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Hi everyone. I'm new to tech-report and from what I've read so far, there is no doubt that you guys know what you're talking about. This is why I'm coming to you guys to help me out with a decision. I'm currently trying to build my first PC and would like some of your opinions on which motherboard/processor I should buy. I'm from California so I'm planning on building this PC with my tax refund money which is sadly only around $600. I figure I can use my CD/DVD ROM drive, floppy drive, 17" monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers from my current computer. And spend the $600 on the other parts. I only have $600 to spend so this is why I'm limited to only so much as far as quality,etc. This is what I have so far:

1.ATX case with 400w power supply
2.ATI Radeon 8500 64MB DDR Video Card(OEM) because I don't think it's worth paying almost double the price for the retail version.
3. Maxtor 40GB hard drive 5400 RPM (I also plan on adding my old 15GB hard drive)
4. I want to have at least 256MB of memory but cannot decide exactly what kind yet because the two motherboards I am deciding between have different memory slots.
(and also if you guys have any opinions on what I have listed here or what parts you would spend $600 on, please let me know =) !!!)

OK, well here are the two different mobo/processor I am trying to decide between:

The first is a MATSONIC MS9107c W/ PENTIUM 4 1.5GHz AND FAN/HEATSINK. The only specs. on the board that are givin from the website are: P4x266a Chipset, Award BIOS, PC Health Monitoring, 1x 32bit AGP slot (x4 mode), 5x 32bit PCI slot (2.2 compliant), 1x CNR slot, 2x USB, Ac97 Audio onboard, 3x 184pin PC2100 DDR DIMM slots Supports up to 3GB, Standard ATX form factor 30.5cm x 19cm, 400MHz FSB,Ultra DMA33/66/100. Also includes full cable set, manual, and a lifetime warranty for the CPU.

And the second mobo/processor is: PCCHIPS 930LR W/ 1.5GHz PENTIUM 4 CPU & FAN/HEATSINK. This site gives lots of info. on the motherboard, fan/heatsink, and processor. I think it's easier to read the specs. for it all from the site so here is the link http://www.accubyte.com/applications/se ... MBC-930-15
If you don't want to click on the link here are the specs. for the motherboard:

PROCESSORS
One Socket 478 supports
Intel Pentium 4 processor up to 2.0Ghz (478pins) Chipset
SIS 645 & SiS961 Chipset
SIS 645 Host/Memory controller with DDR333 and AGP4X North Bridge Single Chipset
SiS961 MuTIOL Media I/O
LPC I/O - ITE8705F
System Hardware Monitor: Integrated in ITE8705F
AC97 Audio Codec
Compliant with AC97 2.1 specification

SYSTEM BIOS
AMI 2Mb Flash EEPROM
Supports Plug and Play 1.0A, APM 1.2, Multi Boot, DMI
Full support for ACPI revision 1.0 specification

MEMORY
2 DDR DIMM Sockets and 2 DIMM sockets support (can not be used simultaneously)
Two 184-pin 2.5V DDR SDRAM (DDR333/DDR266) or
Two 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM (PC133/PC100)
Maximum: 2GB (DDR SDRAM or SDRAM)

I/O INTERFACE
Supports Plug and Play function
PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse connectors
Dual USB Ports and LAN connector (optional)
One - EPP/ECP mode parallel port
Two - 16550 high-speed serial I/O ports
Audio Ports (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in, CD-in and game port)
Dual PCI IDE interfaces - support four IDE devices (PIO mode 4, DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA 66/100)
Supports 360K~2.88M Byte, 3 Mode FDDs or LS120
ATX Power Supply Connector
Ports, headers and others:
IrDA header
Front Panel MIC/Line-Out Header
Two Extra USB Headers
HDD LED, Reset Switch, Power Switch headers
CPU and System Fan headers
LAN Card Wake Up header

RTC & BATTERY
SiS961 built-in 256 byte of CMOS SRAM
With CMOS hardware clear jumper

EXPANSION SLOTS
5 PCI slots, 1 AGP slot, 1 AMR slot

FORM FACTOR & LAYERS
ATX (305mm*244mm), 4 Layers

So there you go guys. Sorry for it being kind of lengthy. And please tell me what you think i should do. Thanx








<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Drunkmonk on 2002-01-31 02:38 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Drunkmonk on 2002-01-31 02:39 ]</font>

Why buy a P4 if you're on a tight budget? If the answer is stability, get an i845D mobo, not a Via one. Personal opinion of course....

Bruce

I'd go with AMD in this case, and try to snag a 7200rpm drive while you're at it. You'll save a bundle by not getting a P4.

What Dissonance said - if you're getting a non-Northwood P4 you'll be paying quite a bit of money for non-stellar performance. Save the bucks, get an AMD CPU and spend the spare cash on upgrading other components. Personal opinion again: if you do go AMD, don't scrimp and get a cheap-and-nasty board to plug it into.

Bruce

My opinion on this is to just steer clear of anything and everything that is called PC Chips.

I disagree, Dissonance.

I wouldn't call 50-60 bucks a bundle, especially when VIA is involved. He can get a Abit BD7 and p4 1.9 for $362, or a Abit KR7A and xp 1900 for $309.

Or if he shops around he can pick up a P4 1.8 Northwood and BD7 for $310.

AMD doesn't have the extreme price advantage they used to.

I don't believe there is a 1.8 Northwood, Vrock?

The issue is that the P4 below 2.0A (Northwood) is rather a failure of a chip; and the Northwoods are still a big price premium over comparable-performing Athlons ($535 2.0A, $261 XP 2000+ on Pricewatch today; performance difference is almost indistinguishable at just over twice the price!).

I recently spec'd an ECS K7S5A-based system (incl. CD, T-bird 1.0, 256 MB DDR-266, and GE-Force 2 for under $450) for a friend a month ago; Adding 1700+ or 1800+ XP processor, the much nicer Radeon, 512 MB DDR-266 (I like Crucial/Micron), and better-than-97 onboard audio, as well as on-board LAN would be a VERY nice computer right in your price range, though in your shoes I would personally rather have slower dual AMD's on the Tyan Tiger MP (scientific & CAD work, multitasking more than games) hey wait, that's what I do have! (cost me $2000 +/- four months ago though...)

_________________
Tyan TigerMP - 2x1.2 Athlon MP - Adaptec 16160 U160 SCSI/Seagate Barracuda 19 GB - IBM 40 GB IDE - 1024 Crucal PC2100 ECC DDR - ATI All-in-wonder Rage 124 - Zip 100 - Plextor 12/8/32x CD-R/RW - Pinnacle DV IEEE-1394 - Iiyama VisionMaster Pro 450

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nrobison on 2002-01-31 10:27 ]</font>

My information is that Intel are moving/have moved all P4 production to the Northwood core - meaning that they are producing Northwood 478-pin chips below 2.0GHz. I can't remember how low they're going - I don't think they're doing 1.4GHz, but 1.6GHz seems to ring a bell. I'm sure there are others here with further information....

Bruce

1.8GHz Northwoods do exist as do the 1.6GHz models. The 1.6GHz is listing for $158 on Pricewatch (price just went down a second ago) and the 1.8GHz is going for $210. As far as motherboards go the Asus P4B266C looks pretty good for a i845D board, I've had good luck with Asus stuff in the past.

First of all thanx for replying and giving your opinions. I think I will go with an AMD ATHLON CPU. What is the difference between XP and MP?

What do you guys think of this motherboard?
http://www.1stclasstech.com/ecsk7ammot.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Drunkmonk on 2002-01-31 12:38 ]</font>

Another ECS board: http://www.1stclasstech.com/ecsk7s5addrs.html is a better choice (266 Mhz FSB takes better advantage of the faster Athlons).

Athlon MP is this: Athlon XP + unlocked multiplier + certification to work in multi-processor systems + about 20% price premium. Unless you're going to overclock (in which case this is the wrong motherboard) just buy an XP.

Thanx nrobinson. Can I use this hard drive on that motherboard??? MAXTOR 40.0GB EIDE 9.0MS 7200RPM UATA-100 HDD. The reason why I don't know is because the UATA-100, is that the same as Ultra DMA 36/66/100???

You should be able to use that HD fine on that mother. UATA actually stands for Ultra ATA; there is no Ultra DMA with 3 different speeds (though there is Ultra ATA with those speeds and DMA), so I assume the "Ultra DMA 33/66/100" was just somebody trying to cram too much info into too small a space.

At any rate, your UATA 100 drive should work fine with the UATA 100 interface on the MB.

-Polare

On 2002-01-31 14:16, Drunkmonk wrote:
Thanx nrobinson. Can I use this hard drive on that motherboard??? MAXTOR 40.0GB EIDE 9.0MS 7200RPM UATA-100 HDD. The reason why I don't know is because the UATA-100, is that the same as Ultra DMA 36/66/100???