# I think I'm in the market for a new motherboard... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777 "2006-04-07T20:41:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777/1 "2006-04-07T20:41:45Z")
…and I’m looking for recommendations (my current MBD is starting to act flaky). I’m looking for one that is realiable and not too pricey (~$100) and can handle my processor (3.0GHz P4 Prescott) and memory (PC 3200). I’d like to find one that has at least one PCI-X slot and onboard ethernet. I’d prefer not to have integrated sound or video. Can anyone point me in a likely direction ? ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777/2 "2006-04-07T22:48:22Z")
> [@bauble](#): > > …and I’m looking for recommendations (my current MBD is starting to act flaky). I’m looking for one that is realiable and not too pricey (~$100) and can handle my processor (3.0GHz P4 Prescott) and memory (PC 3200). > > I’d like to find one that has at least one PCI-X slot and onboard ethernet. I’d prefer not to have integrated sound or video. > > Can anyone point me in a likely direction ? I don’t really know about P4 mobos, but I’m going to ask one silly question just to get it out of the way. Is this a “homebuilt” box or a Dell (or some other “mainstream” manufacturer) computer you’re upgrading? If it’s a Dell, you may need to swap out your PSU too (what with them using all kinds of fancy proprietary things and connectors)… ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777/3 "2006-04-07T23:51:12Z")
> [@Gozu Tashoya](#): > > I don’t really know about P4 mobos, but I’m going to ask one silly question just to get it out of the way. Is this a “homebuilt” box or a Dell (or some other “mainstream” manufacturer) computer you’re upgrading? If it’s a Dell, you may need to swap out your PSU too (what with them using all kinds of fancy proprietary things and connectors)… It’s one I put together myself; it’s been ok so far, but little quirks are popping up that make me think I should replace it (plus, I wouldn’t mind a PCI-X video card). ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777/4 "2006-04-08T03:15:19Z")
These days, built-in ethernet is pretty much standard. Integrated sound is also pretty standard, but of course you’re always free to use another card. About PCI-X, do note that PCI-X video cards are still pretty expensive. When I built my own computer, I went down to a local computer store so I could look at the hardware in person. For me, the mobo was pretty much an afterthought. I chose my processor (Pentium 4) and then asked the guy what a good motherboard would be for it. I loved the fact that it has a bunch of integrated features (sound, video and ethernet) and it has plugs for SATA drives (if I need to replace my hard drive, the new one is going to be SATA.) I recommend going out and looking at them in a store that has a decent selection of build-your-own components. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-in-the-market-for-a-new-motherboard/351777/5 "2006-04-08T05:14:34Z")
Go to [newegg](http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=280) and use their fancy mobo finder. You can put in all those specs.