Recomendations for MB, processor, memory & video upgrade

[videobruce]

This is not another 'what's the best' thread!

I'm looking to upgrade an existing box by replacing the motherboard, processor, memory & video card.

My needs are;
1. AMD compatible based board,
2. Full size ATX,
3. I don't overclock,
4. Provisions for PATA & SATA sockets as I have two older PATA HDDs' I want to use,
5. This might be used for a HDTV tuner,
6. I run 2k, but might be using XP, but certainly not Vista,
7. I'm more interested in manufacture support and reliabilty than a few extra benchmark points. IOWs', what manufactures to stay away from?
8. Mid priced.
9. I'm not looking for cutting edge technology. I would rather look at products that have been out for a year, as long as it doesn't look obsolete,
10. Are PCIe slots standard now replaceing AGP as I would be getting a separate video card?
11. How about IDE slots for optical drives?
12. Any MBs' that have a optical (or digital) out for the on board audio?

I admit I haven't kept track of all the changes. I have always used AMD since I have no use for any Wintell based product.

Questions;
1. Are the main MB chipsets available for AMD based systems still nVidea & VIA?
2. What types of memory are used here?

BTW; the PS is a Seasonic S12 380w.

Thanks in advance.

[mjc]

This is not another 'what's the best' thread!

I'm looking to upgrade an existing box by replacing the motherboard, processor, memory & video card.


That's not an upgrade...that's a total rebuild.

6. Many of the latest/greatest may not be supporting 2K for much longer (driver support will be phasing out some time in the near future), so XP would look to be your better choice.

10. PCIe has replaced AGP. It is the newest standard, so it has the greatest support. Also prices for PCIe video cards tend to be a bit cheaper than the equivalent AGP card, and not all the newest GPUs come in an AGP flavor (none of nVidia's 8xxx cards and only some of AMD/ATi's HD 2xxx cards).\

11. It is getting harder to find an IDE optical drive. About 1/3 to 1/2 half the DVD burners at newegg are SATA. There are even a few playback only drives that are SATA (heck there are relatively few playback only drives, period). Same goes for CD burners as playback only drives...and the best value/$ is a new DVD burner...SATA or IDE, loads of features/disk formats 18x or 20x DVD record speeds under $40 ($28-$40).

12. A few of the higher end boards do, but I can't remember any specific models...

[videobruce]

That's not an upgrade...that's a total rebuild. Case, PS, optical, floppy (yes, I still use one) & both hard drives all remain. Many of the latest/greatest may not be supporting 2K for much longer I understand that which is why I did mention XP, but I still perfer 2k. It is getting harder to find an IDE optical drive. The two I have are fine for now.

[Rick]

I'd start by visiting Newegg and use your own list as a guide to select the search parameters
Just use the left side panel to limit the list

Here is a good start using search text to start " atx motherboard"
and then AMD motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000022&Description=atx+motherboard&name=AMD+Motherboards

Just keep going on it and select your CPU and so on

[52vincent]

You can have a look at the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 processor also .

[videobruce]

Funny, Newegg almost always gets brought up. I have looked there though they don't carry Epox for starters.

To update my choices from the additional reading I have done;

AM2 socket,
nForce 5xx chipset (but which 500??),
1GB DDR2-800 memory (but, one stick or two 500MB sticks for redundency?),
nVideo video card (with VGA & DVI)

[videobruce]

After spending half the day going to as many of the MB manufactures sites I would consider I have found these choices (all with 2 IDE channels);

Asus M2N-E SLI,
Foxconn N570SM2AA-8EKRS2H,
MSI K9N4 SLI-F,
Epox EP-AF590 SLI2,
Epox EP-AD580XR,
Epox MF570SLI (form factor??),
Abit KN9

Gigabyte, Soyo & Tyan had no AM2 boards with 2 IDE channels.

I know most will probably say the 1st entry would be the one of choice, but what do you guys think of the others? I'm not familar with Foxconn, other than just hearing of the name. I understand they do alot of OEM work.
Epox I'm questioning, because of some bad reports I have heard (other than the cap problems some years ago).
The MSI board didn't have a optical or coaxial audio out which I would perfer. The Abit doesn't either, but has separate outs for all the surround channels.

If anyone knows of any others with 2 IDE channels and either optical and/or coaxial audio outs, please add to the list.

I did find two more Asus boards, but they were over $170 which is out of the question.

The 2nd question I'm undecided about is;
Should I buy a low end processor and wait untill the prices drop on these newer AMD processors, or go with a better X2?

[Ajmukon]

Asus is highly recomended (as is Gigabyte).
Buy a LOW CPU now and get the BETTER CPU when it comes out!
- you will see a difference!

and as for Video card..
what are you going to use it for?
Gaming?(8800GT 512) Video Editing? (RADEON 2900/ 3870)