Upgrade advice

[whackjester]

I'm gonna replace my current motherboard (Asus A7V8X) and processor (AMD XP 2200+ T-Bred). I would like to get the best performance increase for the buck. I would also like to use a chipset other than VIA. I am looking to spend around 200 bucks total for a new motherboard and CPU. I'll be using all of my old stuff with it, including the 1GB of Kingston PC2700 RAM that I have.

Originally I was going to puchase a socket A Barton XP 3000+ (400 mhz) and an Asus A7N8X. Now, I also saw that I can purchase a socket 754 Sempron and some other motherboard combination for roughly the same price. I know there's a lot of talk about both socket technologies becoming out of date in a while.

This will be for an HTPC.

Which should I choose and why?

 

[kirbyrj]

If $200 is your goal, I'd stick with a s754 NF3 board (Epox 8KDA3J or Chaintech VNF3) and then get either the Sempron 3100+ or A64 2800+. Either way, it should be well under $200.

I would imagine that s754 should be viable for at least a while longer with the Sempron even if the A64's top out at 3700+ (which you could probably pick up for cheap later).

 

[Seer]

Yes definatly go with the sempy for a proc. But maybe you should go with an Asus motherboard. Its kinda personl preferance, and Asus is mine. Nice thing about Asus is that they offer alot of their boards with and Nvidia Chipset if you don't want VIA. They also have other chipset options too if you don't want either of those

 

[whackjester]

Thanks guys,

I went with a Sempron 3100+ and an Asus K8N motherboard.

 

[kirbyrj]

Good luck with your build .