DescentBB

...that is not crazy with the PCI 16x slots? I dont need SLI and I will never use it, yet I cant find a decent AM2 motherboard that doesn't come with 2 16x slots. The ones that do starve out the regular pci slots and I dont like that. Is there anything out there?

Edit: I should clarify: A motherboard that doesn't suck.

Just because a board supports SLI doesn't mean you have to use it. And PCI is on it's last breath, also PCIe x16 slots can still be used as PCIe x1, x4 or x8 slots for other types of cards, they aren't just for video cards. And unless you have some really good reason sticking to some PCI cards you already have, you should just dump the old PCI completely and get a pure PCIe system.

I didn't know that you can plug anything into 16x cards, sounds good to me.

And the reason for the old PCI slots is because I still have devices on that format, and im not going to throw them out for a new format, especially considering that companies today are STILL manufacturing cards on the old slot. I hardly see any devices for 1x and such.

most AM2 motherboards come with USB, fakeraid, and networking onboard(nforce4 boards come with 2), so you don't really need those.

I really can't think of anything you need a PCI slot for with a modern motherboard, besides a sound card.

You forgot TV tuner card.

But while we are still on the subject, would anyone like to reccomend a board? Im a fan of MSI but I read that their AM2 offerings were not as hot as their 939.

If you are just a casual user you probably don't want DFI, they make some of the best overclockers boards, but too many tweaks can be just as bad as not enough. ASUS and Abit should be good, I've had some luck with some ultra cheap Biostar boards. Avoid EpoX like the plague, I finally threw out the last epox board I was using and replaced it with an abit, first time that computer has worked right in years.