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Researching my new system build, I've done lots of reading, and this is by far the best post - many thanks for taking the time, especially keeping it current.

You say that no AMD system could be considered high end. That was certainly true with the buggy Phenoms; but do you think it is still true with the X4s?

And specifically, I want to get good bang-for-electricity, so limiting myself to 65W TDP. This means top-end Intel dual-core (e.g. E8500 or E8600 if the price drops), or low power AMD quad (e.g. 9350e).

The other potential advantage of going AMD is hybrid crossfire, so my GPU powers down and I just use embedded graphics when full GPU isn't needed.

Views and advice much appreciated.

 
I need to to build another rig, but it just seems like the wrong time to buy a computer with '09 around the corner.
 
No, I know that but what i meant is AMD's current stuff processors is nothing to write home about, while Intel's core i7 is right around the corner, and I see no reason to spend the current premium on DDR3. Just fell I should wait until Q1 2009.
 
A little off topic, but do you think that when the i7/x58 platform is released that it will lead to price cuts with some current mobos and cpu's?
 
For the November update, you might want to give the new GA-EP45-UD3 series a look at. The GA-EP45-UD3R (one video card) and UD3P (two video cards, 2 lan ports, dolby sound) ones seem to be very good based upon the initial feedback on the boards at Newegg and several forums have noted about their low price yet high overclockability.

Also they both have a mail in rebate good till 10/31/2008.
 
Originally posted by: rstove02
For the November update, you might want to give the new GA-EP45-UD3 series a look at. The GA-EP45-UD3R (one video card) and UD3P (two video cards, 2 lan ports, dolby sound) ones seem to be very good based upon the initial feedback on the boards at Newegg and several forums have noted about their low price yet high overclockability.

Also they both have a mail in rebate good till 10/31/2008.
Click to expand...

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new rig using the EP45-DS3L board and you throw this out there. Damn.

Great thread BTW.
 
im looking for a low end AMD motherboard that can handle a 9850 BE, 4GB (2x2gb) at 800 ram, with 1x Optical and 1x dvi. im going to be must downloading and a little video editing. any ideas??
 
Originally posted by: Feldenak
Originally posted by: rstove02
For the November update, you might want to give the new GA-EP45-UD3 series a look at. The GA-EP45-UD3R (one video card) and UD3P (two video cards, 2 lan ports, dolby sound) ones seem to be very good based upon the initial feedback on the boards at Newegg and several forums have noted about their low price yet high overclockability.

Also they both have a mail in rebate good till 10/31/2008.
Click to expand...

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new rig using the EP45-DS3L board and you throw this out there. Damn.

Great thread BTW.
Click to expand...

I read some stuff on it and it seems good since I'm looking to upgrade and the one linked in the OP is not available any more.
 
Originally posted by: rstove02
For the November update, you might want to give the new GA-EP45-UD3 series a look at. The GA-EP45-UD3R (one video card) and UD3P (two video cards, 2 lan ports, dolby sound) ones seem to be very good based upon the initial feedback on the boards at Newegg and several forums have noted about their low price yet high overclockability.

Also they both have a mail in rebate good till 10/31/2008.
Click to expand...

Curse you! 🙁

I almost clicked the button to finalize my EP45-DS3L/E5200 purchase. Guess I'd probably need a different PS to go with a UD3 series, since mine only has the 4 pin 12V connector. That about right?
 
I do have a question about a multi-monitor setup.

What would be the best way to go for someone who wanted to have two of the better 24 inch Dell monitors? I have one already, but it's kind of limiting me, so I wanted to step up.

I have a 939 based system right now with SLI 7900 GTX's, but with a single 24 inch monitor. I do game every now and then and I don't want my experience to suffer due to not having enough video card processing power. The multi-monitors would be mostly for work purposes.
 
Guess I'd probably need a different PS to go with a UD3 series, since mine only has the 4 pin 12V connector. That about right?
Click to expand...

does that board need a PSU with a 8 pin connector or will it work with a 4 pin 12V connector?
 
Originally posted by: MagickMan
Curse you! 🙁

I almost clicked the button to finalize my EP45-DS3L/E5200 purchase. Guess I'd probably need a different PS to go with a UD3 series, since mine only has the 4 pin 12V connector. That about right?
Click to expand...

Downloaded the manual for the MB, says that if you have a 4 pin connector then to plug it in to the non-covered 4 pins of the 8 pin connector. Looks like they built it with the 8 pin connector to be compatible with latest PSUs, but only the 4pins are used.

Update:
Seems that they extended to mail in rebates on the GA-EP45-UD3R and UD3P to November 31st at Newegg. So yall have at least another month if your waiting to pull the trigger.

GA-EP45-UD3R

GA-EP45-UD3P
 
Bump for a great thread.

Used this as a guide to just purchase the following:

Antec 300, Antec 550W NeoPower
Q6600, Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
GA-EP45-UD3R, 2x2GB Gskill
Radeon 4850, WD 640GB, Asus DVD Burner

All for around $750 after taxes, shipping, rebates.

Thanks again.
 
Finally decided to pull the trigger and buy a GA-EP45-UD3R. The manual was incorrect in saying that that half of the 12V 8 pin connector is covered by a removable cover. However they state that you only need a PSU with an 12V 8 pin connector if you are using an Intel extreme processor (130W). If you are using a standard Core 2 Duo processor (65W) then it is fine to connect a 12V 4 pin connector into the 8 pin slot.

The 12V 4 pin plug will only plug into one of the two sides of the 8 pin connector so you do not have to worry about which side of the 8 pin connector to plug the 4 pin plug into.

Been running with the new board for over 4 days now and not a single hiccup....fast and rock solid stable.
 
Will the prices drop any on Intel chips when Nehalem comes out? I'm ready to put together a new system but wondering if I should wait.
 
Originally posted by: realredpanda
Will the prices drop any on Intel chips when Nehalem comes out? I'm ready to put together a new system but wondering if I should wait.
Click to expand...
Based on the pricing they posted for the Nehalem, I think that the price reductions will be minimal due to not much overlap between the current price window for Core2 ($120-$270) and the estimated prices of Nehalem ($250-$1000).

Guessing about a max drop of around $20 on the low and mid-range Core2 and around a $50 drop on the high end E8600. Personally I would not wait unless your dead set on getting a E8600, and even then it is a stretch since would only save you enough to buy 1 newly released game.
 
Can someone please explain why SLI/Crossfire is recommended for LCD's 24" and up? I have a 46" HDTV that I game with, what's the reason I need two ATI cards rather than one? I'd like to game at 1080P settings btw.

Would a 4870x2 suffice better?
 
LCD's run higher resolutions then comparable sized TV's. 24" is usually 1080p where 30" can be even higher, with a resolution of 2560*1600, which require better videocards to play games then when playing at lower resolutions. For your 1080p, a HD4870 or GTX260 216 could suffice, depending on how high you want to crank up the eyecandy. But they should run most games at high-ish settings just fine...
 
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