Help with picking Intel MB for new system

[Mars999]

I am going to build a new system soon, I would like to have access to 1333FSB CPUs when they come out. I would like to buy RAM that will run sync with the new FSB like the CD2 does now... 533Mhz? But DDR2800 everyone says to get, so will DDR2 1200 or so be what people want to use with 1333FSB?

I want quiet, low power usage, without slowing down the CPU/GPU. I have a 8800GTX card now.

I read the Intel BadAxe2 board is nice, it runs quiet, and BIOS screen finally boots into 1024x768 vs. 640x400!!! About time.

I would rather run SLI than crossfire, but don't really plan on running 2x Videocards since it seems like every update the fastest card that comes along out performs two older cards...

I do want the ability to run a physics card if needed down the road. Whether its a second GPU or Aegis <- spelling?

Quad core or Core Duo? I am leaning towards Quad core. But if i go Quad core would I really see any performance increase with 1333 vs 1066? Running a newer quad core?

When is the ETA on the 1333FSB? Will it only support DDR3?

BTW how is the stock cooling fan that comes with the C2D like? The reason is on the Intel BadAxe2 board it supposedly talks to the fans and regulates them? Do I need to use the stock cooler to get his benefit? Or can I use a Zalman and still get this nice option?

I don't plan on over clocking at all.

Crucial Ballastix RAM is what I am planning on getting DDR2800.

Thanks for all the help and ideas.

BTW any board that is recommended I don't want ANY chipset fans.

 

[zeeon2003]

First the question of "sync":

DDR2 533 will run 1:2 with 1066 FSB (533 MHz RAM : 1066 MHz FSB). DDR2 667 does 2.5 : 4 with 1066 FSB (667 MHz RAM : 1066 MHz FSB). DDR2 800 does 3 : 4 with 1066 Mhz FSB.

It looks like DDR2 1200 will do 4.5 : 5 with 1333 MHz FSB - but looks like DDR2 1200 will be priced more than 2x vs DDR2 800 - I'm not sure that spending more than $200 extra on RAM will boost performance than much... maybe getting a faster CPU will be a better idea.

Now if you consider bandwidth, at 1333 MHz FSB the theoritical I/O bandwidth of the C2D processor is 10.6 GB/sec, while dual-channel DDR2 800 can provide 12.8 GB/sec.

On ETA of 1333 MHz FSB procs, this might help: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/18/intel_desktop_core2duo_roadmap/
New chipsets will also be coming around the same time frame...

BadAx2 is a good, solid board. However 975x is Crossfire support only, no SLI support.

C2D stock cooler is decent and pretty quiet too. If you're not OCing, why spend money on a higher performance third party cooler? BTW, if the Zalman cooler has a 4 pin motherboard power connector, then the fan control from motherboard should work just fine.

Quad core will help in some specific apps - those which are already heavily threaded - check out the review. Not all software can take advantage of 4 cores, so higher clocked Core 2 Duo will sometimes do better in games/apps vs lower clocked quad-core.