Motherboard + Chip?

[Gray]

Its been sometime since i really upgraded, but the only thing i feel that does need updating/upgrading is my Motherboard, and _possibly_ the chip, but its all dependant on my Motherboard.

I currently have the Abit NF7-S v2 motherboard, but im finding it somewhat tedious if im ever to upgrade things, because its far too compact (For instance, the Graphics Card overlaps the Memory clip/s making the job harder to check memory).

Its a motherboard which is itself a good few years old, this is my second NF7-S v2 that ive had (First one had a bit of "memory" problems) and it, for some reason never matched up to the first one... Dont know if there was a setting which needed changing or what, but the first motherboard i very rarely had a problem (Yet this one, im getting errors which always point to the memory (which is pretty much a lie :/)).

The current spec i have is as follows (again, it would have to pretty much allow the spec of the rest of my machine, because most of it is rather new anyway):

Abit NF7-S v2
Corsair 1GB DDR XMS3200XL Platinum TwinX (2x512MB) CAS2
AMD Athlon 2.2ghz (According to XP, is it XP 2700+ ?)
BFG Geforce 6800GT (Altho i seen the BFG 7800GT for £240 in "This week Only"... im interested
Enermax Noisetaker 485W (Ive yet to fit this yet... Im still scared of it blowing up like last one )

The only thing really i need the new motherboard to be compatible with, is the Memory i guess, everythign else would be childs-play.

So does anyone have any ideas? Its been a while since i have done any Hardware searching i feel the technology has gotten too far ahead for the moment


**As a side comment**

What is the size of the fan which sits on the side of the case? (Where the windows are) generally? I have a Chieftec case, and wanna whack a fan on the Window, but dont know if its 80mm, 90mm or 120mm

 

[Clown]

If you want to upgrade to AMD64, I have an MSI Neo2 Platinum which I bought a few months ago and used once.

 

[Gengi]

My Abit board the AS8 has worked well. You will need to check the memory specs for it but the rest should fit in nicely. I have a 6800GT and it is clear of all the memory slots.
I am sure though there are far better and newer ones kicking about, just make sure you get one that will take your graphics card. If yours is an AGP card the new pci-ex thingymajiggy won't take it. If you are upgrading the card too maybe look for a pci-express board.
I expect the better informed chaps will be along soon to give you a more, intelligible answer.

Later

Gengee

 

[inactionman]

Obviously you forgot to mention the most important thing, what's your budget? We could spec you some reasonable upgrades to give you some more medium term power (e.g. A64 processor + mobo), or we could spec you a ninja pc (basically all you keep is the case, and maybe the RAM).

It's up to you.

 

[Gray]

Money isnt too objectional i guess, altho id really like to keep it -£150 if possible. AMD64 im all too unsure about though, i want to keep using AMD, but would the difference be _muchly_ noticed if i do switch to the 64bit?

 

[Clown]

Well, if you're looking to keep Socket A, why swap the motherboard at all?

 

[Ch3tan]

Cause he doesnt know whats wrong with his system and he's just going to keep wasting money swapping out random parts as he has been for the last year.

 

[inactionman]

Ok, you can upgrade to that 7800, but the bad news is that it's going to be pretty expensive, basically you'd need to replace the mobo and processor, upgrading to A64 and socket 939 with PCI-Express (or Intel if you'd rather pay more money for less performance). And it's probably not worth it unless you run your games in 1600x1200!

You've got 3 options, the above (which is the most future-proof one, but is basically buying a new computer), get a new socket A processor and mobo (the cheapest one, but it's a pretty short-term upgrade), or upgrade to socket 754 (which will be relatively cheap, but it's future is only as a sempron platform now, but they are 64 bit processors as well).

Basically all but the first one could be done within your budget.

There's no real reason to switch to 64bit yet, particularly as Vista will prefer some stuff that current hardware just can't do (secure link between video card and monitor), but with AMD's processors it's bundled with better performance for no real extra cost.

 

[smurkin]

The Athlon 64 is good. As inaction said, 939 socket format.

The 754 is also turion - now thats a mobile cpu and currently goes upto 4000 speed rating and future development is assured - so potentially, the 754 might even outlive 939. Also, the wattage is really low, so they are potentially superlative overclockers. However, these Turions are like venus de milo's arms...you can't get hold of them for love or money (I have been trying) and they need a specialised cooling solution.

No, 939 all the way. Your a gamer so Athlon 64 (or its more expensive bigger brothers) is the current gold standard.

That means you can go pcie for a new mobo (not agp). I dont think I'd shell out for top of the range gear tho - you never get your money's worth.

 

[Gray]

Cause he doesnt know whats wrong with his system and he's just going to keep wasting money swapping out random parts as he has been for the last year.

Random? Not exactly. I googled every little bit of detail to actually find out what the problems were, and each time, because of the actual error/s which Windows presented me with i was left with very few options on what to change.

The only things in the past year i have changed in actual fact is the Memory, and a swap of a Hard Drive (Which i had anyway). Each time i get hit with an error, i go do a search on it, and guess WHAT?! it says memory problem. That just isnt possible unfortunatly.

Ive changed memory settings, ive changed memory sticks, PSU, to no avail. So tell me you smart arsed fucker, what else would it be? Thin air? Or maybe note that word in italics there, see that word maybe it could be something else which is completely un-noticed, which i[/i] havent seen, my brother hasnt seen, nor what people on other forums have seen.

And whats wrong with spending money? If ive had this motherboard (In effect) for near 2 years, wouldnt it be expected to consider a change? Gah whats the point in even trying.

Anyway

About the 64bit ones, it maybe the future, but im all too unsure just yet on what road to take, i dont _mind_ changing the Chip also, but as someone said, i dont want it where i have to change everything else as well, because i may as well just get a new one, which would be a waste for the upgraded bits ive already got this year.

The 7800GT was more of a "hmmm, sounds interesting" altho im happy totally with the card i have at the moment, so the money itself would be pointing towards a motherboard/chip

 

[Ch3tan]

Because if it's not your memory then it must have been something else. Why wait two years to change it. Or could it be you actually had two lots of bad memory.

I've been lucky enough to only ever have one faulty component, many years ago, and all it took to find out what it was was elimination. Lots of errors and turned out one of my memory slots on the mobo was buggered.

 

[smurkin]

That memory is 939 & 754 A64 compatibile....bloody fancy stuff mind, I can see why you dont want to get shut of it. Its not bleeding edge, but it won't introduce a significant system bottleneck.

Tbh, with all the crap problems you've had, I think changing the mobo is a wise choice, especially if you can afford it and you want to get some future proofing (cpu/mobo and GFX card). Shame about shedding the 6800GT...I wonder if there any boards with both decent pcie and AGP, prolly not very likely.