You hit a nerve!!!  Unless you have everything laying around
including lots of the proper RAM, (FPM,SIMM,DIMM, EDO,
SDRAM, etc...)  it really does not "pay" to buy into "old" technology
in a big way...  You can't count of sticking your old Win95a
on one of these modern (especially low-end) motherboards.
Even Win95b is not "totally" supported either (or easy to get working
sometimes) soooo, you wind up spending more than you meant too.
If you really want a low end system look for a good used one...
$175+ up...  Or a new one, (cheap e-mail machine), for $400
(no rebate...).  Add in a low-end 17 inch monitor, (you say the
guy is old?), and you are right up to about the 8 or 9 hundred an
entry level "complete system" is selling for in this area.
You can spend a lot on an old machine, and
if one of those "old parts" goes, where are your going to get
a replacement to get it running again...  Time to put soap box away.
                        Rick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nasser, David" <[log in to unmask]>
> I have built a scant few desktop systems. All featured
> Intel cpu's and chipsets. The last I built was a year
> ago. I am somewhat out of touch.
>
> Myself and a friend with similar experience need to
> build a desktop system for a retired gentleman who
> is expected to run only Quicken and a web browser.
> Cost and reliability are top priority: performance
> is much less important.
>
> My friend has an old AT case and power supply. We are
> thinking that it _might_ be practical to find a good
> inexpensive lo-end motherboard with built-in features
> (sound, etc.) that supports AMD K6-2 cpu, socket 7.
>
> My friend is looking at Amptron boards. I lack
> familiarity with the equipment, vendors.
>
> Any advice is welcome. Should we be looking at
> Amptron boards? Soyo? SIS or other chipsets??

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