Shopping for a mobo...

...for my first build. All I need is the mainboard, CPU and some memory. I'm leaning toward a board with the Intel 915 or 925 series chipsets. I already have two IDE/ATA hdds - one with XP Pro on it and a brand new WD 250 Gb. Also have two good optical drives - CD-RW and DVD-RW and a new ATX case w/400w PS.
I'm moderately into gaming and NOT an overclocking enthusiast.
Need suggestions:
1.Onboard GPU or add-on card?
2.Quality and reliability - Asus? Abit? Intel? Gigabyte?
3.Do the latest mobos allow IDE drives to coexist with SATA drives?
4.Memory - DDR2 533? Other?
Thanks much!
Cost is not an object but I don't need a smokin' machine that I'll never use it's full capability.

 

If you are into gaming at all...you are better off not getting onboard graphics!! Only because...the gaming world is constantly changing, and that will allow you to upgrade the video card if needed, as opposed to spending the extra money on a board with good onboard video, only to find out a little on down the road...there is a game you really want but you need better video. So you go out and buy a new video card and spent twice the money!! this way you have total control of the video issue!!!!

All of the brands you listed are good motherboard brands!!!!

As far as ide and sata coexisting...i'm not sure about that!!

DDR2 is good ram, but do not buy generic...get something like Corsair, Kingston, or Mushkin!!

Keep in mind that when you build a new system, and you are putting a drive in that has a pre-existing OS...if it is XP or 2000...you have to either do a repair or new install of the os or it will not work!!

Also...whenever you put in a new cpu...you have to reset the cmos before you boot it up, or it will not properly recognize the cpu and give you problems!!!! To do that....remove the cmos battery with the power unplugged for a good 2 minutes!! Do not trust the jumper for clearing the cmos!!!! and make sure your bios is flashed to the latest revision!! If you have never flashed a bios, then make DARN SURE you know what you are doing or get someone who does!!! If one little thing goes wrong then you are screwed!!!!

Just thought I would drop some pointers since you said it is your first time of building a system!!!!!

Roger

 

I know for a fact that SATA and PATA drives can exist on the same machine.

Updating the bios can be tricky. Luckily, newer boards have checks that make sure that what version of bios you are installing actually does work with your board. In fact, some motherboard brands have utilities that will automatically download the bios you need for your computer. I have used them, they work. Well, Gigabyte boards.