Looking for motherboard selection advice

[harry349]

I'm trying to choose a motherboard. Basically I'm looking for a good quality motherboard, but I don't need SLI, and I don't want it to cost a fortune either. I've looked at some from ASUS, GIGABYTE, BIOSTAR, and a couple of others, and my head is starting to swim. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Requirements:
Core 2 Duo support (775)
IEEE 1394 (at least one)
SATA2 / PATA
Respectable audio chipset
USB 2.0
Gigabit Ethernet
ATX

Preferred:
Quad-core (Kentsfield) support
Raid Support (ICH8R?)

Optional:
SLI support

I've heard the GA-P965-DS3 is a great board, but it doesn't have on-board IEEE1394. I know I could just get a PCI board for it, but I'd prefer not to. Any suggestions for a good board that fits this bill?

Thanks!

 

[harry349]

Just a quick follow-up. I think I'm starting to zero-in on the ASUS P5B-E. If anyone has any experience with this board, or suggestions of something else, I'd still like to hear it, thanks!

 

[Icepick]

I chose the P5B-E too. There are some other good boards out there for less money but, this is the best board that also includes firewire support. I have had no problems with this board in the 2 months that I have owned it.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Icepick
I chose the P5B-E too. There are some other good boards out there for less money but, this is the best board that also includes firewire support. I have had no problems with this board in the 2 months that I have owned it.

..did it require a BIOS update to become functional/stable? Or was it good to go out of the box?

 

[JE78]

I was set on getting the P5B-E but then came across the P5N-E http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131142

I'm taking a chance here but I think i'll be better off in the long run with this board. Its new and probably has a few bugs still but its an Asus and one step above the P5B-E.

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: Icepick
I chose the P5B-E too. There are some other good boards out there for less money but, this is the best board that also includes firewire support. I have had no problems with this board in the 2 months that I have owned it.

..did it require a BIOS update to become functional/stable? Or was it good to go out of the box?

Good question. The first thing I did after loading Windows was to update the BIOS. I did this before overclocking so I don't know how well it would have worked straight out of the box.

 

[Roguestar]

Well assuming you loaded windows fine I think that's what he meant as good to go out of the box .

harry349: If you want firewire I'd say the Asus P5B-Deluxe.