Alternative OC friendly motherboards for the "Core 2 Duo e6600"

[Gottmos]

Hi guys.

So. I'm buying a new computer.

I have read the "Feeding the monster" guide on this site and I did find it really helpful. I have also read a couple of other threads on this forum and found those helpful also. Though I need more info still...

I have decided on the "Core 2 Duo e6600" processor, since its seems worth its money.
I do want to be able to do some overclocking so my question to you is, what kind of motherboard should I be going for?

(I'm also getting a Radeon x1900 GT for graphix so a pci express motherboard is required).

However, if I would like a somewhat cheaper motherboard than the Asus Deluxe one, what should I consider? Maybe the Gigabyte DS3? Does anyone know how well you can overclock the e6600 with that board?

Do I have other alternatives really or is it Asus deluxe if I want to overclock well and some cheaper, like the asrock one if I just want something that works?

Alternatives, advice, hints please =)

 

[n7]

There are presently two good choices for "cheaper" OCing C2D motherboards.

Asus P5B (non-Deluxe)
Gigabte P965 DS3

My choice would be the Asus, mainly due to the mulitude of issues with the Gigabyte.

 

[Kougar]

I can't speak for the E6600 users, although their OCs weren't fairing as well as the Allendale's own with the DS3 either. I can however say the DS3 is supurb in OCing, and with the right config (non-voltage needy RAM) it will work fine out of the box with a E6300. (I am useing Corsair XMS2 2x1GB 800mhz, 1.9v stock, $180) So far I can run 486FSB stable for 4 hours of dual Prime, boot at 501FSB+, and have been folding@home at 476FSB 3.33ghz until I can get a better air cooler. Even using stock MCH and stock FSB voltage, both the MCH and ICH8 should be given active cooling though, and it is a absolute must if you raise either of those voltages by just 0.1v+.

 

[Gottmos]

Thx guys.

You got any links to testings (or trustworthy forum threads) of the Asus P5B (non-Deluxe) or Gigabte P965 DS3 oveclocking ability with the E6600?

 

[Gottmos]

Or perhaps this one? Very cheap alternative if I ignore the OCing.

http://www.asrock.com/product/775Dual-VSTA.htm


Or the INTEL "BAD AXE" perhaps, should be a nice mobo right?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: n7
mainly due to the mulitude of issues with the Gigabyte.

Which issues?

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: n7
mainly due to the mulitude of issues with the Gigabyte.

Which issues?

LOL, take your pick :laugh:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110460
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109719

I'm not saying the DS3 is bad.
It's a great board when you get it working right.

But for someone starting out OCing, i think the Asus P5B vanilla might just be a little easier

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: n7
mainly due to the mulitude of issues with the Gigabyte.

Which issues?

LOL, take your pick :laugh:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110460
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109719

I'm not saying the DS3 is bad.
It's a great board when you get it working right.

But for someone starting out OCing, i think the Asus P5B vanilla might just be a little easier

Those links were to a page for ds3 bios' and a FAQ...

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: buck
Those links were to a page for ds3 bios' and a FAQ...

No wai, really?

Of course they are.

That FAQ details issues people are having, & in the bios thread, you can read about more issues.

I don't have the patience to copy n paste all them here, sorry...

 

[Hound]

seems as if a lot of people are still getting some decent overclocks from the ds3

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1075792&page=15&pp=20

look as if appx 35% of the people on this database are using DS3's. Main thing to be carefull of is getting good memory that works at 1.8 - 1.9 v for the intitial boot so you cvan flash up to the latest BIOS

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: buck
Those links were to a page for ds3 bios' and a FAQ...

No wai, really?

Of course they are.

That FAQ details issues people are having, & in the bios thread, you can read about more issues.

I don't have the patience to copy n paste all them here, sorry...

So how do you like your conroe and DS3?

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: Hound
seems as if a lot of people are still getting some decent overclocks from the ds3

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1075792&page=15&pp=20

look as if appx 35% of the people on this database are using DS3's. Main thing to be carefull of is getting good memory that works at 1.8 - 1.9 v for the intitial boot so you cvan flash up to the latest BIOS

No necessarily. You can boot to BIOS w/ single stick.

 

[Dulanic]

The boards shipping pretty soon should have the updated BIOS which fixes that issue, atleast from the bigger companies that sell alot of them. The RAM issue wasnt too bad, I booted with one stock and then updated the BIOS. The offical F4 BIOS is out now which fixes any single issue I had.

 

[buck]

Besides the ram issue, after the bios gets updated, what other problems are there? All i know is that im getting great performance and stability with my DS3 and 6400.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: buck
Besides the ram issue, after the bios gets updated, what other problems are there? All i know is that im getting great performance and stability with my DS3 and 6400.

I had a problem with if my PCI IDE Card was installed I couldnt get into the BIOS, but F4 fixed that too, have yet to find any issues with F4.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: buck
Besides the ram issue, after the bios gets updated, what other problems are there? All i know is that im getting great performance and stability with my DS3 and 6400.

I had a problem with if my PCI IDE Card was installed I couldnt get into the BIOS, but F4 fixed that too, have yet to find any issues with F4.

Ya, i had the ram issues (had ocz gold) at first, but this mobo is rock solid for me ever since i updated the bios when i first got it. I have ocz plat now.