Budget 775 Motherboard with best upgrade path?

DaxxDaxx
edited August 2006 in Hardware
I'm building my kids computers and I need to get a decent 775 motherboard that can support an 805D but has a decent video card and processor upgrade path. I'm installing OEM Windows, so from what I have read, that marrys the motherboard to the COA and you cannot upgrade your motherboard. That is why I need to start out with something decent that might live through a couple of other upgrades beside the motherboard.

So what motherboards do you recommend for this situation?

Thanks!

Comments

  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    If mATX is OK, this Asrock board is getting good press. It's Conroe ready, but also supports the P4-based Socket 775 chips.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157096
  • DaxxDaxx
    edited August 2006
    GHoosdum wrote:
    If mATX is OK, this Asrock board is getting good press. It's Conroe ready, but also supports the P4-based Socket 775 chips.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157096
    It's not mATX, is it? Looks like regular ATX.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    You're right - that's not be the board I read the review for! Oops. It is still a reasonable-looking budget board, but the board I read the review for was mATX and had built-in graphics (a real budget board). Here's the review I was referring to:
    http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asrock/ConRoe945G-DVI/g1.htm
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    give a look at www.anandtech.com today.
    They reviewed a few mobo and the new Asrocks don't look bad.
    Even the DDR/DDR2 AGP/PCIe combo mobo runs well. How is that for options.
  • DaxxDaxx
    edited August 2006
    Well, I had two mATX cases sitting here at the house, so I decided to go mATX and I bought two of these ASRock CONROE945G-DVI motherboards. SWEET!!!! Kids are gonna love it (me too because spare cycles become MINE for folding!). :thumbsup:
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Great price, too!
  • DaxxDaxx
    edited August 2006
    Thanks for the help!! :clap:
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    What set up will you run?
    which CPU?
    Memory, DDR or DDR2?
    Video, AGP or PCIe?
    Let us know how it goes.
  • DogSoldierDogSoldier The heart of radical Amish country..
    edited August 2006
    Cool, I was thinking I'd have to get all new components to run Core 2.... WHEEEEEEEEeeeeeEEeee
  • DaxxDaxx
    edited August 2006
    edcentric wrote:
    What set up will you run?
    which CPU?
    Memory, DDR or DDR2?
    Video, AGP or PCIe?
    Let us know how it goes.
    I'll let you know, but what I know so far:
    805 D
    DDR2 667
    AGP Ti4200

    Later it will be (once kids hassle me about gaming):
    E6600
    DDR2 800
    Some medium-high end PCIe Nvidia card (7600 GT??)

    Since my OEM Windows software is going to be married to this motherboard (Damn you Microsoft!), I wanted lots of options and decent upgrade path. This board, if it works, will do the job!
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Look over at anandtech.com They are running the heck out of this mobo, or one similar to it.
    If you believe their last numbers the faster memory does not help in the games. Save the money for a better video card.
  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Let us know if the board has any overclocking features. That'd be sweet if it could OC a Conroe, at that price :)
Sign In or Register to comment.