Decent 775 mobo for $50-75?

[NLight95]

I'm building a budget system for my friend. She has a Celeron E1200 and wants a socket 775 mb for it. She'll be using it mainly to surf the net, for light office work, and to play casual games (she got a good deal on a X1900XT, which will go in the system).

So I'm looking for some recommendations since my experience has always been with mobos in a considerably higher price range. I prefer a std ATX mb rather than a micro unit but I know at this price range you can't be too choosy.

Any recommendations?

P.S. Overclocking capabilities would be a nice plus. The E1200 will do at least 2600MHz at stock voltages.

[karl_eller]

You can get the odd open-box P35 or P45 board on NewEgg for around that price. They're currently offering the MSI P45 Neo3-FR for US$60, and it's not a half-bad board. Only problem with open box is you might not (read: probably won't) get all the accessories that come with a retail box.

For retail, you're pretty much going to be limited to G31/33/41 boards, with the occasional low-end P31 or P43 board. If you can find one, a Gigabyte GA-EG31M-S2 is a half decent overclocker for it's money once you disable the integrated video. It's mATX, though, but that just means more room in the case :p:

Another option is to look 2nd hand. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding people selling mid-range P35's and P45's for around that kind of money, and unless you get a lemon they should be pretty decent.

Eller

[NLight95]

You can get the odd open-box P35 or P45 board on NewEgg for around that price. They're currently offering the MSI P45 Neo3-FR for US$60, and it's not a half-bad board. Only problem with open box is you might not (read: probably won't) get all the accessories that come with a retail box.

For retail, you're pretty much going to be limited to G31/33/41 boards, with the occasional low-end P31 or P43 board. If you can find one, a Gigabyte GA-EG31M-S2 is a half decent overclocker for it's money once you disable the integrated video. It's mATX, though, but that just means more room in the case :p:

Another option is to look 2nd hand. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding people selling mid-range P35's and P45's for around that kind of money, and unless you get a lemon they should be pretty decent.

Eller

Actually, I totally forgot about the open box stuff, but I'm glad you brought it to my attention. I have plenty of extra cables lying around and can always download drivers and put them on a CD as well as printing a pdf manual. She'd much prefer a P35 for the extra USB ports. She has an MP3 player and likes to use a USB drive from time to time.

Karl Eller, eh? I'm a Vikings fan and remember Carl Eller quite well. :up:

[Hockeydude]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299R
Open Box Asus P5Q Pro for only $70

[turbotrey]

I'd go with mATX so you don't have to bother with a GPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157115

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128072

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128357

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131288

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135066

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135063

[NLight95]

I'd go with mATX so you don't have to bother with a GPU.

Did you look at my original post? She has a 1900XT and she definitely wants to keep it. Can't say I blame her. I should add here that some of her "casual" games include Civ4, AOE III, and some others I can't think of right now. Nothing too heavy (like Crysis), but definitely more demanding than Peggle. :rofl:

[NLight95]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299R
Open Box Asus P5Q Pro for only $70

Gosh, a P45. I like that idea but have to convince her to lay out the extra $$$.

[shoota]

you said 50-75 right? so why not a open box p45? i just got a p5q pro shipped for $77 last week. it's working quite well.

[GAR]

that p5q is the best bet for the price, spending any less for a new one you will get a POS board.

[Eagle_Watch]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138095

BIOSTAR GF7050V-M7, $50

Excellent overclocking capabilities for its price. 110% core overvoltage, 420fsb. On the other hand, it will hardly handle ram above 900mhz.

Expect something like 3100mhz with this mobo and the e1200