Concerning Mother Boards.

[AWMac]

What pray tell is the difference between Mother Boards that are:

Socket A:  

 *which I presently have a K7M but it would handle a bigger processor*

Socket 370:

Socket 478:

Socket 754:

Socket 940:

Athlon 64 (754):

Athlon 64 (940):

And do you have to have a special case (Tower) for each configuration?

I'm just so confused, trying to upgrade so I can fly Aces High again.

Need so help here.

Thanks,

[Chairboy]

You don't need special cases if they're all 'ATX'.  If it's 'Micro ATX' you'd need another case, but that's totally different from the 'Socket XXX' identifier.

The socket type stands for what type of processor connector you have on the mobo.  You must make sure that you get the appropiate motherboard for your processor, or it won't fit on the board and won't work.

[AWMac]

Is there any difference in preformance between the list above?

[Rasker]

huge ones, like between VW Bugs and Ferrari's.  The ones at the bottom of your list fit the newest and most powerful sorts of processors, using faster memory and can making full use of vid cards in the top tier or two.  There have been several threads in here about the Athlon 64 chip as the best current performer, yet some referenced articles talk about gaming systems based on this chip retailing for $1300 or so, and build it yourself for under $1000.

[McGuinn]

RE:Athlon 64 (754):  Athlon 64 (940):

I'm in the process of building my own comp and I was wondering if I should go with a pentuim or Athon like described above. My current board I have picked out is for the Pentium4 3.2ghz. For AH2 should I go with an Athlon insted of a P4?


Mc

[acetnt367th]

Forget the socket 940 - buy the socket 939 MB and similar Athlon 64. Make sure they match.

Try this MB : MSI MS-7025 (K8N Neo2) coupled with any 939 chip (3500+ - best value here) and you will not regret it


Acetnt

[Kev367th]

Socket 940 is not dead. In fact next year when AMD release their "Dual Core" cpus, they will be socket 940 only.
At the moment though socket 939 is the way to go and an Athlon 64. I use the 3500, real sweet!
If you decide on a socket 939, don't forget Microsoft has a free beta of Win XP64 you can use, and setup a dual boot system.

[boxboy28]

dont forget they are trying to goto a new MOBO standard called BTX vs ATX. watch out for those as the design is a totaly different case! (every thing is almost totaly switch as far as positions go!)

[boxboy28]

dont forget they are trying to goto a new MOBO standard called BTX vs ATX. watch out for those as the design is a totaly different case! (every thing is almost totaly switch as far as positions go!)

[AWMac]

Where can I find a Socket 939?

[acetnt367th]

Try here

http://www.amdboard.com/socket_939_boards.html
 

Acetnt