PC Parts!

[benjgvps]

On June 2 I got my computer parts I ordered for my PC from btecanada.com: XFX branded Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 (128 MB), Socket 775 3.4 GHz P4, Cheap foxconn motherboard (No SATA, DDR2, Core 2 duo support, PCI-E) with AGP, 3 PCI, DDR 400, Socket 755, (Huge) CPU fan.

I bought these cheaply so I couuld play Team Fortress 2 and Counter Strike: Source on my PC and not have to use the family Dell 4600 (With snorton internet false-sense-of-security). Everything is quite fast though the install was painful... I had to remove the grille on the PSU to make it actully fit, and then put in the screws to keep the fan in place... I also had a hard time getting the sound and Ethernat working, later found out that it was me putting the settings on "Failsafe" when trying to get Windows XP working.

Overall it was a good and I really LOVE the feature that you can load a Windows app on to your computer and change the BIOS boot logo. Right now I have it set to the Half Life 2 log, Working on the classic apple or the logo for Portal (Cake FTW!!!). I will be buying a new motherboard eventully with new RAM, new video card and new PSU.

MOTHERBOARD ADVICE NEEDED: I cannot for the lif of me find a motherboard with these requirements and be under $55: DDR2, PCI-E x16, 3 PCI, TWO IDE sockets (IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK!), and SATA.

 

[~Coxy]

Two IDE sockets really is hard to find these days.

Time to get rid of some of your old hard disks?

 

[benjgvps]

Two IDE sockets really is hard to find these days.Time to get rid of some of your old hard disks?

I just got an 80GB IDE hard drive in may, I could replace my DVD-ROM for $25 or I could just buy a $17 adapter...

 

[dpatten]

I just bought another Jetway 775GT1-LOGE from Newegg for $60.

I bought this same board a year ago to build my wife's PC and it worked great. (at least until the thunderstorm until she decided to keep IM'ing her sister through...)

It's a full size ATX board and it has 2 IDE connectors, 3 PCI-E x16 connectors (two of these work at only x8 in SLI mode) 1 PCI-E X1 and 2 PCI sockets, 4 SATA 3GB/s ports.

Its got a 1066 mhz Bus speed and 4 DDR2 slots, so there is some upgradeability. It supports Core2Duo chips as well. It supports 16GB of Ram. I've got 6GB in mine.

It's not a great board for overclocking, but it is very stable otherwise, so you can ignore half of the comments from the 14 year olds at Newegg if you look at it.

It's here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153056

I don't know how great Newegg is in selling to Canada, but in the US I have literally had things sitting on my doorstep 24 hours after ordering.

 

[Christopher]

Hahaha, I just realized I'm in the same town as your patten!

 

[benjgvps]

Sadly, Newegg doesn't sell to anyone outside of the US. Though I bet a google search will bring up a website that sells it.

EDIT: I can't find any Canadian site that sells them...

 

[dpatten]

That's too bad you can't find a Canadian supplier, but not terribly surprising.

It's an older board and Jetway probably stopped making them 6 months ago, I bet Newegg is just selling off New Old Stock at this point.

Maybe you can buy it and have it shipped to someone in the states and then on to you...

Did you Check Ebay?

 

[benjgvps]

I don't know anybody in the states and they would probably only allow American credit cards too... I can't do ebay because I don't have a credit card and my mother doesn't want to sign up for paypal. I would have many good things if I had access to ebay...

 

[quinterro]

Well think of it this way - you have more room!

 

[benjgvps]

You have a point... Anybody know of a different model of motherboard that meets my requirements?