New M'Board suggestions...

[Marlboro]

Currently have a PcChips 810MLR MB based system with Athlon.

I would prefer to keep the CPU (cost) and buy a MB that will support a 4x/8x AGP, then upgrade the CPU at a later date.

OR

Should I replace both the MB and CPU?

OR

Find a decent AGP card that will work with my 810MLR. I've found my PcChips MB well reliable.

Regards
Brian

[BipolarBill]

I would get the motherboard (EPoX) and reinstall from scratch. The other upgrades are easy. :cool:

[BigBlue66]

If you want to hold the cost down for now, you can just get a decent video card for the 810. I successfully ran an MSI Geforce2 Ti 64mb card on ver 3.0 of that board.

Here's a good site to bookmark. They have good forums for help with your board and a FAQ that deals with what vid cards work with the 810.

http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/pcchips/

[jmichna]

EPoX 8K3A/8K3A+ (RAID version), or 8K5A2/8K5A2+/8K5A3+, or any :p of that line... see link (http://www.epox.com/html/motherboard-products.asp?socket=socket%20a&lang=1) .

EPoX are fast, stable, extremely tweakable... great boards (I've built using PCChips, Abit, Asus and EPoX... when I build for myself I use EPoX.
jmichna

[BlackTruckRyder]

Another vote for Epox.:D

[deadkenny]

Socket A is on the way out, although Hammer seems to be taking forever. A couple options then are:

1. Cheapo option, get a good socket A board that supports 166MHz FSB, USB 2.0, AGP 8X SATA etc. 'now' (might want to wait just a bit to see SiS 746 chipset boards). Use your current stuff temporarily and upgrade video card, memory, CPU as you go. Keep in mind that with this option you will be 'dead-ended' upgradewise with Barton.

2. Minimal upgrade to your current system (e.g. video card suggested) to keep you happy for now. Wait for Hammer.