check the classifieds here for processors. You could get an 1800+ for as little as $40. Spend $40 (or less) for a decent cooler, and just run it at 333 (1.9+GHz). You'd still save $15 there.

I recently got two 17" refurbed monitors online for $60 shipped (for both, not each) online. I think it was at www.matrixsurplus.com. They don't have reseller ratings, so I don't really suggest it, but for the price I couldn't pass it up (mine work great).

Another option is the dreaded OEM!!! If she's not really going to do much with it, you might be able to get a better deal through a vendor like Dell. I would never buy one for myself, but they do have a reputation for good customer service and warranties. It's an option anyway.

Drop the floppy drive altogether. Floppy drives are just about worthless.

You also might consider getting a smaller hard drive. That could save some, and if she's not a power user it will take her some time to fill up a 60GB drive. If you want to stick with one vendor, it seems 80GB is the way to go on newegg though (cheaper than 60GB and only 10 more than a 40GB, hmmm...).

[AFIsoldier]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-370&depa=1 get that processor and this hs/f http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-150-013&depa=1 read the reviews, all positive and you def save a few bucks compared to the barton, also just get one stick of 256mb pc2700 but make it worthwhile and pick up a stick of samsung...with that you can even o/c the 2100+ to 2.0ghz or higher even with that cheap mobo/hs combo

[Como]

2 17" for $60? i need a few of those! i'll posr replies to the rst later...must sleep

[AFIsoldier]

btw, walmart has some creativelabs 4400 speakers...the newer set(i have older and it can rock anything) for under 45 i think..and a wireless keybd/mouse combo should be less than 55(if you get lucky)

[hario]

Como, why shuttle? look at your sibling motherboard, the NF7-M instead. I think it is a good solid board, compared to shuttle.

I will PM you regarding the NF7-M

[Breadfan]

A few hints that could save money:

1.) Processor: I don't think you need bother with the 2500 barton, you could get something like a 2100 tbredB for 62 bucks rather than 90 bucks. Even without 333fsb she probably won't notice the difference if she isn't a computer guru/tweaker or big gamer.

2.) RAM: A single stick of crucial 512 PC2700 is $72

You could also continue downgrading boards, get the ASUS A7N-266-VM, its an nForce1 board but from the two I've used they are easy to setup, reliable, and plenty fast for basic computer work. Plus, you can get them on newegg for around 60 bucks, and that includes decent onboard sound with dolby, GF2mx vid, onboard NIC plus an AGP slot and enough PCI slots for a few upgrades later on.

Right there that can be a savings of about 60-70 bucks.

[UPCguy21]

Hey, I don't know if they have it in your area or not, the sale I mean, but I recently got 256 mb of pc 2700 pny memory @staples for 60 bucks for one stick, but it had a 30 dollar mail in rebate. That might be an option......Check out best buy for hard drives, a couple of weeks ago I was in there, they had like a 120 gb hard drive for 90 bucks, that was after mail in rebate, I think the 40 gb drive was about 40 bucks after the mail in rebate. So there are some options for you to consider.....

[Como]

yeah, i've gotten several things at staples, i look at ythe flyer every sunday for deals. got me a 52X25X52 for $20, 100 jewel cases for free, and counteless free CD-r's...i need a monitor

[Como]

eh, the monitors are kinda pricey, they have compaq 17" ones for $25, we have some just like them at school, but it would cost me $35 each to ship them here. but thats not bad, its just too much to ship them. i'll check some closer stores, though :p

know where i can search the refurbs? i hate to check individal sites one at a time, pricewatch shows the chepest 17" at $70...

[druidelder]

Try looking under the "Not Exactly New" section of pricewatch. The link is located on the upper right hand side.

[Krusty]

From a really quick search, I found a $30 monitor that costs even more to ship.

$30 + $36 shipping (http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=RT17-B)

When it comes to things like monitors, I really think it would be best to search for a deal locally. It just costs too friggin much to ship something that size.

[Krusty]

Here's something that is almost too good to pass up!

Newegg has an Asus a7n266 vm nforce 1 motherboard refurbished selling for $39.

clicky (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-433R&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&type=Refurbish)

You might get lucky and it could come with all the cables and such that you need as well.