Even when assembling a value gaming configuration, buying a high-quality motherboard is still the best route to take. The motherboard provides the base for your entire computer and will either aid or impede your overall performance. It is important that the motherboard combine high performance, stability, features, expandability and overclocking... all at a price that won't break the bank.

It has also been suggested by some of our readers that we switch to a DDR platform for the value gaming system. While there are several AMD DDR motherboards (usually with an SiS chipset) that would certainly fit the price range, most do not have the high-end features and overclocking options that many enthusiast gamers require. Until the VIA KT266A motherboards (which should represent the best combination of value, performance and features) really start emerging in October and November, we will stick with a high-end, name brand SDRAM motherboard for the Athlon. This is much the same story for the Pentium 4, as DDR motherboards should really explode onto the scene later this year, at which time we will make the decision on whether to transition to that platform as well.

For a fast, value-oriented AMD gaming PC the best bet continues to be one of the popular KT133A motherboards. Although there are some very nice KT133A boards on the market, we have always been quite satisfied with our selection of the Iwill KK266. And now that Iwill has updated it to the KK266Plus, we have even less reason to change our recommendation? Along with the excellent performance, stability, and overclocking of the original KK266, Iwill has updated their excellent on-board sound option to full 6-channel/5.1 support and apparently toned up CPU support for the newer, higher-speed Athlon CPUs. This allows a much wider upgrade path than some competing Athlon boards, and may pay off in cost savings for future upgrades.

The only real issue with this particular motherboard is that the hardware jumper will need to be adjusted when switching between the 200 and 266 MHz system bus speeds. This is similar to most Athlon motherboards, but is not quite as easy as the pure software setup found on both the ASUS A7V133 and ABIT KT7A.

Please note that the supplied picture features an optional RAID configuration that is not present on the standard KK266Plus.

Now this is definitely the section that caused us the most problems. First off, we needed an inexpensive Pentium 4/i845 motherboard, which, in and of itself, was no easy task. Coupled with the requirement of finding one using the older Socket 423 design, since mPGA Pentium 4's start at about a third of our available budget, this meant we had to go on the hunt. The majority of i845 boards also use the newer mPGA 478 format, and finding a low-priced i845, Socket 423 motherboard can be a real chore. To spice it up, the Pentium 4 1.3 and 1.4 GHz processors are virtually identical in price, so there is really no option of saving money by going with a slower processor.

When seeking both value and performance in the same package, as well as a company that supports just about any processor or platform, we always look in the direction of MSI. Even given such a daunting task, they came through again with the 845 Pro, a board that looks tailor-made for our value gaming system. At $108, the i845/Socket 423 board only costs $1 more than a similar Pentium III motherboard and supports all of the options and features we need to make our Pentium 4 value gaming box a reality.