Help choosing MoBo!

[d0d63 d12]

Hi!

I'm building a new computer to be used mainly for video encoding, photo editing, web browsing and, time permitting, some gaming. The aim a very stable, substantially OCed system (though not X-treeem!...), to be determined by CPU choice and, of course, MoBo. It'll run WinXPpro/SP2 x86, with eventual migration to a 64-bit OS not yet scheduled.

The main components will be the following:

-CPU: Intel C2D E7200 (tray), but I'm also considering the E8400 or an E2180, depending on availability and/or budget constraints;

-Cooler: AC Freezer 7 Pro;

-RAM: Corsair XMS2-DHX PC2-6400/CL4 2x2048MB kit (I know, I know, 32-bit memory addressing limitation...);

-VGA: Powercolor HD3850 PCS 512MB (the one with the ZEROtherm cooler);

-PSU: CoolerMaster Real-Power M520.

These are final choices (except the CPU), due to the above mentioned "availability and/or budget constraints". Plus there will be a couple of TV-cards, and either a dedicated video-capture card or a network-adapter card, all PCI (that's, at least, three PCI slots filled). Storage will be taken care of by two/three S-ATA HDDs and a single optical device (IDE or S-ATA). The case is a very well ventilated Aerocool, with 3x12cm + 2x9cm fans, perforated all around.

The problem is, no surprise, the motherboard (SURPRISE!!!...)

After initially going for a GigaByte GA-EP35C-DS3R thinking it'd be future proof, the flak it got because of the mem controller had me rethinking the whole DDR2 + DDR3 combo strategy. I'll be glad to stand corrected.

Anyhoo.... I managed to narrow the replacement candidates to these (bear with me, please):

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3:
LAYOUT
I/O PANEL
Pros: It's simple, tried-and-tested, cheap;
Cons: It's simple... BIOS settings reportedly confusing, dodgy mem controller(?).


ASUS P5QL-E:
LAYOUT
I/O PANEL
Pros: Excellent I/O connectivity, good CPU socket location, undone by...
Cons: God-awful 24-pin power connector location (!!), questionable (?!) chipset heatsinks, not exceedingly good OCer (according to OCC.com).


MSI P45 Neo3-FR:
LAYOUT
I/O PANEL
Pros: 4x PCI (!!!), rather impressive chipset cooling system, good internal connectivity;
Cons: Bare minimum and somewhat absurd external connectivity, don't know much about MSI products as I never owned any.


ABIT IP35 Pro:
LAYOUT
I/O PANEL
-Pros: Clearly the "top-shelve" product compared with the others, clean/roomy layout (even if the extra PCI-e@4x is, and will remain, superfluous), dual Gbit LAN controller, rare optical S/PDIF input port, overall "kick-ass" look;
-Cons: ?17 (US$27) more expensive than the other 1-year-old board, ABIT is no-longer the enthusiast darling it once was... Or is it?...


Well, that's what I can gather from the "printing" media. But what I want to know is: How do they perform in the "real world"? Which has the best BIOS, settings and support? Are there any known issues?

The system OC target will depend on the final choice of CPU. For the E7200 something between 3.8-4GHz; the E8400: 4.0-4.4GHz; and the E2180: 3.3-3.6GHz. I'll try to keep the OCed RAM with a tight CAS4 timing, as long as it's rock-solid stable and error free.

Unrealistically ambitious?!?

Anyway, the main question here is about the motherboard, and I'd surely appreciate your help.

Thank you.

(...and sorry about the length.)

 

[Heidfirst]

the IP35 Pro is an excellent mobo, without doubt 1 of the top P35 mobos.
Now replaced by the IP35 Pro XE (v. minor revision with "official" 1600fsb CPU support & black heatsinks instead of copper coloured).
Very mature platform, abit support in Europe is very good.
If you can afford the little extra it would still be my choice.

 

[d0d63 d12]

I was wondering what the differences between the IP35 Pro and Pro-EX were, exactly. Besides "color schemes". Quite frankly, can't seem to justify another ?9 (US$14) for OTB 1600MHz support and purrdy heatsinks. Even if it, indeed, looks even more "kick ass" than the old PRO.

Regarding the maturity of the platform, that's why I'm always a late-adopter. Hell, my system is still AGP based. Can't beat that for "late".

Thanks for the input.

 

[SolMiester]

I have the IP35 standard version and love it, great reliable board......I am only a casual gamer, so only the 1 PCIe x 16 slot was required leaving 3 PCI slots for expansion cards, although it appears the Pro EX has 3 PCI as well has 2 PCIe x 16 slots.

I guess if the extra $ for the pro is a consideration, you may consider the standard board....??

 

[DSF]

Your instinct to ditch the combo board was a good one.

Believe it or not, combo boards offer no real future proofing at all, and they wouldn't even if they had perfect memory controllers.

 

[d0d63 d12]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
...it appears the Pro EX [...] has 2 PCIe x 16 slots.

Only the iX38 chipset has two full fledged PCI-e 2.0 (x16) lanes, although the new iP45 has support for two PCI-e 2.0@x8. Both the Pro and the Pro-EX have two PCI-e 1.0 (x16+x4). .

But I don't think I will ever use the CrossFire platform. Unless I start working in 3D modeling, or if future GPUs start handling video encoding tasks as well (that'd be SWEET!!!)

I guess if the extra $ for the pro is a consideration, you may consider the standard board....??

That was my first choice, but the online store sold the last units this weekend. Unfortunately.

Anyway, the dual LAN controller AND the optical digital-audio input of the Pro are very good features for me.

Thank you all for your opinions/suggestions.

 

[Gillbot]

The system OC target will depend on the final choice of CPU. For the E7200 something between 3.8-4GHz; the E8400: 4.0-4.4GHz; and the E2180: 3.3-3.6GHz

Some of those OC's are pretty bold goals. Not every E8400 can top 4GHz.

mainly for video encoding, photo editing

If i'm not mistaken, wouldn't those apps be benefit more running quad core?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

The system OC target will depend on the final choice of CPU. For the E7200 something between 3.8-4GHz; the E8400: 4.0-4.4GHz; and the E2180: 3.3-3.6GHz

Some of those OC's are pretty bold goals. Not every E8400 can top 4GHz.

+1

For that matter, I wouldn't expect an E7200 to beat 3.8 or an E2180 to beat 3.4.

 

[lebe0024]

I used the ebay cash back promotion (first time I have ever used ebay) to score 25% of an asus P5Q-E ($160 - $40) and E8500 ($200 - $50).

 

[lebe0024]

Also, if you're planning on using/overclocking this thing for gaming, I'd suggest an E8400 or E8500. The difference in performance for gaming is surprising.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: lebe0024
Also, if you're planning on using/overclocking this thing for gaming, I'd suggest an E8400 or E8500. The difference in performance for gaming is surprising.

How so? I'm running Crysis on an overclocked E4500 with no complaints. The whole cache deal is overstated most of the time in my opinion.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: d0d63 d12

Originally posted by: SolMiester
...it appears the Pro EX [...] has 2 PCIe x 16 slots.

Only the iX38 chipset has two full fledged PCI-e 2.0 (x16) lanes, although the new iP45 has support for two PCI-e 2.0@x8. Both the Pro and the Pro-EX have two PCI-e 1.0 (x16+x4). .

Do companies actually still use PCI-E 1.0? I was under the impression almost every company was using PCI-E 1.1 at this point since 1.0 is quite old. And another thing, do you really need 2 PCI-E slots? You're going to be running with a 3850? This would seem a better choice no? Granted it'll probably run louder but the initial cost is cheaper and the performance is better, so maybe a card to consider?

 

[d0d63 d12]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Some of those OC's are pretty bold goals. Not every E8400 can top 4GHz.

Originally posted by: DSF
For that matter, I wouldn't expect an E7200 to beat 3.8 or an E2180 to beat 3.4.

Those speeds are "targets". And, as with all targets, one can either hit or miss, with various degrees success. Hence the intervals. From what I read around, any of the bottom speeds are feasible, with competent air-cooling and slight overvoltage.

Anything above those will be pure net gain (on top of the initial "net gain", that is).

I'm perfectly aware that overclocking is a luck-of-the-draw affair. It all depends on the components. That's why I'm trying to maximize my chances by buying a quality board (within my budget). But if I end up with an overclocker dud, well... that'll be that.

"When given lemons,..."

Originally posted by: Gillbot

mainly for video encoding, photo editing

If i'm not mistaken, wouldn't those apps be benefit more running quad core?

Well, yeahish. But the bank account may disagree... ;P

The Qs are simply too rich for me, right now: Too expensive, too power-hungry, and, way too HOT! Perhaps when Intel transitions them to the 45nm process.

The 8MB L2 would be useful, though.

Look, I started with a budget for a E2180 at half the price of the E7200, which, in turn, is about 30% cheaper than the E8400. And yet the performance advantage the a E8400@3.8MHz has over a E2180@3.2GHz (both common OCs), is around 20% on average. Not exactly overwhelming.

I'm trying to find a balance between a dirt-cheap CPU that, when overclocked, punches well above its weight but is a flyweight nevertheless, and a very fast, well-spec'd, mid-range one, that also OCs well. I believe the E7200 provides it.

Anyways, it's like I always say: "You may not get what you want, but if you buy good parts, you just might find you get what you need".

(funny, could swear I've already heard that, somewhere...)

 

[d0d63 d12]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt

Do companies actually still use PCI-E 1.0? I was under the impression almost every company was using PCI-E 1.1 at this point since 1.0 is quite old. And another thing, do you really need 2 PCI-E slots? You're going to be running with a 3850? This would seem a better choice no? Granted it'll probably run louder but the initial cost is cheaper and the performance is better, so maybe a card to consider?

You are right about the PCI-e, I'm sure. I was only stating the difference between two PCI-e @ x16 (iX38) and two PCI-e x16+x4 (iP35). My head is hurting just trying to keep up with all the versions, steppings, revisions, families, specs,...,...

I DON'T need two PCI-e x16! Actually I don't want it, but the IP35 Pro design is such that the second slot doesn't prevent me from using all available PCI.

The HD3870 is something of a power-hog (or so I've read... don't hit me....) and the 4850 is definitely a better card (although even more of a hog). Anyway, the 3850 will do just fine. If it wasn't for the crippling bus and mems I'd even consider the 3650.

Thank you all for your comments.