Recommend me a motherboard/cpu combo.

[capman21]

I already have memory, case, and all the drives all I need is a motherboard/cpu combo. All I am looking for is something where I can be able to multi task without a bunch of lag. Something where I can watch a 720x480 vid without lag, or a dvd vid. Any ideas? Ebay, etc?

[budz]

It would be helpful if you posted what type of memory that you already have. Is it DDR 400 (pc3200)? DDR2 667 (pc5300? DDR2 800? Different sockets use different ram. For example Intel socket 478 & AMD socket 462 can use DDR 333, DDR 400 & DDR 266 ram. Newer sockets like Intel 775 & AMD 2 can use DDR2 667 & DDR2 800 ram.

I'd suggest buying a motherboard/cpu combo from a reputable online retailer like NEWEGG.

[neomaine]

capman21,

It would also help if you gave us a price point. There is a large range out there. You could get a basic AMD X2 w/ mobo for $125 or less to fit your needs and go all the way to $1500 for top o' the line stuff. Both ends of which would take care of your needs. Nothing you've described is very taxing.

I just picked up an (albeit aging...ok, close to being ancient) AMD motherboard w/ AGP (didn't want to upgrade the video card yet...) and an AMD X2 3800 for $130 total. Except for some hard to find stuff, I've been buying exclusively from Newegg for a few years now.

[stiltman]

I just bought these 2 motherboards

http://biz.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2353753

http://biz.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2823998

I bought the second one to replace a Biostar (crap) Via motherboard

[capman21]

Memory is DDR 400, and price range is around 100-125.

[budz]

Memory is DDR 400, and price range is around 100-125.

For that type of ram and the price range it be best to just purchase a AMD socket 754 processor with a socket 754 motherboard. Here's a example of what you could buy in that price range:

AMD socket 754 2600+ Palermo 1.6ghz processor, $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819104249

MSI K8N Neo3 H nForce4 Socket 754 ATX Motherboard, $34.30
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=K8N-NEO3-H-PB&cat=MBB

ASRock K8NF6G-VSTA 754 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard, $55.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157098

Unfortunately the type of ram you already have is considered obsolete because of the new and faster processors in the market. If you want something faster than a AMD socket 754 then you'll have to spend more money than $125.00.

You could get a OEM Intel socket 478 processor and motherboard like this:

Intel socket 478 OEM 2.8 Northwood processor, $74.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116215

BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 478 VIA P4M800 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138262

You are very limited in what processor and motherboard that you can use with DDR 400 ram.

[stiltman]

BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 478 VIA P4M800 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138262

What ever you do, don't get the VIA P4M800-M7 A
By far the worst board I've ever had.

I'm replacing it with a Intel D945GCCRL

[budz]

BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 478 VIA P4M800 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138262

What ever you do, don't get the VIA P4M800-M7 A
By far the worst board I've ever had.

I'm replacing it with a Intel D945GCCRL

Only made that suggestion the OP if he decided to get a socket 478 mobo. I have that mobo as well & had to rma to get a new one. I'm not just not ready to give up my socket 478 NORTHWOOD 3.0c cpu yet. I didn't have much of choice when I needed to replace a ASUS P4P800SE mobo.

[stiltman]

BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 478 VIA P4M800 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138262

What ever you do, don't get the VIA P4M800-M7 A
By far the worst board I've ever had.

I'm replacing it with a Intel D945GCCRL

Only made that suggestion the OP if he decided to get a socket 478 mobo. I have that mobo as well & had to rma to get a new one. I'm not just not ready to give up my socket 478 NORTHWOOD 3.0c cpu yet. I didn't have much of choice when I needed to replace a ASUS P4P800SE mobo.

I didn't want to mess with RMAing, so I'm pretty much replacing all boards that are not Intel or Asus with Intel boards.

BTW, my favorite board is Intel D945PVSLKR
However, with my new personal build, I'm going with DG965WHMKR
It's a very versital board, but it lacks the firewire headers. I'll be putting a 3 port ADS card in it