Intel Motherboard or Asus

[Meph3961]

I was planning on waiting to do my new build until Sandy Bridge was released, but I have now have to opportunity to get the I7-970 for around $200. This is too good to pass up.


My question is, I can also get the Intel Desktop Board DX58SO for around $170 more or should I just get the CPU and go with either the ASUS Sabretooth or the ASUS P6X58D-E motherboard?

Thanks in advance for the advice

 

[phillyTIM]

Asus tend to be better-featured, as evidenced by this comparison.

Why saddle yourself down with the Intel board when you can have new technologies such as USB 3.0 and eSata with the Asus Sabretooth 55i?!!

 

[postmortemIA]

intel boards are hit or miss. if they are good, they will last forever. I am running 3.5 yrs old intel board that is decent to this day: 5 sata, raid, 4 ram slots, intel gb network controller, etc. they also have great fan control and support (frequent driver and bios updates)
no overclocking though.

in your case, asus board has much more going for it - 6 ram slots, 3 pci-e x16 slots, usb3. usb3 might not be important today, but it will be in year or two.

 

[hotboyz012345]

Hey bro,
If u get the deal of core i7 970 for just 200$ then u have to think why this offer is come out now, after sandy bridge release the old generation core cpu have to cut off their price so wait for only 4 weeks and get better deals and performance.

 

[Athadeus]

If you're going to overclock much, I'd make sure that whatever board I got specifically did will with the hex cores. That deal sounds real nice, better then retail edge, so definitely take advantage of it asap.

 

[Meph3961]

If you're going to overclock much, I'd make sure that whatever board I got specifically did will with the hex cores. That deal sounds real nice, better then retail edge, so definitely take advantage of it asap.

It is the retail edge program, and I just ordered my cpu form them. All told the CPU was a little over $240 with tax and shipping.

Still undecided on which Asus motherboard to get, If you guys have any advice, I would greatly appreciate. It doesn't have to be an Asus board.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Honestly, I am going with Intel next time. I have had bad luck overclocking, my Q9450 does not even run a couple of hundred mhz out of spec, even with high-end ram and cooling on my ASUS P5Q Pro.

I like the idea of most of the chips on the board being made by intel. That way, I can even get my NIC and other drivers from Intel and I hear Intel is better about continuing bios updates than ASUS.

Still waiting for EFI to become available, along with lower priced 3rd gen SSDs before upgrading. I do not really have any application that I cannot run, ATM.

 

[Meph3961]

I thank everyone for their advice. THe purchase of the motherboard is still about 2 weeks away, but I think I've decided against the Intel.

Here is what I have narrrowed it down to know, any aadvice would be great:

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128423

ASUS P6X58D-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641

ASUS P6TD Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131403

ASUS Rampage III Gene
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658

ASUS Sabertooth X58
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665

EVGA X58 FTW3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188065


I know the EVGA is priced more than the others, but if it is worth it, ill splurge.

 

[stevech]

I've used ASUS for many years. Never had a design flaw.

I also use mostly AMD CPUs so that Intel will NOT have a monopoly and jack prices through the stratosphere. Never had an issue with AMD CPUs.

 

[Vette73]

I like gigabyte more. They seem to support their boards (Bios update) longer and are very well built.

My exp with Asus, and their customer service, has been well below what i would expect.

 

[stevech]

For me and ASUS, fortunately for the several Mobo's I've owned, I've not needed customer support beyond downloads of BIOSes and docs.

 

[EliteRetard]

How about a cheaper EVGA board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-068-_-Product

I can also vouch for Asus...though my latest board from them was S775. And Ive got both a P4C800-E Deluxe and an A7N8X-E Deluxe still running, so in my experience they seem quality goods.

 

[BoomerD]

How about a cheaper EVGA board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-068-_-Product

I can also vouch for Asus...though my latest board from them was S775. And Ive got both a P4C800-E Deluxe and an A7N8X-E Deluxe still running, so in my experience they seem quality goods.

heh-heh...I'm still using my P4P800-E Deluxe board in my everyday PC. I just ordered a new P7P55D-E Pro for my new build.

 

[man00]

I went through three GIGABYTE boards each came with underpowered usb headers. I'll stick with Asus.

 

[jduke]

I read that the sabertooth x58 runs cooler than the rampage 3 when overclocked.
I have been trying to find out when the Intel DX58SO2 or DX58OG is coming out.
According to intel, it should be out, but I dunno.

Does anyone know?

 

[Rifter]

As far as i know Intel boards are still made by Foxconn. So like foxconn boards are hit or miss in quality. I would go with a Asus or Gigabyte.

 

[cyclo]

I have built PCs with Intel, ASUS and Gigabyte boards over the years. Intel's quality has deteriorated along with the quality of their BIOS updates... just go to the Intel forums to witness this. ASUS is ok but my current preference is for Gigabyte boards with the caveat that you don't install any of the bundled software that comes with the board.

 

[Texashiker]

Asus - if you overclock and like to play with things

Intel - if you want to set it and forget it.

 

[smangular]

As far as i know Intel boards are still made by Foxconn. So like foxconn boards are hit or miss in quality. I would go with a Asus or Gigabyte.

True Foxconn does the manufacturing but intel still specifics the quality of the components and the testing and Q/A procedures. That makes a huge difference.

Intel also provides associate level partners with overnight 3 year replacement in event you have a problem. How much would that cost to do with Asus?

If you are looking to overclock, then Asus provides notably better features.

 

[Vette73]

I have built PCs with Intel, ASUS and Gigabyte boards over the years. Intel's quality has deteriorated along with the quality of their BIOS updates... just go to the Intel forums to witness this. ASUS is ok but my current preference is for Gigabyte boards with the caveat that you don't install any of the bundled software that comes with the board.

What software do you not like?

I use the *BIOS to update my bios on my gigabyte boards and it works fine under XP and Win7 (64bit).

 

[ehume]

Based on my recent experience, I'd recommend Gigabyte over As.s, every time.