Best motherboard for E6600?

[aatf510]

What is the best motherboard you can buy now for a Core2duo if price isn't a concern?
I am sure I won't need SLI or Crossfire or even Wireless as far as feature goes. What is the best motherboard overall (965 or 975)? especially in terms of overclocking?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Do a search. It's been asked a ton of times here and in the CPU forum. Asus P5W-DH.

 

[n7]

P5W DH is great if you are using an E6600 or higher, but it's more limited in actual flexibility for OCing, since you don't usually get higher than around 420 FSB.

I'd recommend the P5B Deluxe to anyone, since it allows for more flexibility when OCing due to its ability to run high FSBs (usually 500+).

You can run 7x, 8x, 9x, & combine that with the 1:1, 4:5, & 2:3 divider, & you have a heck of a lot of options for getting every last bit out of your CPU & RAM.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I fail to see why people recommend the 975x over the p965 for a E6600. For anyone who is a big overclocker it's quite obvious that running 500+Mhz FSB with DDR2-1000+ will be much better than running only 320Mhz FSB or somewhere.

 

[Jumpem]

P5B Deluxe.

 

[Skott]

Price no concern? The P5W DH is certainly a contender but the P5W64 WS Pro is getting higher overclocks than it now. It can also be volt modded for even higher overclocks. Its a server mobo that can be had for just under $300 last I looked. Next week though I expect to see better mobos for the E6600+ chips.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
I fail to see why people recommend the 975x over the p965 for a E6600. For anyone who is a big overclocker it's quite obvious that running 500+Mhz FSB with DDR2-1000+ will be much better than running only 320Mhz FSB or somewhere.

because afaik to get to 500fsb the 965 sets the 1333 strap which is quite a performance hit thereby negating a chunk of the fsb increase.
A good 975 like P5WH, P5WS64 or AW9D will do over 400 - the AW9D has already been through 500 (using some fairly extreme stuff it's fair to say).
& that's before considering if you want to run Crossfire (yes, I know that you can on 965 too but there is a performance deficit to the 975).

If you have a 6600 both platforms should hopefully be able to max the CPU.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
I fail to see why people recommend the 975x over the p965 for a E6600. For anyone who is a big overclocker it's quite obvious that running 500+Mhz FSB with DDR2-1000+ will be much better than running only 320Mhz FSB or somewhere.

because afaik to get to 500fsb the 965 sets the 1333 strap which is quite a performance hit thereby negating a chunk of the fsb increase.
A good 975 like P5WH, P5WS64 or AW9D will do over 400 - the AW9D has already been through 500 (using some fairly extreme stuff it's fair to say).
& that's before considering if you want to run Crossfire (yes, I know that you can on 965 too but there is a performance deficit to the 975).

If you have a 6600 both platforms should hopefully be able to max the CPU.

a few seconds time on a synthetic benchmark hardle looks like a performance hit. Either way I suggest you wait for the 680i releases. They look very good.

 

[aatf510]

This is quite confusing.
There isn't an easy answer like in A64?

 

[Mango1970]

Yah welcome to the company of Dazed and Confused Inc.

I hate to say it but it looks like it's going to be... buy it and try it. However as stated, if you are running say a e6600 you probably need to worry less of an insane FSB speed... and in that case you really can't go wrong with any of the boards that have been mentioned above.

From what I have learned and read in these forums it comes down to what "extras" you want. I ordered an Abit Max and now I am contending with NO PCI slots since my crossfire setup eliminated the only one available. There are work-arounds... get a USB wireless NIC if you need one (I do as my home and office are all wireless) and use the TV Capture in my other system for my movie watching. Also use the onboard sound but that sucks for someone who dished out some serious coin for top creative labs product.

I have a P5W-DH coming and have been looking hard for a newer revision P5B-E. Again it's all based on what options you want.