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Looking for a new Asus motherboard, need advice please
Hello NG !
I want to upgrade my computer and I'm looking for a new motherboard. Asus of course ... (I've had a TX97, a P2B and now I have a CUBX, without any major problem). But I'm lost with all the new Asus MB models. I need a motherboard - supporting at least a 2 GHz (Intel, but why not an AMD if there is no compatibility problem with hard or software) - supporting at least 1 GB RAM (but I don't know wich type of RAM) - integrated sound, 2 x firewire, 4 x USB, LAN, 2 serial, parallel, - integrad video if the new one (not like the i810) are OK for photo and video editing (I'm not a player) - with at least 3 PCI and an AGP port - with 4 IDE controllers for up to 8 IDE devices (like my CUBX) Which MB model will match my needs ? Thanks for your time and help vassili |
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I recommend the P4PE (intel i845PE chipset - I always go Intel chipset)
which supports up to 3.0GB, 533MHz FSB. Been using it for a while now and it's a great board. If you want the 800MHz FSB P4 chips, the P4P800 (intel chipset) is another great board. -phil "vassili" wrote in message ... Hello NG ! I want to upgrade my computer and I'm looking for a new motherboard. Asus of course ... (I've had a TX97, a P2B and now I have a CUBX, without any major problem). But I'm lost with all the new Asus MB models. I need a motherboard - supporting at least a 2 GHz (Intel, but why not an AMD if there is no compatibility problem with hard or software) - supporting at least 1 GB RAM (but I don't know wich type of RAM) - integrated sound, 2 x firewire, 4 x USB, LAN, 2 serial, parallel, - integrad video if the new one (not like the i810) are OK for photo and video editing (I'm not a player) - with at least 3 PCI and an AGP port - with 4 IDE controllers for up to 8 IDE devices (like my CUBX) Which MB model will match my needs ? Thanks for your time and help vassili |
#3
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In article , "vassili"
wrote: Hello NG ! I want to upgrade my computer and I'm looking for a new motherboard. Asus of course ... (I've had a TX97, a P2B and now I have a CUBX, without any major problem). But I'm lost with all the new Asus MB models. I need a motherboard - supporting at least a 2 GHz (Intel, but why not an AMD if there is no compatibility problem with hard or software) - supporting at least 1 GB RAM (but I don't know wich type of RAM) - integrated sound, 2 x firewire, 4 x USB, LAN, 2 serial, parallel, - integrad video if the new one (not like the i810) are OK for photo and video editing (I'm not a player) - with at least 3 PCI and an AGP port - with 4 IDE controllers for up to 8 IDE devices (like my CUBX) Which MB model will match my needs ? Thanks for your time and help vassili Unfortunately, there is no summary page anymore, so you'll have to visit the spec page for each board. I haven't read the specs for all the boards, so the following are only general rules. You can start he http://www.asus.com.tw/products/mb/mbindex.htm We live in the SATA/PATA transition era. This means it will be hard to find a board with lots of PATA on it. The P4P800 Deluxe has more IDE connectors, but the VT6410 is a RAID controller and I don't know if there is an option to just do plain IDE or not. That is the first board that comes to mind. For integrated video, look at the boards with -V, -VM, -MX in the name. Usually, these are smaller boards, with three PCI slots. Most have an AGP slot as well. The boards that end in -X are usually severely "cost reduced" boards, that sometimes are missing critical adjustments. If you like the prices on the -X board, download the manual for the -X board and for the board without the -X in the name and compare the details page by page. That is the only way to tell what shortcuts are inside the -X board, as Asus isn't forthcoming with the info. You could open up a lot more possibilities for yourself by buying a two port Promise IDE card, like a TX2 on this page: http://www.promise.com/product/produ...asp?familyId=3 Since cards like this are sometimes bundled with IDE drives at retail, you should be able to get a used card dirt cheap. Also, since integrated video solutions are all low performance, you could buy a low end AGP video card instead and get the same level of performance. If you go to http://www.pricewatch.com and click the "Video Cards" link, you'll find various low end Nvidia MX cards for as low as $25 to $35. By using an IDE card and a cheap video card, this would allow you to select from a few more motherboard choices. Otherwise, I don't know whether a microATX board would have the IDE interfaces you need as well as the rest of the I/O. HTH, Paul |
#4
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"vassili" wrote in message ... Hello NG ! I want to upgrade my computer and I'm looking for a new motherboard. Asus of course ... (I've had a TX97, a P2B and now I have a CUBX, without any major problem). But I'm lost with all the new Asus MB models. I need a motherboard - supporting at least a 2 GHz (Intel, but why not an AMD if there is no compatibility problem with hard or software) - supporting at least 1 GB RAM (but I don't know wich type of RAM) - integrated sound, 2 x firewire, 4 x USB, LAN, 2 serial, parallel, I have the ASUS P4P800 Delux. It has, like virtually all boards, integrated sound, 4 USB but like most, only ONE LAN and ONE Serial port. You can easily add more of these ports via on board connectors or failing that, PCI cards. - integrad video if the new one (not like the i810) are OK for photo and video editing (I'm not a player) - with at least 3 PCI and an AGP port The board has 5 PCI slots. Forget Integrated video. You're far better off getting a modest AGP card (why did you want an AGP slot if you want on-board video?) All modern boards have agp. The ASUS P4P800 Delux supports AGP x 8. - with 4 IDE controllers for up to 8 IDE devices (like my CUBX) Which MB model will match my needs ? You have 2 IDE ports, 2 Raid ports and 2 SATA ports. if you want more...PCI controller cards. Thanks for your time and help vassili Hope this helps Eddie |
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