Motherboard Buying Guide October 2007

[Kooldinesh]

In terms of PC, the motherboard retains, despite the years, its role.Capital not only for performance, all the motherboards were obviously not equal in the matter, but also vital when considering stability and scalability of the system, two parameters that can be quickly put aside in considering options for a particular motherboard, even if they are major. Who has not bought a motherboard to replace three months after because stability was not there or that scalability was sorely lacking?

To avoid such setbacks, we propose to consolidate in this second edition of our guide to buying the best quarterly models motherboards ordered by the budget. For the entry-level, we expect a budget of less than appox. Rs. 4550, against a budget of Rs.5700 to Rs.9100 for the midrange. On the high end, the budget for its part will be generally above appox. Rs. 11400 In each installment, we will motherboards for Intel processors, but also models for AMD..

[Kooldinesh]

A motherboard for less than appox. Rs.4000

Our selection for the platform AMD AM2

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA69VM-S2
Entry-level forces, the motherboard to less than 70 euro must have an integrated circuit graphics, story save on the purchase of a separate graphics card. Of course, the performances are far from being equal, but the price is much lighter. Our first selection is on a motherboard Gigabyte, Socket AM2, adopting the latest chipset RS690V AMD. Our first selection is on a motherboard Gigabyte, Socket AM2, adopting the latest chipset RS690V AMD. Compatible with DirectX 9.0 and supports the graphical interface of Windows Vista Aero, the chipset RS690V provides overall good performance, in terms processor, as demonstrated by our recent test.

With four locations DDR2 memory, the card provides all the same a slot PCI-Express 16x for adding later of a real graphics card in addition to the two PCI ports and PCI-Express slot 4x. With a Gigabit network controller, the small Gigabyte will pare four connectors Serial 3 Gb / s and an audio codec Realtek ALC888. Its price is reasonable, while the format microATX can integrate it into a machine small silent as a Media Center PC, for example. Too bad, however, that the map should be the impasse on the FireWire or on the DVI output, but it is true that the chipset is lacking.

The Bottom Line:

• Solution integrated graphics
• Compatible Vista Aero
• No FireWire

The price of Gigabyte GA-MA-69VM-S2 (appox. Rs.2900)

[Kooldinesh]

ASRock ALiveNF6G-DVI

It stays in the entry-level AMD, with a motherboard equipped with a chipset with integrated graphics core, but it is this time of the chipset NVIDIA GeForce 6100 with nForce 410. Signed ASRock, ALiveNF6G-DVI in this format microATX and equip itself with four slots memories DDR2 compatible DDR2-800. The heart graphic GeForce 6100 is humble, but it is compatible DirectX 9.0 and should display the graphical interface of Windows Vista Aero without the slightest concern. We find on the map two PCI slots, a slot PCI-Express 16x and a connector PCI 1x. Perfectly silent, the motherboard comes with an expansion card adding a connector in DVI. With four ports Serial 3 Gb / s, a circuit class integrated network Gigabit, ALiveNF6G-DVI there is an audio codec 7.1 branded Realtek as a chip ALC888.

The Bottom Line:

• Solution integrated graphics
• Compatible Vista Aero
• Post DVI output

The price of ASRock ALiveNF6G-DVI (from appox. Rs. 3450)

[Kooldinesh]

MSI K9N Neo-F

To be quite complete, we will retain the entry-level niche AMD, a motherboard without integrated graphics solution.his is a model MSI, the K9N Neo-F format ATX, which uses the chipset NVIDIA nForce 550. In socket AM2, the card is acquiring four pitches DDR2 memory, a PCI-Express slot 16x, two port PCI 1x and three PCI slots.With four ports Serial 3 Gbps, the card offers features RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1 or RAID 0 +1), and loads a controller Gigabit Ethernet network. The audio is tantamount to a chip Realtek ALC883 on 8 channels. Beware, the card does a single IDE channel, this limitation from the chipset.

The Bottom Line:

• Basic but effective
• No FireWire

The price of the MSI K9N Neo-F (from appox. Rs. 3100)

[Kooldinesh]

Our selection for the Intel platform LGA-775

Asus P5KPL-VM

As for Intel processors, we thought initially select a motherboard equipped with a chipset G33, the latest in graphic integrated at Intel. But then, the price of motherboards in G33 is much too high because the cheapest model starts at more than appox. Rs. 5100. It is too much for the range that we set ourselves. Suddenly, we rabattons on Intel G31, a chipset a little more recent than the i945G we conseillions there is now three months of this. Echoing a southbridge identical to the i945G, the G31 has, however a northbridge (the chip that handles trade between the processor and memory) most recent which is naturally compatible with the Core 2 Duo processors, Core 2 Quad, but also with future processors 45 nm Intel. Better still, the FSB1333 is officially supported on this chipset. Finally, stating that the heart graphic G31 is perfectly capable of running the GUI of Windows Vista Aero.

We should note here the P5KPL-VM, Asus motherboard format microATX. With two slots DDR2 memory (the card manages DDR2-667 and DDR2-800) and two PCI slots, it has nonetheless a PCI-Express slot 16x and a connector PCI 1x. Also shown four connectors Serial 3 Gbps, a chip audio unfortunately rather dilapidated as a Realtek ALC662 on six channels and a Gigabit network controller. It is a shame by the lack of Firewire controller or the unsupported of the DVI connectors for monitors.

The Bottom Line :

• Using the chipset G31 with integrated graphics
• Compatible Vista Aero
• Compatible FSB1333 and processors 45nm

The price of Asus P5KPL-VM (from appox. Rs. 4050)

[Kooldinesh]

A motherboard to less than appox. Rs. 9100

Our selection for the platform AMD AM2

Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe

Although AMD did not necessarily the wind in their sails at the moment, most of us eagerly awaiting the rotation with the famous K10, the Athlon 64 X2 are fairly well placed in terms of price, AMD had seen her price plan on several occasions. To properly run an Athlon 64 X2 in socket AM2, we retain the M2N-SLI Deluxe from Asus, an ATX motherboard chipset using the NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI. In addition, there are two slots PCI-Express 16x, running in 8x and can benefit from the technology made multi GPU SLI NVIDIA.

With six connectors Serial 3 Gbps, the card adopts a FireWire controller and has two NVIDIA Gigabit network controllers besides the chip SoundMax ADI1988 in charge of audio, eight channels please. Rather complete, the card offers modes RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 +1 and RAID 5, NVIDIA still not offering RAID 10 on its chipsets.

The Bottom Line:

• A very good compromise for the platform AM2
• Support for SLI

The price of Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe (from appox. Rs. 5500)

[Kooldinesh]

Gigabyte M59SLI-S4

We continued our selection of motherboards midrange model with a Gigabyte for AMD. This is the M59SLI-S4 a map using the ATX chipset NVIDIA's most successful platform for AMD, the nForce 590 SLI. Here, the card offers three PCI-Express 16x, two of which operate 16x, the third operating in 8x, which makes it compatible with SLI and one day, why not with the SLI Physics (is it useful? That is the question, especially given the positioning of the ports PCI).

Outfitted with four memory slots in DDR2, to accommodate a total of 16 GB DDR2-800, the card has two connectors PCI 1x and two PCI slots.Particularly rich in terms of features, with six connectors Serial 3 Gbps and support for FireWire, it is setting up a network controller in Gigabit curiously entrusted to a Marvell chip. Side audio, Gigabyte holds a codec 8 channels with a chip Realtek ALC883. Rather attractive on paper, this card provides an excellent value.

The Bottom Line:

• Good balance of functionality, price
• Support for SLI on 16x for each graphics card

The price of Gigabyte M59SLI-S4 (from appox. Rs.9050)

[Kooldinesh]

Our selection for the Intel platform LGA-775

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R

Back in Gigabyte which we will retain for a mid-range motherboard equipped with the brand new chipset Intel P35. No sensational frankly face the P965 in terms of pure functionality, the P35 has the advantage of being officially supported by the FSB 1333, what it is true most of the good cards P965, but also with future Intel processors in 45nm. At ATX and cooled so passive and so silent, P35-DS3R adopts four slots DDR2 memory (compatible DDR2 1066). It offers three PCI slots, a port PCI Express 16x and three connectors PCI 1x in more than eight connectors Serial 3 Gb / s.

With care design and rather successfully (understand that the introduction of a card is not going to condemn some connectors), P35-DS3R offers support modes RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0 +1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 and is adorned with a chip audio Realtek ALC889A on 8 channels.It also offers a Gigabit network controller and employs solid capacitors.

The Bottom Line:

• Support FSB1333 and processors in 45nm
• Taking over the DDR2-1066
• Lack of FireWire

The price of Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R (from appox. Rs.5400)