Building 1st Comp. 6yr. old Epox has been very forgiving,what now?

Hello,
I want to build a computer from scratch. I bought a custom built computer in 1988 with a P3 and a Epox m/board. I have upgraded every componet on system except m/board.
It was my first and only computer and I like the bios that it has.
( If I could not destroy this board ,then it must be realiable, and my computer has been running almost 24/7 since I bought it,and I have flashed the bios 2 times and it still is running, I say this because if I could learn on this board, then a tranied monkey could)
I want a board that has 2 PATA controllers because I recieved a new IDE Hard Drive
and new DVD writer for Christmas. I like to have both set as master.and keep everything as simple as possible.
I don't want video built into board, I would like a AGP slot for time being.
I don't want ultra expensive memory.
I do want built in Ethernet.
I want a Pentium 4 around 2.8 to 3.0 ghz.
The reason I don't want to spend a lot now is I want to wait and see how some of the new technologys like BTX, SerialATA 2 ,DDR ram 2 and 3 etc take off before I spend $200.00 on a board.My first experience with computers was that when I bought the computer I have now AGP and USB had just emerged.It seemed in no time and both were upgraded leaving me stuck with AGP 1x and USB 1. But I know, "there is alway something new on the horizon."
Remember; I am upgrading from a 550 P3 , 256mb PC100, and a TNT
video card.(So be easy on me please)
btw: I would like to buy from NewEgg if possible.
Thanks very much ,
jwalk2c

ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe 117.00 on newegg.com is definitely an extremely nice and fast motherboard with all the extras.

motherboard: abit ic7-g
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-152&depa=1
i couldnt find the asus one for 118$, only 180$

processor: p4 3.0e
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-171&depa=1
less than $200 and it still a good performer, plus you can overclock it good.

memory: pqi pc3200 2x512mb
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-154&depa=1
ive heard good review on this brand, you shouldnt have any problems with it.

video card: Geforce 6600gt
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-150-080&depa=1
about the same price as a radeon 9800, but better performance.

that comes out to about $670 after all the rebates. if you dont mind buy refurbished off newegg they may have lower priced hardware that you would like.

From your own experience, you know Epox are built to last, so....

Epox 4PDA2+ (revision 2)

It's loaded with features, all of what you want, great stability, has one of the best board layouts, OCs like crazy (if you ever want to), and is $120 here:
https://www.epoxstore.com/Product_Detail.asp?Product_ID=1057

I got mine for $108, but after using it, would easily have paid $250.

Do a search in this forum for 4PDA2 and you'll get firsthand info of what this board can do. And/or check out a detailed review here:
http://www.ocprices.com/index.php?rev_id=172&action=reviews&cat_id=74

Thanks for the advice. I removed the Intell 875PBZ board off my NewEgg wish list.
Though I liked it because it did not have built on audio,(the only one I could find like that).

Crucial says this PC4000 1gb Ballistic stick will work.
At $249.00 would it be worth it?
2 sticks of pc3200 512mb will cost about $160.00.
And 1 stick of pc3200 1gb is about $250.00
All other memory recomended tops out at pc3200.
I was surprised to see this one particular model of PC4000 recomemded.
I don't no much about memory,but this PC4000 is buffered?
What is that?
This PC4000 should be faster ?
Plan on a Northwood 3.0 ghx.
Thanks for helping me ,
Johnny Walker
jwalk2c

jwalk2c said:

Thanks for the advice. I removed the Intell 875PBZ board off my NewEgg wish list.
Though I liked it because it did not have built on audio,(the only one I could find like that).

Crucial says this PC4000 1gb Ballistic stick will work.
At $249.00 would it be worth it?
2 sticks of pc3200 512mb will cost about $160.00.
And 1 stick of pc3200 1gb is about $250.00
All other memory recomended tops out at pc3200.
I was surprised to see this one particular model of PC4000 recomemded.
I don't no much about memory,but this PC4000 is buffered?
What is that?
This PC4000 should be faster ?
Plan on a Northwood 3.0 ghx.
Thanks for helping me ,
Johnny Walker
jwalk2c

Click to expand...

Congrats on the 4PDA2+. As for memory, if you're running on a 800Mhz FSB (which you would with the 4PDA2+ and a 2.8 or 3.0 P4) and you don't OC, then pc4000 memory would run as pc3200. If and when you decide to OC, then that pc4000 is guaranteed to go up to the speed of pc4000 (whether the cpu can do it or not should be the only limiting factor, given you'll be using the 4PDA2+ which will do that OC easily). If you were to go with pc3200 memory, then decide to OC, the memory may go so far but is not guaranteed to do so.

So on that note, I suggest to just go with some pc4000 right away. Crucial makes good memory, but I'm hooked on OCZ because all of it that I've bought over the years has OCed like crazy and all is still going strong. The OCZ pc4000 Gold memory that was used in that review of the 4PDA2+ that I posted, is the memory I have.
http://www.ocprices.com/index.php?rev_id=177&action=reviews&cat_id=69
It is pc4000, but with my 4PDA2+ I've pushed my P4 2.8C up to 3.71. Wedzilla, using the 4PDA2+ and the OCZ pc4000 Gold, posted screenshots in this forum where he got his P4 2.4C up to 3.7, then he put in a P4 3.0 and got it up to 4.1Ghz I believe. Just do a search on his name.

If you go with the OCZ pc4000 Gold from Newegg, don't bother with the "dual channel kit", it costs more for no reason. Just get two 512MB sticks and it will work exactly the same as the "kit" but for less money (around $125 each now).

If you need anymore help, just ask.

Thanks very much for you advice. I am sorry that it took so long to respond,but once I started ordering parts and then started putting computer together , we'll lets just say it has kept me busy.
Still not built up the courage to turn it on. I decided to order a sound card and be done with it,so that gives me a few more days to relax..
Love this motherboard so far, that is what experinece I have had with it such as for building and the accessories that come with it.. Lots of nice goodys.
The manual was very familar because of my first epox board and I had no trouble understanding what went where. This is my first. Lots of fun so far.
Johnny Walker

No problem.

Now, just push the button and fire it up! Er, um, I mean "start" it up.

Badger got me onto the 4pda2+ too, and so far I've been fairly pleased. I had some slight difficulty putting XP on my SATA seagate, but I think that was because I fudged something somewhere (still don't know what I did). OC is extremely easy, now my cooling may be slowing me down (I think, still under investigation) I just did a little to see it do it, and then just kindof left it like that. But I got the 3700 memory so everything benefits from my OC extravaganda.