What Mobo to get?

[DrDea]

Ok Ive decided to go with the AMD Athalon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8 ghz chip.Now the question is what board to slap it in.Im not looking for a mb that I can upgrade the chip in.This one will probebly last till a whole new system years down the road.Im looking for the best bang for the buck under 100$.
 Any Ideas?? SATA supported and PCIeX16 a must.Im not going to SLI or RAID so that stuff can be ommited.Going with the 7600GT GeForce.

[alskahawk]

 Check Newegg or Tiger direct. I think Newegg is cheaper but you can run into deals at Tiger too. Stick with brand names check the reviews. Asus, Gigabyte and Abit are good brands. I have never tried a DFI board but the user reviews are excellent. You can also take a chance on an open product and get a more expensive board for under $100. I have seen the Asus M2N Deluxe SLI for under a hundred (open package) If you try an open package. Read carefully.
 You didn't mention cpu cooler but here is a recomendation;Thermaltake CL-P0401 110mm Full-Range Fan CPU Cooler - Retail
 It's expensive at 60 bucks but it does the job. I don't know how hot a 2.8 gets but my 3.2 has had heat problems. I ran a water cooler that kept it down to 45 degree range (In AH) Pulled the whole system out. Dropped the SLI 8800GTXs, put in a 8800GTS. Removed the water cooling. Added the Thermaltake CPU cooler put it all in a Antec nine hundred case. Now I run 35-45 degrees. Usually under 40 degrees after 3 or 4 hours of AH. (I also had issues of too much stuff, too little PSU, dropping SLI fixed that)

[Skuzzy]

Why AMD?

With the problems the dual core AMD CPU's have, I would not touch them.  Also consider bang-for-the-buck is owned by Intel as well.  You do realize a 2 gig-hertzish Intel Core 2 CPU is faster than the 2.8Ghz AMD CPU?

It is up to you, I am just curious as to how you came to conclude you wanted an AMD CPU.

[DrDea]

  The AMD is more of a Cash issue.Looked to me the AMD was cheaper than the Intel...The dual core issue seems to have been fixed and Im kinda used to the AMD set.Been useing it fo ages. regardless..the systems in the mail.Should have it monday.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If you get a cheap Intel chip you can overclock it on stock cooling easily to get huge value for money. I bought a E4500 for a nickel and a dime and overclocked it to 3ghz from 2.2 with a single bios setting change. Can't beat that value for money.

[alskahawk]

 I have a 3.2GHz AMD, I have had heat problems some of which could be attributed to the AMD chip but most due to my cutting the wrong corners. I overclocked it to 3.5 with no problems. Could have gone higher, however since AH is the primary use for that computer there was no need to even go to 3.5.

 I recently purchased the Intel quad core/XFX mb combo from Tiger direct. Excellent stuff. Good MB. Quad core. To say either one is better in AH, can't say that. AH really doesn't push any cpu to the limit.

A 2.8 MHz AMD x2 for less than a hundred bucks tough to beat. $90-95 for a MB and you have less than $200 in MB/CPU combo.  If you have $250-300 to spend look at the Quad core/MB combo at Tiger direct. 

[DrDea]

  Well...the case I bought has been refered to a windtunnel.Its got 2 fans around 240 mm on the side,a 120 on the rear...a 80 on the front a 80 on the top and vents on the mobo side top/Its been accused of cooling the room its in along with the cpu.Im cool with it.Good fan for the cpu and I KNOW the AMD runs hot but my 2400+ has never been an issue and I didnt oc it.Skuzzy is just an AMD racist   Just look at this beast of a case.

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811215009

[Skuzzy]

Not at all.  The dual core Intel CPU's just blow away any AMD CPU in every category.  A 2Ghz Core 2 will blow away a 2.8Ghz X2.

At least with Intel you do not have the dual core bug.

I was just curious as I cannot fathom why anyone would want an AMD CPU right now.  Bang for the buck is owned by Intel.  That is not an opinion.  It pretty much is true.

[DrDea]

 Skuzzy.....Stop hatin man.Its ok to be an Intel fanboi but you should relax a bit. That AMD hate is gonna eat ya alive man     I went with price for what I had and what I wanted to get.You see that case Skuzzy?I think heat wont be an issue anyway   As much as I respect your opinions....I voted with my wallet and lack of edjumacation.Had I heard this sooner....like 6 hours sooner I probebly would have reconcidered.I can live with it for now.This system will last me a good whil;e.I'll e mail ya the setup.

[Skuzzy]

OY!

[Ghosth]

Actually DrDea skuzzy is right. I've been a hard core AMD guy for the last 8 years.

But my new system is running an intel core 2 duo, and its running it at least 15 degrees cooler than my AMD's ever ran. Not to mention it rocks.

As to motherboards, if your looking for low cost solid boards I'd look at Asrock.

Last, check out www.mwave.com  More reliable than Tiger Direct. Very competative with newegg, they have a assemble and test option that newegg does NOT have. Where they will put CPU/cooler, Ram into the motherboard, and test it for a mere 9$. They then put it back in the Mboard box with everything still on it. Wrap it up carefully and send it out.  Cheapest insurance policy for being absolutely sure everything works you'll ever buy.

[alskahawk]

 Kool case Dr. I have a Antec ninehundred which has a similar number of fans. I used to just build a system and put the parts in what ever case was the cheapest. The days of the computer case just being a container for parts is over. A good case makes a big difference in your system performance.

 On AMD vs Intel; Intel wins but if you can only afford to go cheap and AMD fits the bill go for it. Like both my systems. And AH doesn't need a power house. It can run on a AGP system for that matter.
 I do highly recommend the quadcpu/mb combo that Tiger direct has. good stuff.

[DrDea]

Your right on that one Alaska...The days of Cases just holding parts sure has changed.I know with the AMD heats always an issue but Ive never really had an issue with that.I keep the case well ventilated to the point where I had a small desktop fan blowing inside the case one summer.With this case,those days are over hehe.