quest for a mainboard

26 Feb 2006 As I've posted before, I've come to the conclusion that I will need an AMD motherboard with 939 socket and at least 4 (probably 5) PCI slots. Audio and video should be onboard, otherwise I'll need another PCI slot.

I've looked at this over and over again, but never wrote down my findings and thus I have to start over every time.

I will be looking at the mainboards found here:

Abit mainboards

AN8 SLI 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Soundkarte, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
129,90 €*

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/techspec.php?categories=1&model=275

[A PCI-E 1x card will also fit in a 16x slot, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express]

No videocard :(
It has enough slots, soundcard and onboard Gbit LAN though

Fatal1ty AN8 SLI 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Soundkarte, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW, Guru Panel LCD 
169,90 €*   

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=246
Again enough slots, gbit and sound, but no video card

AN8 32X 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
194,90 €*

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=310

Once more, no videocard but enough of everything else.

On to AsRock !

939A8X-M 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xAGP, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, S-ATA RAID 
49,90 €*   

http://www.asrock.com/product/939A8X-M.htm

This one doesn't have enough slots (1 AGP doesn't count :) and no video
it has 100MBit LAN and sound though

 
939S56-M 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, S-ATA RAID 
54,90 €* 

http://www.asrock.com/product/939S56-M.htm

Barely enough slots but no video. Also it has 100MBit and sound.

 
939Dual-SATA2
<4800+, 1x AGP, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, S-ATA II, S-ATA RAID 
62,90 €*   

http://www.asrock.com/product/939Dual-SATA2.htm

same remark.

939NF4G-SATA2 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, VGA shared, S-ATA II RAID 
64,90 €*   

http://www.asrock.com/product/939NF4G-SATA2.htm
This is promising: it has 2 PCI slots and 2 PCI-E, video and audio onboard and 100MBit LAN

939SLI-eSATA2
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x8, 1xPCIe x16, AM2 Port, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, S-ATA II RAID 
69,90 €*

http://www.asrock.com/product/939SLI-eSATA2.htm

This one has more than enough slots, but no video on board. I could buy a videocard and plug it into one of the extra slots though...
100MBit and sound onboard

Time for Asus

A8N-VM 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x4, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, VGA shared, Sound, LAN, 2x S-ATA II RAID 
72,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=0&model=768&modelmenu=1

Although in the description, there are a lot of PCI slots, I can only see 3 on the picture (2 PCI and 1 PCI-E 16x. Screwup ?

A8S-X
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID 
77,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=0&model=755&modelmenu=1
Same here. On the picture there is only 1 PCI-E 16x slot. There are enough slots in total however.
No video card :(
Gbit LAN and sound.

A8V-E SE
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID 
77,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=143&model=576&modelmenu=1

Enough slots, no video, gbit and sound

A8N5X
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x4, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID 
82,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=207&model=596&modelmenu=1

Enough slots, no video, sound and gbit

A8N-E 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID 
99,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=171&model=455&modelmenu=1
Enough slots, no video, sound and gbit

A8N-SLI SE
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1x PCIe x4, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID 
111,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148&model=789&modelmenu=1
Enough slots, no video, sound and gbit

A8R-MVP
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
114,90 €*   

This one doesn't exist on the ASUS site ?

A8N-SLI 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
119,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148&model=382&modelmenu=1

Enough slots, no video, sound and gbit

A8N-SLI Deluxe 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Dual Gbit LAN, Dual RAID, FW 
149,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148&model=375&modelmenu=1

Enough slots, no video, sound and 2! gbit

A8N-SLI Premium 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Dual Gbit LAN, S-ATA II, Dual RAID, FW 
157,90 €*   

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148&model=539&modelmenu=1
Enough slots, no video, sound and 2! gbit

A8N32-SLI Deluxe 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x4, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Dual Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID, FW 
99,90 €*

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=226&model=744&modelmenu=1

Enough slots, no video, sound and 2! gbit

So far, not much good :(
I'm thinking I will probably have to buy a videocard...

ECS Elitegroup:

nFORCE4-A939
<4000+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA 
66,90 €*

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?MenuID=16&LanID=9&DetailID=493&DetailName=Specification

Again, enough slots, sound and LAN, but no video...

Epox:

EP-9NPA+ Ultra 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 3xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA 
106,90 €*

http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=403

Although the specs indicate otherwise (PCI-E VGA), I see nothing that indicates it has a videocard on board.
The rest of the specs is OK

EP-9NPA+SLI 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, 4x S-ATA II RAID, FW 
136,90 €*

http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=390#report

Same problem here, with the added attraction that the link is to the EP-9NPA3 SLI motherboard, not the one I'm looking for because it doesn't exist on the site.

Gigabyte mainboards!

GA-K8NMF-9
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, 4x S-ATA, RAID, FW 
64,90 €*

http://www.gigabyte.de/MotherBoard/Products/ComparisonSheet_GA-K8NMF-9.htm

Barely enough slots, but no video :(
There's LAN and audio

GA-K8NF-9
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA 
84,90 €*

http://www.gigabyte.de/MotherBoard/Products/ComparisonSheet_GA-K8NF-9.htm

Enough slots but again no video
audio and lan ok

GA-K8N Pro-SLI
<4800+, 2xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW
111,90 €*

http://www.gigabyte.de/MotherBoard/Products/ComparisonSheet_GA-K8N%20Pro-SLI.htm
enough slots, no video
lan ok audio ok

sigh

Last but not least: MSI mainboards

K8T Neo2-F 
<4800+, 4xPCI, 1xAGP, 2xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID 
64,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=650
This one has 5 PCI slots and 1 AGP (probably shared). 4 SATA ports and 4 PATA. GBit LAN and audio, but no video :(

K8NGM2-L 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, VGA shared, S-ATA II RAID 
79,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=702

Barely enough slots, but this one has video! (and not just anything, a NVidia geforce 6100). GBit LAN and audio too.
Even an optional DVI connector

K8N Neo4-F 
<4800+, 4xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1x PCIe x4, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA RAID 
84,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=652
More than enough slots but no video (although this one could have a PCI-E card without losing too much slots). Audio and GBit LAN ok

RS482M4-ILD 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, LAN, VGA shared, S-ATA RAID, FW 
89,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=693

barely enough slots, it has video (with DVI and TV-out), audio and LAN

K8NGM2-FID 
<4800+, 2xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, VGA shared, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
89,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=702

barely enough slots, video(optional DVI and TV-out), audio and LAN

K8N Neo2 Platinum 
<3800+, 5xPCI, 1xAGP, 4xDDR, Sound, Dual LAN, S-ATA RAID, FW 
109,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=607

5PCI and 1AGP slot, no video, audio and LAN
can support 4 SATA disks and 2 PATA

K8N SLI-F 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 1xPCIe x1, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID 
109,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=681
well enough slots, audio and LAN ok, but no video

K8N Neo4 Platinum 
<4800+, 4xPCI, 2xPCIe x1, 1xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Gbit LAN, S-ATA 
124,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=637
enough slots, audio and 2 GBit ports!
no video, but could fit a videocard in there instead of one networkcard

K8N-Diamond-54G 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Dual Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW, W-LAN, BT 
159,90 €*   

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=638
This link is for the K8N-Diamond, not the 54G

My guess is the 54G stands for wireless ?
Depending on how you interpret "share" it has just enough slots.
4 SATA and 2 PATA, no video but audio and 2GBit ports

K8N Diamond Plus 
<4800+, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe x16, 4xDDR, Sound, Dual Gbit LAN, S-ATA II RAID, FW 
196,90 €*

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=710

This one has tons of slots, 2 GBit ports and place for 6 SATA disks. it also has audio but no video.
A videocard can fit in one of the many slots though

Mainboard	PCI slots	PCI-e slots	AGP slots	SATA ports	PATA ports	LAN ports	video	audio	Price
Abit AN8 SLI	2	4	0	4	2	1		X	129,90 €
Abit Fatal1ty AN8 SLI	2	4	0	4	2	1		X	169,90 €
Abit AN8 32X	2	4	0	4	2	1		X	194,90 €
AsRock 939A8X-M	3	0	1	2	2	1		X	49,90 €
AsRock 939S56-M	2	2	0	2	2	1		X	54,90 €
AsRock 939Dual-SATA2	3	2	1	3	2	1		X	62,90 €
AsRock 939NF4G-SATA2	2	2	0	2	2	1	X	X	64,90 €
AsRock 939SLI-eSATA2	3	3	0	4	2	1		X	69,90 €
Asus A8N-VM	2	2	0	2	2	1	X	X	72,90 €
Asus A8S-X	3	2	0	2	2	1		X	77,90 €
Asus A8V-E SE	3	3	0	2	2	1		X	77,90 €
Asus A8N5X	3	4	0	4	2	1		X	82,90 €
Asus A8N-E	4	3	0	4	2	1		X	99,90 €
Asus A8N-SLI SE	3	3	0	4	2	1		X	111,90 €
Asus A8R-MVP
Asus A8N-SLI	3	4	0	4	2	1		X	119,90 €
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe	3	4	0	8	2	2		X	149,90 €
Asus A8N-SLI Premium	3	3	0	8	2	2		X	157,90 €
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe	3	3	0	5	2	2		X	99,90 €
ECS EliteGroup nFORCE4-A939	3	3	0	4	4	1		X	66,90 €
Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra	3	3	0	4	2	1		X	106,90 €
Epox EP-9NPA+SLI	3	3	0	4	2	1		X	136,90 €
Gigabyte GA-K8NMF-9	2	2	0	4	2	1		X	64,90 €
Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9	3	3	0	4	2	1		X	84,90 €
Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI	2	4	0	4	2	1		X	111,90 €
MSI K8T Neo2-F	5	0	1	4	2	1		X	64,90 €
MSI K8NGM2-L	2	2	0	4	2	1	X	X	79,90 €
MSI K8N Neo4-F	4	3	0	4	2	1		X	84,90 €
MSI RS482M4-ILD	2	2	0	4	2	1	X	X	89,90 €
MSI K8NGM2-FID	2	2	0	4	2	1	X	X	89,90 €
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum	5	0	1	4	2	2		X	109,90 €
MSI K8N SLI-F	3	4	0	4	2	1		X	109,90 €
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum	4	3	0	4	2	2		X	124,90 €
MSI K8N-Diamond-54G	3	4	0	6	2	2		X	159,90 €
MSI K8N Diamond Plus	2	5	0	6	2	2		X	196,90 €

After doing all this research (we're now 1 day later), a friend of mine suggested that I use VLAN's for my multiple networks, which would cut down the number of network cards I need to 1.
Also, the Hauppauge PVR500 is a TV-tuner card which has 2 tuners on it + 2 hardware MPEG encoders.
That would cut down another slot :)