Best MB for a 2.4 800FSB HT?

[Apotherix]

I'm new to the Intel chipset and motherboard scene, but I want to try building an Intel box for once to compare performance and see if meybe they'll convert me from the AMD camp. What is the best motherboard for the above processor and what are the features, the ins and outs, etc. of Intel systems? I could use a lot of info, couse I know nothing. For example, what's the difference between a 865 and an 875 chipset for Intel? I have no idea. Anyway, thanks in advance for the info.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: Apotherix
I'm new to the Intel chipset and motherboard scene, but I want to try building an Intel box for once to compare performance and see if meybe they'll convert me from the AMD camp. What is the best motherboard for the above processor and what are the features, the ins and outs, etc. of Intel systems? I could use a lot of info, couse I know nothing. For example, what's the difference between a 865 and an 875 chipset for Intel? I have no idea. Anyway, thanks in advance for the info.

This is my mobo below its a winner as for the chipset the diff is the 865 is the Springdale the 875 is the Canterwood. My board is not cheap other good choices would be the Abit IC7-G. I chose mine for performance O/Cing and ease of bios updates.



Asus

 

[Sunny129]

IC7-G is also not cheap @ roughly $175. the IS7-G is slightly less expensive at about $145. I have the IS7 (not -G), and the differences between it and the IS7-G are minimal, while the price difference is significant. the IS7 has one less firewire port, 10/100 LAN (instead of GigaBit LAN), different onboard audio codec (don't know ehich one is better than the other, or if there's a difference at all), and lacks the Serial ATA RAID that the IS7-G gas. the IS7 is roughly $110 including shipping.

 

[Corporate Thug]

IS7/IC7 or P4P800/P4C800

anyone of those will do the job nicely

 

[Apotherix]

Are there any that come in at about 80-90 bucks, maybe 100 that offer options that compare to something like the MSI K7N2-Delta on the AMD side? I'm talking about onboard sound, LAN, etc....

 

[thatsright]

Congrats on coming over to the Dark side.........Muha hah ha ha ha.... Bye Bye AMD, Hello Intel.

But seriously, if your budgeting only around $90 for a MB, then your probably going to end up with an okay board with just blah features. Now if you just pony up an extra $20 or so you'll get yourself something to be proud of and that will last you a long time. This board would be a ABIT IS7, which goes for $108. Of course you should also look at the ASUS P4P800 which goes for $121. I mention these two boards, as they have even better performance then their supposed higher performing Canterwood board. Now of course with budgets, $20 may not seem like such a big deal but when folks are on one when they are building a PC it can mean a difference between a good board and a great board. It would be definitely worth it to spend the extra $20 or so and get the extra features. For 875 boards, check out the ABIT IC7 which goes for $120. It's the most stable board I have ever used, and a kick ass overclocker.

You may also want to read the reviews more closely as ABIT has a active cooling solution for their Northbridge chipsets, and this will definitely help if your going to be OC'ing. But before you plunk down any of your $$ read more than one or two reviews about the board you've made your mind up about.

One thing I can't stress enough, is that you better act quick, before Intel revises the Springdale chipset and eliminates the Canterwood PAT mimicking.

I have a ABIT IC7 I got back in early June, right before all of the stellar Springdale reviews came out. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably get a IS7-G or a P4P800-Deluxe. Nevertheless, I'm not unhappy with my board, its rock solid.

Good luck man, and keep us updated on what you get.

 

[Apotherix]

In response to that, I say that althoug Intel is uncontestably better...it isn't nessacarily more practical. For example, the Radeon 9800 Pro may be better at playing Half-Life 2 than my 9100, but who cares? If I can max out the graphics, and the guy with the 9800 pro can max out the graphics, and his gets 190 fps and mine only gets 80, who cares? The human eye can't even tell the difference. When Intel decides to drop the prices a little to match the performance, than I'll consider them more closely on the rest of my boxes. It's all about balancing value against preformance, and for right now AMD is slightly ahead, but Intel's catching up.