Intel D865PERL Motherboard

Pros: Fast onboard Gigabit Ethernet, excellent onboard AD1985 sound, works fine in Linux, support for Prescott.
Cons: Onboard sound had some issues with Mandrake 10 (later resolved)

Intro I decided to build a new PC dedicated to Linux and to playing Games on XP a couple of weeks back. I know Linux can be tricky to install on certain hardware as I have Linux running on another PC with an Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and it ...

Pros: Stable, modern features, upgradable
Cons: No on-board video, minimal overclocking, requires Pentium-compatible power supply, no ISA slots

I bought this board because I was more interested in "using" my computer rather than working on it to keep it running. I like the features of the board such as SATA support (Serial ATA), 8 USB 2.0, PATA capable, 800mhz FSB capable, 2 IDE channels, Dual-Channel memory support, on-board sound, 8x AGP slot, just to name a few. The 865PE chipset is very similiar in performance and features to that of the more expensive 875 chipset. I use the computer for video editing, databases, internet and, of course, gaming. Overclocking is limited to a "burn-in" function in the BIOS that will allow about a 4% increase. The BIOS can be updated (flashed). Overall this is a very stable and comfortable board with plenty of room for expansion and future upgrades.

Pros: A good solid dependable motherboard to build a great system from. Many upgradeable features built-in.
Cons: No overclocking functions in board's BIOS.(Not really needed either when running a 3.4Ghz "Prescott" P4)

When I began the endeavor of building a new computer in the spring of 2004, I set forth again on researching what was what in the new innovations in the market's componentry. I chose Intel's D865PERLL motherboard because I have always had good luck with Intel's reputation for reliability, quality, and long service life with my prior system I had built 7 years before.

I was making a big jump from a aging Intel Pentium 1 200Mhz MMX system, to a Pentium 4 3.4Ghz powerhouse. The Intel D865PERLL board was reasonably priced, had all the features I was looking for, and a good warranty plan.

All in all it became the heart of the best system I have built to date. Me having been building my own personal systems for 11 years now.

Pros: Highly Upgradeable, Low cost, Stable, Future Ready, Best Buy!
Cons: No Over-clocking controls... no need.

This is an awesome buy, the board supports all future technologies Including HT (Hyper Threading), Dual Channel
DDR SDRAM (from 266 - 400 mhz!), 8X AGP, USB 2.0, 800 MHz FSB, 6 Channel (Analog Devices Inc.) Audio w/Port sensing, SATA (1.5Gb/s). The board supports the new Celeron in the 478-pin Package and the Pentium 4 (478) Up to (But Not Limited To) 3.06 GHz! This system can handle processors that Intel doesn't even make yet! This is a great board for someone building a budget system but doesn't want to miss out on all the new technologies.
This board comes with many, many more features! For the money & features it's in the top five. I Highly recommend this motherboard for anyone looking for a high quality feature packed system.