May Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 3

Motherboards

When we choose a motherboard for our Value Gaming System, the main goal is to get the best bang for our buck, while trying to purchase the most future-proof and high-performance hardware possible. Naturally, these goals are often at odds with each other, and the sticker price is usually the main stumbling block. To find that right mix, we need to ensure that the motherboard is affordable, and has a nice mix of performance, overclocking and features to boot. Whether you're buying a low-cost gaming system or an ultra high-end powerhouse, the motherboard is still one of the most important components, as it provides the backbone for your entire computer and determines your potential upgrade path.

Athlon XP Motherboard: MSI K7N2-L (nForce2)

Current Cost: $87
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$3

When it comes to Athlon XP gaming performance, the king of the hill is the NVIDIA nForce2 chipset. This dual-channel DDR powerhouse is the de facto option for the AMD performance and overclocking crowds, and makes a super gaming platform. That said, quality nForce2 motherboards don't come cheap, and with a $1K budget, we had to be very careful when choosing the right product. There were a few boards that did fit our budget, but the most impressive (and low cost) model continues to be the MSI K7N2-L. This is a standard nForce2 configuration, but without the MCP2-T Southbridge found on higher-end versions. The K7N2-L is still an excellent deal, and provides a lot of gaming power out of the box, and allows a superb upgrade path.

The MSI K7N2-L features dual-DDR266/333/400 support, AGP 8X, ATA133, USB 2.0, 6-channel audio and integrated LAN. This board also includes a ton of overclocking options, full FSB selection up to 200 MHz, DDR memory speed ratios, CPU, DDR and AGP voltage options, and even AGP bus locking. Overall, MSI has designed a super product for the value gamer, and this motherboard easily ranks up there with the more expensive nForce2 products.

Pentium 4 Motherboard: ABIT BH7

Current Cost: $85
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

AMD buyers have it a bit easier than the Intel crowd, in that zeroing in on the nForce2 selection makes the overall choice a bit simpler. Not so for Intel motherboards, as there is still no clear-cut value option for the Pentium 4. There are a few current chipsets that fit the bill, and the upcoming Springdale is a compelling option, but for now the Intel 845PE offers the best combination of price, performance and choice. We chose the Soyo SY-P4I 845PE Lite last month, and although it remains a top selection, we require a few more onboard features for this month's pick. The ABIT BH7 is a super deal, and it includes a wealth of features, red-hot overclocking, and even a few extras we didn't expect to find in a sub-$100 Intel motherboard.

The ABIT BH7 includes everything a value buyer could want, and more. It supports DDR333 and 533 MHz Pentium 4 processors, and includes USB 2.0, integrated 10/100 LA, 6-channel audio, and even a Serial ATA port. The overclocking configuration is also top-notch, with CPU frequency and CPU multiplier options, along with CPU, memory and AGP voltage selections. This is a beast of an i845PE motherboard, and the only feature left out of the mix is AGP 8X, and that's a function of the Intel chipset and not ABIT.