Hi there!

I am going to be installing a 2500+ 'Barton' into whatever board i buy, with 512MB DDR and an ASUS GF4 Ti4600 (AGP4x). I have read review after review of the 3 boards that i have narrowed down, but cannot decide which would be most suitable for me to purchase. My criteria are as follows:

1) Mostly for games
2) Realibility - in terms of hardware and software
3) Need to be compatable with my existing AGP4x gfx card
4) I have an old Cambride Soundworks Desktop theartre 2500 with a digital connection to my SBLive1024. As I will be putting this card into a spare PC, will the built in soundcard work to provide 4 way sound and are these built in sound systems actually EAX 1, 2!
5) Overclocking (for noobies!)
6) have 5 USB devices, does the ASUS board with 6 USB ports make it any more of an advantage to buy this board
7) I would really like to have bragging rights amoungst my mates over having the fatest pc for playing games!

I must seem like a noobie and in many way i am! I used to know all about the internal gubbings of pcs until the pentium came out (and my degree became a priority!)

If you can help, I would be very much appreciated!
Kind Regards
Graham

most boards nowadays have 6USB ports.
all three of those boards are excellent choices.
but with the Abit and ASUS boards make sure that you get a Revision 2 board.
but my suggestion would be either the Abit or Asus board.

I have 2 of the Abit NF7-s boards (rev 1.2 & rev 2.0) and I have an Epox 8RDA+ (mainly because it was $83)

The built in sound on the abit boards is excellent!! I was using a SB Live X-Gammer card until I upgraded to the Abit board.

Of those three,
I would have to go Abit. According to the database at o/cers.com, it holds the high O/C score of 2.8Ghz+,using the Barton 2500+

I bought my abit and am happy. If you need 5 USB though, make sure your case has external USB ports otherwise you'll be stuck having to buy a USB PCI slot thing from Abit. Small tradeoff

I vote for the epox 8rda3+ just to be different and I have one . I'm pleased with it so far but have not had the chance to overclock it much do to my cheap arse ram. Anyone now why newegg no longer carries this board and there's only a few places I found on pricewatch that still carry?

I just ordered the 8RDA+ from newegg on Saturday. Mybe you will find it if you look under

motherboards - AMD - Epox

on the newegg site

Which of the boards have dividers for AGP and PCI slots? I'm positive I've heard about them on both the Abit and Epox but not the ASUS

Rokk if you read my post maybe you'd see i mentioned the 8rda3+ not the 8rda+ so read before you stick your foot in your mouth

As far as I know, all nf2 boards have the agp/pci speeds locked. The only divider there is that I can think of is for cpu:mem clocks.

Correct Evileagle.

Quote: Originally posted by Graham_uk Hi there! I am going to be installing a 2500+ 'Barton' into whatever board i buy, with 512MB DDR and an ASUS GF4 Ti4600 (AGP4x). I have read review after review of the 3 boards that i have narrowed down, but cannot decide which would be most suitable for me to purchase. My criteria are as follows: 1) Mostly for games 2) Realibility - in terms of hardware and software 3) Need to be compatable with my existing AGP4x gfx card 4) I have an old Cambride Soundworks Desktop theartre 2500 with a digital connection to my SBLive1024. As I will be putting this card into a spare PC, will the built in soundcard work to provide 4 way sound and are these built in sound systems actually EAX 1, 2! 5) Overclocking (for noobies!) 6) have 5 USB devices, does the ASUS board with 6 USB ports make it any more of an advantage to buy this board 7) I would really like to have bragging rights amoungst my mates over having the fatest pc for playing games! I must seem like a noobie and in many way i am! I used to know all about the internal gubbings of pcs until the pentium came out (and my degree became a priority!) If you can help, I would be very much appreciated! Kind Regards Graham

definitaly Abit NFS-7 cause it overclocks easy for noobs like you an me

All I have to say is...Abit NF7-S

Quote: Originally posted by TekXoID All I have to say is...Abit NF7-S

holy cow for once something i say is agreed upon

prolly not for the same reasons