Best motherboard(s) for my new build

[amaunator]

Time to build a new computer. I know I want a Core 2 Duo and I have always gone with getting a separate Soundblaster card. I'm a bit torn over a 2 graphic card system as I do not really play as many games as I used to. I'd appreciate any thoughts so I can decide on the motherboard to use to build this new computer.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[msi1337]

get the gigabyte 965p-DS3

I did!

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: msi1337
get the gigabyte 965p-DS3

I did!

How is that board? I was looking at it as well.

 

[Kougar]

What are you looking for? Good price? Overclocking? Features? The more details the better...

Wicka, I'd have the say the DS3 is an exceptional board when it comes to overclocking. It has some rough spots elsewhere, but when it comes to overclocking it's definitely in the top 5 out there.

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: Kougar
Wicka, I'd have the say the DS3 is an exceptional board when it comes to overclocking. It has some rough spots elsewhere, but when it comes to overclocking it's definitely in the top 5 out there.

I'd have to say that overclocking isn't my main motivation anymore when buying a board. As long as it's stable, has a good feature set, and most importantly is priced low enough (you can't seem to find a decent Intel board for less than $150, which hampers my switch a lot).

 

[SWBgHz]

I have been looking for a Conroe board as well - stuck trying to decide between the 975x and P965 chipsets - I am leaning towards the 975x as it, I believe, has better crossfire support.

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: SWBgHz
I have been looking for a Conroe board as well - stuck trying to decide between the 975x and P965 chipsets - I am leaning towards the 975x as it, I believe, has better crossfire support.

I still don't quite understand Crossfire. Does a non-CF chipset support CF because it connects the two cards via the external dongle?

 

[Skott]

The C2 mobos (2nd revisions) are starting to be announced so watch out for them. October should see better mobos launching.

 

[SWBgHz]

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: SWBgHz
I have been looking for a Conroe board as well - stuck trying to decide between the 975x and P965 chipsets - I am leaning towards the 975x as it, I believe, has better crossfire support.

I still don't quite understand Crossfire. Does a non-CF chipset support CF because it connects the two cards via the external dongle?

The chipset has the support, the dongle is not part of the equation - in fact next gen ATI cards go to a dual channell connecter on the top of the cards- similar to NVIDIA but double the bandwidth between cards. Word is that the 975x chipset is supposed to receive SLi support as well but that is just the 'wrod'.

 

[amaunator]

I'm looking for the best setup for speed but not overclocking. Also, dual video cards might be something I'm interested, but quite honestly I don't know whether SLI, Crossfire, or that dual single card from NVidia 9750gx, I think. I'd like lots of USB, SATA and firewire would be nice. Gigabit network and spare pci express/pci slots would be another plus. Finally, a PATA connector for legacy opitical drives. Finally, a RAID option would be nice as well. I plan to get a soundblaster card like an Audigy.

From looking, these boards interest me although I'm looking for your input:
ASUS P5W-DH
ASUS P5N32-SLI
Gigabyte GA 965P DQ6

Looks to me like 975 might be better than 965, thoughts?

 

[SWBgHz]

This will ignite a flame war but as it looks now ATI has an ace in the hole with the upcoming DX10 R600 - I wouldn't go SLi based on what I have read about ATIs next gen. Worst case if you go with a crossfire board and the ATI offering is not so great you could allways still use a dual card (like GX2 or the DX10 version of a GX2) on the crossfire board.

As far as manufacturers - ASUS and MSI are tops on all my lists with DFI and GigaByte getting mention as having some good products (even if having some lame ones).

Chipset is the real tricky question and from what I can tell so far in my search the 975x is more appealing as it has crossfire now and has true 8x8 on dual x16 slot boards. I believe the P965 might be the future but that is then and this is now, all in all thoguh I suspect getting a quality board with the feature set you want is probably more important than whether to go with the 975x or P965 chipset as both seem capable.

 

[Twitch22]

Originally posted by: amaunator
I'm looking for the best setup for speed but not overclocking. Also, dual video cards might be something I'm interested, but quite honestly I don't know whether SLI, Crossfire, or that dual single card from NVidia 9750gx, I think. I'd like lots of USB, SATA and firewire would be nice. Gigabit network and spare pci express/pci slots would be another plus. Finally, a PATA connector for legacy opitical drives. Finally, a RAID option would be nice as well. I plan to get a soundblaster card like an Audigy.

From looking, these boards interest me although I'm looking for your input:
ASUS P5W-DH
ASUS P5N32-SLI
Gigabyte GA 965P DQ6

Looks to me like 975 might be better than 965, thoughts?

I was in the same boat as you...wanted a fast "out-of-the-box" board that had maxximum stability and compatibility. In doing my research, I kept getting the same result: Asus P5W DH Deluxe. It has EVERYTHING...CrossFire support, 6 SATA ports, 2 IDE ports, multiple RAID set-ups including a hardware driven solution, Dolby 7.1 sound, 2 Gigabit LAN ports, wireless LAN built-in, remote control operation and more. Asus throws in several utilites that do thing like monitor your entire system (fan speeds, temps, voltages), flash your BIOS and overclock your system all in Windows!

It really is an amazing package and is no doubt the premier C2D board out there. The added fact that the 975-series chipset will very likely support Quad-Core Kentsfield CPUs later this year makes it a good, future-ready purchase. By now, all the "early" versions are gone, so it should be compatible with all processors and memory right away.

It's only con is cost and availability. But, if you got the cash, you won't go wrong...

Twitch

Twitch

 

[Merovingian]

I like the ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium WiFi-AP that is arriving on the 10th of this month.

more info here...
http://www.vadim.co.uk/ASUS+P5N32-SLI+Premium+WiFi-AP+(1066+FSB+Conroe)
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=0&model=1325&modelmenu=1

Basically, I'm going to be running my 2x6800GT's on the board until the DX10 cards come out. I like this board because I can run a 12 port raid card in the extra pci-e slot while running sli and it has everything else as well. Cost should be about $275 on release.

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: Merovingian
I like the ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium WiFi-AP that is arriving on the 10th of this month.

more info here...
http://www.vadim.co.uk/ASUS+P5N32-SLI+Premium+WiFi-AP+(1066+FSB+Conroe)
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=0&model=1325&modelmenu=1

Basically, I'm going to be running my 2x6800GT's on the board until the DX10 cards come out. I like this board because I can run a 12 port raid card in the extra pci-e slot while running sli and it has everything else as well. Cost should be about $275 on release.

Alot of people are wondering how high this mobo will overclock. Early C19 chipset mobos, which this one has, have been poor overclockers. The non-overclocking crowd will love it most likely though. Btw, where did you hear October 10th? I didnt see that date stated anywhere. Just curious because I'm waiting to see a review of this mobo.

Edit: Okay, I see the date now. Nevermind.

 

[Madellga]

At same FSB speed, 975 is faster than 965. Also above FSB400, most mobos "relax" strap timings, so often you can get actually worse performance. The gap only closes near FSB450.

My suggestion: if you get an E6600, go with i975, with an E6400 get a i965 or i975 if your budget allows.

I would add to your list the following suggestions:
1) Gigabyte 975-DS5 (it's on the Core2 mobo thread)
2) Asus P5W64
3) Abit AW9D Max/non Max.
4) DFI RD600

If you are not in a hurry, I would wait a couple of days more. I hope Gary and Wesley come up with nice reviews and round-ups for the new options on the market.

 

[SWBgHz]

Expansion Slots

2 x PCI-E x16 (blue @ x16 mode, black @ x2 or x4 mode)
1 x PCI-E x1 (x1 or diabled mode)
3 x PCI 2.2
CrossFire

Supports ATI CrossFire graphics cards (blue @ x16 mode and black @ x4 mode)

This is from Intel's site regarding the P965 board - I just don't think that I want a board with limited bandwidth on the x16 slots with DX10 cards coming so soon.