New motherboard

Hiya,

I have:

• AMD Athlon 1.4GHz
  Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB UDMA133 Manufacturer code: 6L040J2

I want:

A motherboard that will take the above peripherals. I would like the motherboard to have:

• SDRAM slots
  A built-in sound card
  A built-in Ethernet adapter (not so important)

I don't need anything fancy like RAID or SCSI ports. It would be nice to have 1 or 2 USB ports.

Could the motherboard be from one of these three manufacturers: ABit, Asus, MSI.

 

Check out.....
http://www.giga-byte.com/products/7zxr_3.htm
The "-3" model comes without the RAID and with a built in Soundblaster 128 chip. No network card though.

Dale

 

Just curious. Why a built-in (integrated?) audio M/B?

 

Whatever brand you decide on, I suggest Asus. They are the only board that comes with a 3-year warranty.

 

ASHBURRN -I recently built a box with an AMD 1.2 on an IWill board that should handle what you want. Mine has onboard audio(chooseable so can disable and put own sound card in if you wish-has 2 USB ports). I think it 'll do all you wish. I have been doubly pleased with the stability of this board and think you couldn't go wrong. Might check Tom's Hardware for reviews. Might check this link for the product.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=BROWSE&manufactory=1310
I am really impressed with my end product and think you might be also. I'm not into O'clocking, but they say this board is very "that way ".
Might check this site for info:
http://www.iwillusa.com/products/spec.asp?ModelName=KK266&SupportID=
I bought mine after checking many reviews and such and I am pleased and think you might be also.

 

bobmc32's suggestion for an onboard audio is what I had in mind and for the very reasons expressed by poster. I don't see any advantage for a built-in audio unless it is a budget consideration. What if there is a malfunction or the wish to upgrade later?

Asus is the only mo/bo that needs a 3 year warranty. Seriously, it has been my experience that an electronic product will malfunction early in its life, and the 3 year warranty is not free. Other attributes should be the consideration. Additionally, I am not impressed with long- term warranty declarations of any kind. The extended warranty costs the consumer up- front money, and the so-called free long-term warranty expectations are a waste of money. The product vendor almost always weasels out of their long- term obligation if there is a malfunction, and there action may be justified a high percent of the time for the right reasons.

 

alex-asus

alex -

I thought a while ago you had problems with the 3 year warrantee with asus. wasn't that you? I dont remember. maybe it was a different brand motherboard. am I making sense? Is this thing on?

sam

 

Having worked with electronics since the 60s, it's been my experience with solid-state equipment that, as Ken says, it either goes west within a short time or runs for a long time. Defective components usually manifest themselves fairly quickly.

Although not generally known, the major reason for failure of an electronic component is a defective smoke seal. Since all electronic (and most electrical) devices are cooled internally by smoke, as soon as it's let out, the device instantly overheats and becomes useless.

Some people might say that the smoke is caused by the failure, but this is of course nonsense.

 

Dr. D, You're putting us on! Smoke seals, smoke cooling-some of us gullibles might just believe you without a or a . Give us a would you? Or a would be even better.

 

In a computer repair class i took once, the instructor took great pleasure in warning us not to let the smoke out of the power supplies.
bob

 

Well, we all like a little bit of humor now and then. I've had some smoke released a time or two but never knew about " smoke seals" but now I do! I'll be careful to maintain 'em in the future. You know, oil 'em, tighten down the adjusting screws and etc.. Carefully, of course.

 

<<<Just curious. Why a built-in (integrated?) audio M/B?>>>

Well, why not????
Have you experienced a board with built in MB sound especially one with a Creative chip?
If you want high quality audio, then spend into the five figure$ amount of dollars. You will now have it.
Try, and experience personally, a MB with a "Quality Chip" built in ~before~ you judge.
I am a huge audiophile, but I only expect a very little out of a computer's sound. And I got WAY more than I thought was possible.
Email me for the specs on what I use for audio here at home(if you doubt this post).
dale442@hotmail.com

Dale

 

Dale442,
I am not judging. I am questioning the practicality for integrated audio to the motherboard for the very reasons expressed and quality of sound is one consideration. I have integrated audio that came with the new computer system I just purchased. You state integrated sound has superior capabilities...?! I don't have the same sensitivity to sound that you claim so I don't make any great distinctions between very good and very,very good!


I have seen contamination to components from smokers' (not mine) smoke. Very sticky stuff and difficult to clean up. Without preventative measures, it can quickly cause a malfunction. Warrany will not cover.

 

To the audiophile who has a five figure sound system.

Because you referenced Creative Lab's chip as a superior sound quality chip, you may be interested to learn C.L. has recently announced their Sound Blaster Exity. The first external Sound Blaster in Creative's history. " Far superior to integrated audio as it enhances audio for digital music, DVD movies and games... "

My position has been if audio is integrated to the mobo, one is locked into quality and performance and that can very quickly change to a superior on-board sound card, therefore, it is not very practical unless it is a budget consideration.

 

Along with KenKeith I am not judging anybody. We each have our own preferences.

But, it is of my own personal opinion that I agree with him.

I prefer that nothing be built into ( intergrated with ) the MotherBoard.

I had one such system and was VERY unhappy with it. Upgrades may be near impossilbe.

Also a pluggin card can be reused in another system if desired. Thereby redering what might become a useless ( built in one ) still usefull.

Since building this PC several years 2 two other have been built from the so called spare parts left over from upgrading. My Daughter and Family are making very good use of one of them. The other is being enjoyed by Nieces & Nephews from next door and an extra TV for us.

And again, both were put together from spare parts of both my upgrades and from other PCs ( given to me by others ) where the MB or PS had given up the desire to work anymore. Or they also had decided to do some upgrading.

The spare parts may not be the latest and greatest but they do not deserve being placed in the nearest trash can either.

The only thing the spare parts does not include is a Modem. Only Externals allowed here. And even though I am on Cable Modem now the two Externals I have are still being used. One by my Daughter and one I kept to re-install on any one of my three machines if needed. And they both go back to when USR first came out with 56K.

BillyBob

 

When I talked about trying the onboard audio, I did mean it as a very useable substitutue for a plug in card. I did not mean to infer that the onboard chip would sound better than a plug-in card. Just wanted to say the onboard, I think, sounds better than most would believe. I found that out. The onboard chip may also be disabled, so you are not locked into that sound for the life of the MB. I also, as most, have not been a fan of onboard anything (going back to an old Compaq I had)grrrrr.

I see it this way,
Pros- Probably cheaper$, saves a PCI slot, sound Ok for me from a computer.
Cons- well, non to me. Only my opinion.

Dale

 

Bootom Line.

Personal Preference.

 

BillyBob,
Thanks for your reply. That is exactly the detail and confirmation I was interested in hearing. I have another question that came to mind reading another thread where you stated one with an onboard audio can go to a card but the on-board audio has to be disabled in the BIOS. Am I correct in that understanding, and then I would assume that it is applicable for all operating systems?

 

where you stated one with an onboard audio can go to a card but the on-board audio has to be disabled in the BIOS. Am I correct in that understanding, and then I would assume that it is applicable for all operating systems?

To the best of my knowledge any onboard ( builtin ? ) items can be disabled in some manner. I would assume ( got to be carefull with that word ) that how it is done would depend more on the Motherboard than the OS.

And also it may depend somewhat on the fact whether the machine is an OEM or not. ( had one of them ONCE. but not again )

I have only had one such system ( YEARS AGO ) where the onboard stuff was disabled with Jumpers.

Not having any experience with the newer type Motherboards which I believe a lot of them now are Jumperless And no real experience with any other OS than Win98, I would have to say. " Yes, I THINK it can be done. But as to how, I don't got any idea "

So my bottom line AGAIN is;

Too many variables involved to say "YES, this is the way to do it" or YES, it can be done."

And if all else fails. Read the maunal ( if you get one that is )

BillyBob

 

With my particular make and model of motherboard (Gigabyte) there is a jumper on the board to disable the built in sound. There is also a place in the BIOS to disable it as well. Have not tried to do this yet so I cannot comment on the ability to actually work. I'm betting that I would have to make sure it is disabled in both.....just to be sure.
I wouldn't think that the OS wouldn't have much to do with being able to disable\enable the on board sound.
Always good advice to read the manual though.

Dale