Buying parts for a new computer...

[Ark42]

What are the known-good brands for motherboards/power supplies right now? Are Abit and Seasonic still good? Last I knew, those were about my only choices for good-cap stuff from Newegg.com. I'm entirely sick of Epox, Asus, and Antec now.

I'll probably be going to Intel Core 2 Duo, after ~10 years of all AMD systems from K6-2, Athlon 1.33, Athlon XP 2200+, to Athlon X2 4200+. Anybody recommend Intel or nVidia chipsets over the other? I've used nForce boards for quite a while, and they've been quite good other than the exploding caps.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Buying parts for a new computer...

Why can't I get this through peoples heads?

->>> There -AREN'T- any 'good brands'. - NONE - ZERO - ZIP

'Brands' have models. - - All 'good brands' have several bad models.

You have to look at the specific model / part.
The 'Brand' doesn't tell you anything at all.

Now that I've ranted.... LOL

The thing to do is to research the specific part which doesn't always result in usefull information anyway.
-
For instance power supply (and to a lesser degree motherboard) reviews RARELY mention what brands of caps are used.
-
Gee thanks PSU reviewer!
I now know it has enough power for my system (which I would know on the first day anyway) ....
... but YOU DIDN'T TELL ME if it's possibly going to explode caps, catch fire, and maybe even BURN DOWN MY HOUSE in a few months!
~~~
OH! What a -responsible- journalist you are there Mr. PSU reviewer! - NOT!

[Oh damn, more rants. - Sorry, It's my nature.]

Seasonic ONLY a good bet if it's retail and actual Seasonic Brand.
"Made by Seasonic" or "Seasonic - OEM" may get you OST craps.

Antec will get you Fujhyuu, OST, or Capxon caps.
Only the Capxon are models worth considering and they cost so much you would do better (value for dollar) with another brand anyway.
-
[Just FYI: Teapo and Capxon caps in PSU's aren't up there with Chemicon/Nichicon/Rubycon but they seem to do okay in most PSU's.]

As far as build quality:
Intel boards are good except some older versions (2002-2004-ish) that used the HM or HN Nichicons. (Or any with KZG, which don't like heat..)
Abit is generally good. (Same notes as Intel.)
Tyan is good. (Same notes as Intel.)
Asus has been hit/miss since 1998.
MSI is hit/miss.
ECS having a good model is rare.
EPOX (so I understand) has gotten better.
I've had good luck with Gigabyte (after replacing KZG) but some people haven't.
(I don't think they replaced the KZG's before the bad.)

Intel Chipsets.
I'm not current with the new Intel chipsets like Gxx or whatever names but I know a few are having issues. OS compatibility/drivers and things like that. But that's typical with brand new to the market chipsets. [One reason I buy older stuff. Most of the annoyances have been worked out by someone else.] It will probably work itslef out as newer chipset drivers come out. [No guarantees though.]

I've never use nVidia chipsets so I can't say. [I'm not a gamer.]
Haven't used VIA in ages.
I won't use SIS.

In fact I haven't done AMD since slot Athlons.
- But I still have one of those! Works fantastic! - LOL

~~~

Pardon my ADD. Bad ADD day. I keep forgetting what I'm writing about.

My personal 'sweet spot' right now [sweet spot being - old enough to have problems fixed already (and be cheaper $$) and new enough to not be a major slow poke] is Intel boards with i865 chipsets. (Or similar.)
-
I don't use XP or Vista so 98% of what I do would happen just as fast on an old P3 1GHz. - I see no reason to upgrade all the way to the leading edge just to support Microsoft's want to sell a bulky overloaded CRAP operating system.
That's just a waste of money.

.

[bgavin]

Re: Buying parts for a new computer...

You can do very well with Yesterday's Gear... Intel D875PBZ boards and chipsets. They work well for Socket 478 processors. Willawake turned me on to these boards, and I wound up with several for clients.

The new Intel boards are suffering BIOS problems. And lack of floppy controller, which I think is seriously stupid... YMMV. The new Intel boards are also suffering a high reporting rate for DOA.

After a very long run with AMD, I gave up. I don't need the chronic incompatible Asian Chipset Bullshit. nVidia was the only chipset I half liked, and even it causes grief. VIA sucks canal water, and I won't use it on a bet. ATi got bought out by AMD, and seems ambiguous. SiS is another don't touch, just like PCChips, etc.

The new Core2 Duo processors perform well, dissipate very low heat, and are reasonably priced.

[Ark42]

Re: Buying parts for a new computer...

I appreciate the rants and understand brands vs models

I'm going to be building at least 2 (one for me, one for a frield) computers, and my friends intentions are to "play Surpreme Commander fast and smooth". The games I play right now are not all that graphically invovled (Age Of Mythology) but regardless, we'll be buying new middle-high end stuff, so it lasts into the future. I'm considering the nVidia 680i chipset (probably cheaper than 780i, but still fairly new). We do not overclock, because stability is a key factor we look for, hence I absolutely hate dealing with bad capacitors.

I'll consider Tyan and Intel brand boards (current or 1 generation old chipsets most likely) in addition to Abit, based on what you said. I'll probably have to stick with Seasonic PSU, which are pretty expensive, but simply not worth risking complete system failure to save a few $ on.
Not sure if I'll go with nVidia or Intel chipset yet though.

So.. on the new Intel boards, without a floppy drive, how do you update the BIOS? :\
15 years of building computers now and thats about the only use for a floppy drive, but it's a pretty important use that I never go without so far.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Buying parts for a new computer...

I've been researching PSU's and here's my list of maybe's. (so far)
These are those that shouldn't need any preemptive recapping.
(Because you don't wanna recap.)
Don't take this as gospel. - I didn't inspect them in person.

PCP&C Silencer - all Jap Caps.
Silverstone Zeus - all Jap Caps.

Silverstone Element and Strider series - Teapo caps
Rosewill RX and Xtreme Series -- All Teapo caps
......... (Some other Rosewill series's are serious CRAP)
Antec Quattro 850W -- Teapo secondary caps
Antec Basiq -- The secondary has CapXon
......... (Some other Antec series's are serious CRAP)
HEC - Ace and Win -- Teapo/CapXon throughout. (HEC aka Compucase)
....... [Suspect HEC Zephyr series is good too but haven't that confirmed yet.]
MGE PSMG-600EX Magnum UL -- Capxon in secondary

Primary caps don't matter much. (Those one or two 'beer can' caps.)
Those rarely fail unless there is a power surge some major AC power problem.

For their cost/value point really like the looks of the HEC ACE and Win units.
(They are the same electrics with different fan and heat-sink arrangements.)
See reviews at Hardware Secrets.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/396/1
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/412

.

[bgavin]

Re: Buying parts for a new computer...

My new Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 just arrived from the UK eBay seller. Nice, clean looking board. All Japanese polymer (red tops), and sufficient heat sinks on NB, SB to allow cooling with a well placed auxiliary fan.

I won't get to the board for several days due to client workload. I've been in LA on a consultation, and the work continued to pile up here. I have to dig out first.