Legit Reviews

i have a buddy that wants to upgrade to a Dual core on a limited budget. He isnt a heavy gamer so he doesnt need the latest and greatest. I havent built any X2 systems since i have been buying C2's. Can anyone recommends a good inexpensive stable board for his build?

thanks

This DFI is cheap and the layout is awesome.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813136020

Other than that, this Gigabyte is also really nice and under $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128014

Do not go with DFi if you aren't going to be overclocking. Foxconn and Gigabyte make good solid motherboards.

I'm using this board currently as a secondary system. (Folding-SMP, internet and music storage)
With an AMD 4000 X2 (1MB x2 Cache)
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_sp ... V&class=mb

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130064

Just be careful what memory you choose, the board does not support anything over 2.0V

you looking at am2? or 939? cuz that makes a decent difference as to what you are buying.

i was assuming AM2 since he probably wants something recent with room for upgrading. And 939 will probably end up at the same price or higher. DDR1 is expensive compared to DDR2, boards and CPUs cost roughly the same.

Sorry, thought i had mentioned am2, but it looks like i only put down x2.
thanks

The Biostar nF560 is a great board for $80. It's an excellent overclocker according to AnandTech.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3051 <----- AnandTech review

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813138081 <-----newegg

I've notice that all of the replys have been MOBO's without onboard graphics. Since the person it's a heavy gamer, onboard graphics could get him by for a period of time. I once had an Intel MOBO with on board graphics that rivaled my son's nVidia card this past year playing Halo-2.

Other than the AM2, does he need a lan 10/100 or 10/100/1000 ?!?

How about max memory to upgrade to in the future? 2Gb or 4Gb?

stev wrote:I've notice that all of the replys have been MOBO's without onboard graphics. Since the person it's a heavy gamer, onboard graphics could get him by for a period of time. I once had an Intel MOBO with on board graphics that rivaled my son's nVidia card this past year playing Halo-2.

Other than the AM2, does he need a lan 10/100 or 10/100/1000 ?!?

How about max memory to upgrade to in the future? 2Gb or 4Gb?

The MSI board I posted has onboard graphics, LAN and Audio.
I added a CPU, Memory, HDD, PSU and a DVD rom and theres a new system!
So far its only been rebooted twice and that was for updates! Runs like a champ!

I think any board with the amd 690 chipset should be good use for onboard graphics.

tnynyn wrote:I think any board with the amd 690 chipset should be good use for onboard graphics.

Yeah it's a nice chipset for the price.