September Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 3

Motherboards

When selecting a motherboard for our Value Gaming System, it is important we find the best overall value, while ensuring 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 combination, the motherboard needs to be affordable, but also have a good mix of performance, overclocking, and onboard features. 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 future upgrade path.

Athlon 64 X2 AM2 Motherboard: Biostar TForce 550 (nForce 550)

Current Cost: $80
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

The move to Socket AM2 brought with it a few challenges, one of which was to select a new motherboard with the features and performance our guide expects. This was a very difficult task, given our budget, and the fact that current-generation AM2 motherboards are more expensive than older 939-pin models. We wanted to go with nForce 500 series, but obviously, we couldn't fit an nForce 590 SLI in, and even moving down to the nForce 550 range proved problematic. That is, until we found the Biostar TForce 550, a value motherboard with features and performance to spare. We have used Biostar motherboards in various entry-level configurations, and have always been very pleased with their price-performance rating, and the $80 TForce 550 is no different.

The Biostar TForce 550 is powered by the new nForce 550 chipset, which drops a few high-end features like SLI from the feature list, but maintains others like SATA 3.0 Gb/s, Gigabit LAN, NVIDIA RAID, and High Definition Audio. It has support for all Athlon 64, 64 X2, and FX-based processors using the Socket AM2 package, along with support for DDR2-800 memory. This chipset presents a very nice mix of power, features and price, especially for those who want the benefits of the nForce 500 series, but don't want to shell out the big bucks. Add Biostar and their more enthusiast-oriented T-Series into the mix, and you just know you're going to get a lot of board for your money.

The Biostar TForce 550 may feature an $80 price tag, but it has an ample feature list. The board includes support for AM2-based processors, along with 4 DDR2 sockets capable of handling up to 4GB of DDR2-800 memory. Onboard expansion slots includes 1 x PCIe x16 graphics, 2 x PCIe x1, and 4 x PCI, while storage options feature 2 x PATA devices, 4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s with NVRAID, and 1 x Floppy. The motherboard also has 10 x USB 2.0, 7.1-channel high definition audio, and integrated Gigabit LAN. This selection of hardware is more than on par with our system requirements, and the Biostar TForce 550 motherboard is one of the best values for Socket AM2 systems.

Core 2 Duo Motherboard: ASRock ConRoeXFire (i945P)

Current Cost: $81
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

If choosing an AMD motherboard was tough, then getting a Core 2 Duo-compatible motherboard into the Intel budget was a near impossible task. For obvious reasons, we wanted to stick with Intel or NVIDIA chipsets, and that limited our choices even more. There was no way we could slip in an Intel 975X or P965, and even the few available nForce 570/550 Intel motherboards were a bit pricey. The i945P chipset was our final destination, and specifically, the low-cost ASRock ConRoeXFire motherboard. We like this board for three main reasons: price, price and price - along with providing a rock solid Intel chipset and Core 2 Duo support.

The i945P chipset provides solid support for Intel processors, and true to its name, the ASRock ConRoeXFire offers Core 2 Duo support, along with all other LGA775 Intel processors. Memory support consists of four DDR2 slot capable of handling up to 4GB of DDR2-533/667. ASRock actually provides a lot of motherboard for the money, and in addition to the i945P Northbridge, the ConRoeXFire also features the ICH7R Southbridge. This gives users some high-end features at this price range, such as SATA 3.0 Gb/s support, RAID, and Matrix Storage Technology.

The ASRock ConRoeXFire also includes 1 x PCI-Ex16, 1 x PCI-Ex4 (AGI Express), 1 x PCI-Ex1, and 3 x PCI slots, and offers 4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s and 1 x PATA for storage use. The AGI Express slot is for use with ATI CrossFire multi-GPU technology, but as it is an x4 slot, we view it as a cool feature most will probably never use. Some of the other onboard features include 6 x USB 2.0, 7.1 channel high definition audio, Gigabit LAN, and two back-mounted eSATA 3.0 Gb/s ports.