Building New/Spec Help

[RowingMunkeyCU]

Hey all,

I need a bit of advice for building a new machine, primarily for gaming, since I just graduated from college and my aging 700MHz Duron is painfully slow...

I've settled on getting the C2D E6600 for a processor. The main problem I'm having is deciding on a motherboard. I'd like to keep it as 'future-proof' as possible, so I'm guessing that means maximizing the number of PCI-E x16 slots and having it be SLI capable.

I'm pretty sure I'd like to go the way of the nVidia for video cards, since I've had nothing but difficulties from my ATI 7500 AIW (granted it's about 5-6 years old, but still...) and I'd also like to go for a DX10 capable card.

So coming from these requirements, what motherboards would best support these needs? I've recently been hearing a lot of bad things about the 680i series of motherboards, so until they come out with a second edition or something, I'd like to stay away from them.

Thanks in advance

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

any ideas?

 

[UMfanatic]

yes I have a few if you have some time

 

[UMfanatic]

how much money are you looking to spend on the rig

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

well, total before monitor (and im reusing a lian-li case), would like to be in the $1500 range. i have all the time in the world

 

[UMfanatic]

ok so we are not including a monitor in a case, you could have a pretty sweet rig, all I need to know now is if you want to go nvidia or ATI, I use to be a huge ATI person I bought the X800XT the day it came out, but the Geforce 8800 series is by far the most powerful video card on the market

 

[UMfanatic]

I am currently in the process of upgrading myself, I have a Tt Armor though and the monitor as well

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

heh, i'd like to go with nVidia, my old rig has a ATI 7500 AIW that has given me nothing but issues, and at the moment the nVidia cards seem to be running the best, and are the only ones supporting DX10.

My biggest dilemma is really the motherboard, I can't decide which to go with. I've heard a lot of bad things about the 680i's having stability issues. Are they the only boards which support nVidia SLI?

 

[UMfanatic]

I am going with a 680 motherboard myself, originally I was going to go with a Giga-byte GA-965G-DS3 until somebody recommended me some decent 680 SLi boards, if you would like we can talk about this via messenger it might be quicker or we can remain in forum

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
if you would like we can talk about this via messenger it might be quicker or we can remain in forum

Please go to IM, this isn't a chat room.

 

[UMfanatic]

I would recommend
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe
2GB DDR2 800
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR(Nvidia 680 SLi)
8800GTS
Enermax Liberty 500w PSU
Seagate Barracuda SATA 320GB
Artic 7 Pro or Tt Tuniq Tower

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

eh, i think it might be helpful for other people as well trying to figure out alternatives to the 680i's that support nVidia SLI. I figure if I have a question about it, others probably do as well

 

[UMfanatic]

as for non SLi motherboards Giga-Byte GA-965G-DS3 pr the GA-965P-DQ6 (which is a crossfire motherboard but an amazing motherboard non the less)

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
if you would like we can talk about this via messenger it might be quicker or we can remain in forum

Please go to IM, this isn't a chat room.