Intel Bad Axe 2 for $172.99 with free shipping.

[craftech]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Does it do ok with FSB o/c of quads?

I've read it also doesn't like Areca RAID controllers. I think my Asus P5WDG2-WS is dying.

Three PCI-E slots?

This review with the Quad explains it pretty well:

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/395/1/

John

 

[El Norm]

Originally posted by: Tates

Originally posted by: El Norm
am i missing something? can you overclock with intel boards? why would you spend this much on a board that does not let you overclock that runs chips that overclock alot.

You are missing something. This board allows oc'ing and is stable. An about face from Intel, and about time.

cool thanks, would of never looked twice at an intel board till now.

 

[herbiehancock]

Originally posted by: craftech
Update:

Nothing at the Intel website indicates that the IDE and floppy cables are "rounded" in the retail box so one should safely assume that the flat cables I got are the same.

To confirm what the Intel Rep told me yesterday regarding the warranty I looked at the warranty information located on the Intel® Express Installer CD and the information on the CD confirmed that the OEM board does indeed have a THREE YEAR WARRANTY.

It would appear that the ZZF deal is a good one although currently the Tank Guys deal described above (which is for the retail box) tops it. However, if one is spending much over $200 for the retail boxed version it doesn't seem like you are really gaining much for the additional cost. In fact, the Newegg deal for $225.63 delivered is for the same OEM version I received. The ZZF OEM deal came to $179.99 delivered.

John

John,

firstm, to assume the cabling in the retail package is the same as what you got in the OEM package from ZZF is incorrect.

Click herer for the retail packaged cables.

I bought the retail packaged 975 BX2 motherboard from Micro Center when they had it for $175 and these are the cables I had in my box:

4 SATA II cables
1 rounded floppy
1 rounded IDE...all of which are blue UV-reactive, by the way

You are correct...no where do they list the contents of either the OEM or retail packs of the motherboards.....but Newegg's pictures sure do show the differences rather well.

By the way....your OEM from ZZF....did one of the CD's include this stuff:

Intel® Audio Studio Pro
Intel® Desktop Utilities
Diskeeper* 9 Home Edition
Farstone RestoreIT*
InterVideo* MediaOne* Gallery
InterVideo* WinDVD* Player
Kaspersky* AntiVirus (Russian)
Kingsoft* Antivirus (Chinese)
Kingsoft* Powerword* (Chinese)
Norton* Antivirus
Norton* Internet Security
Premium VoIP Service Offers
Ulead* Pocket DV Show
Ulead* Video Studio* 9 SE DVD


There was a CD with all those programs in my retail boxed BX2.

Just curious.....and a few of the programs are quite nice, btw.

 

[craftech]

Actually I should have posted a correction. I did find out within the past two days that indeed the cables are rounded. Still though, it doesn't seem like a reason to send it back or buy the retail box although I did state above that the Tank Guys retail package deal was probably a better bet. With shipping the Tank Guys deal is around $20 more than the ZZF deal.

And yes the software CD came with it. Aren't those demos or lite versions though? Haven't finished buying the parts for this system so I haven't tested the MB.....waiting for the big Intel price drop April 22 to buy the Core 2 processor.

John

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: El Norm
am i missing something? can you overclock with intel boards? why would you spend this much on a board that does not let you overclock that runs chips that overclock alot.

The Extreme Series line of Intel boards have always featured all the standard overclocking options, but Intel usually offers moderate overclocking limits compared with the flagship enthusiast/performance boards from other companies that may offer higher frequency and voltage limits.

 

[Rubycon]

Haha mwave is the cheapest now, all others are over $200 and the other place is charging $225 for white box. Outrageous!

 

[tcsenter]

You can order the Express Installer CD and all 3rd Party Applications on DVD from Intel for $4.00 each, shipping is reasonable:

Intel Express Installer CD for D975XBX2 (currently out of stock)

Extreme Series Software DVD for D975XBX2 (in stock)

Plus the following download is available:

Intel Desktop Utilities

 

[PC911mickster]

The price is down to $172.99 now from ZZF w/free shipping still.
Looking like a wiener!

 

[CloE]

wow, nice price.

 

[Mucker]

I ordered a retail board from Microcenter, very pleased with the easy setup and performance. The manual says that it was supposed to include an external SATA bracket, however, that was the only missing item (besides the SATA power cable which I don't need) I see Neweggs pictures show the exact contents of what I received. So nevermind what the manual says, the retail package does not include the external SATA bracket or SATA power connector.

A bracket can be bought for about $10 so not too worried there. When they start making cases with front mounted SATA, then we'll be cooking with gas......

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Wiseguy69
Nice price. I have the original version and have found it to be a nice board. The memory voltage is a bit restrictive.

Aren't all Intel brand motherboard restrictive? But highly stable too.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Wiseguy69
Nice price. I have the original version and have found it to be a nice board. The memory voltage is a bit restrictive.

Aren't all Intel brand motherboard restrictive? But highly stable too.

Ummm.......well, until this board came out, you were correct. But starting with this board, that statement is becoming a tad untrue.....as long as you purchase their extreme series of boards. I'd imagine the X38 replacement for the BX2 will be as overclockable as the BX2 is/was. And adding to the OC ability the stability you get with an Intel-built board, and it's a win/win situation.

True, it didn't OC as well as an Asus or Gigabyte, but neither of those were as tolerant of different memory....you can just about throw any old sticks of DDR2 RAM on an Intel board and feel sure it'll boot and run well, something boards from other mfgr's cannot claim (read DFI).

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Wiseguy69
Nice price. I have the original version and have found it to be a nice board. The memory voltage is a bit restrictive.

Aren't all Intel brand motherboard restrictive? But highly stable too.

Ummm.......well, until this board came out, you were correct. But starting with this board, that statement is becoming a tad untrue.....as long as you purchase their extreme series of boards. I'd imagine the X38 replacement for the BX2 will be as overclockable as the BX2 is/was. And adding to the OC ability the stability you get with an Intel-built board, and it's a win/win situation.

True, it didn't OC as well as an Asus or Gigabyte, but neither of those were as tolerant of different memory....you can just about throw any old sticks of DDR2 RAM on an Intel board and feel sure it'll boot and run well, something boards from other mfgr's cannot claim (read DFI).

I know what you mean. My two Intel motherboards are highly tolerant of just about anything I can throw at it, including crummy ram, malfunctioning video cards, and shoddy HBAs. They are great boards for troubleshooting bad parts.