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Motherboard dillema
Im having a dillema on what motherboard to choose...
three weeks ago my Biostar M7NCG 400 nForce 2 chipset mobo (with geforce 4 mx integrated graphics) got busted with unknown or I think no reason at all... when Im tested it after getting busted I felt the southbridge chip (the one with the "MCP" label) is heating up so fast and so hot! I dont know if thats the cause but I think it is... I got the board second hand for I think approximately $45 (without any warranty). After just three weeks of using it it got busted
I used an old Duron 750mhz. processor with it overclocked to 907mhz. (120mhz fsb X 7.5) with two ram PC266 and PC333 384MB. I dont know but I got a feeling the board is already busted all along since I got it (the very first time I installed the board its all black out, but after some fiddlings with the ram it worked).
I called someone who fixes boards here in our place and he said he can replace this board (Biostar M7NCG 400) with a new one and a renewed warranty (from the supplier) for $35 but Im thinking that this board model is really not good and might get busted again and that the person Im talking to is not that trustworthy (he might get original capacitors from the new board).
Now I dont know exactly whats the best decision, get the same board model with renewed warranty or buy a new one from a store?
Now if Im going to buy a new one I dont know what to get, I dont know if what other boards (socket A) available here that are better than an nforce2 and if an onboard graphics is a much better choice (as of now I dont have any graphics card yet). Heres some list I got from the local store's price list (i have chosen the ones that are in my budget range, but feel free to suggest some boards and I'll ask the store if its available):
asus a7s8x-mx sis741
ecs 741gxml sis 741
ecs af1 kt600
ecs k7s7agl s746 xabre 64mb
ecs af1 lite kt600
ecs k7vta2 pro3.1
ecs k7vta3L v.7 kt3333
ecs km400m2 deluxe
ecs kt600AL via kt600
ecs l7vmm3 via km266pro
msi km4mv km400
pc chips m8256 via km266
pc chips m863g sis 741
redfox(biostar) m7ncd nforce2
redfox (biostar) m7vig via km266pro
my budget is around $40-45. Right now Im unsure of the Biostart brand of motherboard if it is a good quality brand.... what do you think guys? whats the best choice?
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Extreme Member!
Unless you want to reinstall WIndows, you had better get the same nForce chipset in the replacement board. That narrows your list down to one. Easy.
MCP southbridges do get rather hot. I don't think that's your problem.
If you overclock, you risk damage. I thought everyone knew that.
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Originally Posted by BipolarBill
Unless you want to reinstall WIndows, you had better get the same nForce chipset in the replacement board. That narrows your list down to one. Easy.
MCP southbridges do get rather hot. I don't think that's your problem.
If you overclock, you risk damage. I thought everyone knew that.
I think your right, MCP southbridges do get really hot, I borrowed my friends nforce board and tried touching the southbridge and it really is hot.....
regarding my overclocking, I dont know, I didnt even passed the boards limit, I think the boards limit is up to 166mhz fsb, my maximum overclock is 121mhz fsb. I just increased the voltage of the cpu and gained slight (very slight) increase in cpu temperature I think about 52 degrees....
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I have but together a number of Biostar boards and they have given me no problems. Wouldn't hesitate to use more. They may not be the fastest but I find them very stable and compatable with most memory.
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