MoBo upgrade help

Goat_Guy

I am looking to upgrade my current Motherboard. I have currently an Asus A7V8X-X, which is their current cheapest model. I am looking for a couple of things:

a) Socket A (I am keeping my 2600+, so it doesnt need to be 400mhz FSB)
b) Has holes for bolt on heatsink- I have wanted to upgrade for a while but there is one TINY capacitor that is in the way of one of the holes...this has pushed me over the limit, because now I cant upgrade to the SLK947U heatsink. I want something that will fit this and the SP94. I reallly dont want to attach a 20oz. chunk of copper via the socket...I want security.
c) ATX (duh)
d) Is under $75...this is the stinger
e) *not necessary* Has onboard SATA ( and subsequently onboard RAID)
f) Chipset doesnt matter to me. I dont really care about RAM timings or AGP\PCI voltages...the only overclocking I do is multiplier and FSB of my CPU, along with my GPU as well.

Now, this board only needs to hold me for about 2 years until I upgrade to (hopefully) a new vid card, 64bit proc, and new mobo. I have a fine videocard (9700), and my chip will last me a while (or until I upgrade), but my motherboard really frustrates me, becuase I cant upgrade to agood heatsink. Ive got the money allocated for it (along with a new PSU and some more quieter fans), and from shopping around, I have a good idea of a board. The Asus A7V600 fits all of my criteria (plus $5), and although it is somewhat old, it seems like it would be a solid board for the price...

DH is a great site, and Im sure I can get some good answers. Any other suggestions?

Logla

Just saw this thread.

Did you find a solution? I don't know the board you mean so I can't think of anything but I'm sure someone else will.,

Zardon

Well if you want a cheap, good value board which can take the best heatsinks, you should contemplate the abit N7FS, it can take the thermalright SLK900 series coolers and coupled with a good 92 mm fan, you will get fantastic cooling and low noise. There have been some bios issues which I reported on in the news section a while ago with these boards but for the price/performance you wont get a better performing board. It has SATA raid, which was one of your requests.

If you can spend more the Lan Party Rev b is a good value board, loaded with extras - 4 satas, high FSBS etc. It wont take the SLK900 cooler though - so thats probably out (along with the price).

just some options. Incidentally I think you mean the SP97 (SOCKET A heatpipe version) - the SP94 is for intel processors (socket 478).

Roadee

I really can't agree more with Zardon. If you are doing overclocking, then you need hardware that can and will handle it, or you will just be pissing in the wind. The Abit NF7-S can not be beat for performance vs. price. In that category, it is the BEST........hands down.

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