TSGL: Foxconn motherboard

[Dave]

Hi Don,
   I've been using AMD CPUs exclusively for at least seven years, and 
have no major complaints.  Some of the
older ones tended to run hot, but well within their permissible range, 
and adding a couple of extra case
fans to ensure good ventilation solved that handily.  Newer good cases 
do a better job of cooling.

Here's a link to some MB specs:
http://www.motherboards.org/mobot/motherboards_d/Foxconn/IGPSK7MA-ERS/
and another with some upgrade tips:
http://how-to-upgrade.com/dsp_memory.cfm?model_id=51539
and the motherboard manual 
<http://www.foxconnchannel.com/EN-US/service/DriverDetail.aspx?id=en-gb0000401&Pname=IGPSK7MA-ERS,IGPSK7MA-RS>
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/EN-US/service/DriverDetail.aspx?id=en-gb0000401&Pname=IGPSK7MA-ERS,IGPSK7MA-RS

   I see it only has three PCI slots, which might be restrictive, but it 
wouldn't be very expensive to
swap in another motherboard with more expandability (so long as you can 
get M$ to go along with
it, considering their increasingly restrictive upgrade policies!).

  Run, do not walk, to _buy that LCD,_ and preferably get TWO.  Until 
you've worked with
dual monitors, you'll never realize how much more efficient it is.  now 
that the price of
LCDs are within reason for 19" or even larger, it's not nearly the 
budget breaker.  The only hitch
is ensuring the video card can handle two. You didn't specifiy which vid 
card, it appears to be
onboard NVIDIA nForce2-G 

   Of course if you have the office space to house those 21" or 22" 
behemoth CRTs,
(and sufficient A/C to cool the room!) both new and used high-end models 
are practically
available for the asking!  [Yeah, yeah, I know I nagged about duals 
before *http://tinyurl.com/es8wr]*
There are still graphics professionals who swear by CRT over LCD,
but I doubt you're too concerned over /precise/ color calibration, as in 
commercial printing.
I'm still using dual 21's and can't wait until they die so I can justify 
replacing them and regaining half my
physical desktop real estate! [hmmm, where did I put last night's 
lottary ticket?].

  The only obvious suggestion would be to max-out the RAM to 2GB (unless 
you're planning on
running Windows 98 ME :-D ) [{{choke  hack gasp!}} ]

  All in all it looks like a fine system.

hth
dave r
> I'm considering buying a used computer (clone) with the following specs, to 
> replace my aging and very basic Celeron2000:
>
> AMD Athlon3200 chip
> Foxconn Mother board  IGPSK7MA-ERS
> 1Gb RAM
> 180 Gb HD.
> N-Vidia graphics card.
> Superior case.
> Flatscreen Viewsonic top-of-range 19" CRT monitor (brand new)---I may elect 
> to pay an extra $A100 for LCD.
>
> Does anyone have any recommendations, for or against, these specs?  I'm not 
> familiar with either Athlon chips ( I see the 3200 is actually 2000 GHz 
> speed---is this a fair comparison, or marketing hype?) nor Foxconn mobos, 
> and I can't find any reviews of this mobo.
>
> At the price being offered, it's a much cheaper alternative to upgrading my 
> present computer, or buying a  new clone.
>
> Don Penlington
>  From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
> Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
> http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html
>
>
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