Looking to possibly replace Abit AI7 due to chipped NB core

[Safeway]

I want to go with a variant of the IC-7.

Which is best for a watercooled setup?

IC-7
IC-7 G
IC-7 MaxII
IC-7 Max3

Do they make G variants of the last two? And I am looking for reasonably priced boards - if they Max versions don't offer a bag of tricks that the plain versions lack, then maybe I will pay more.

 

[Safeway]

This board gets no action. It's like the ugly step-sister.

 

[Safeway]

Come on!

 

[KDKPSJ]

Well, I actually haven't owned any IC7s, but I did a lot of research because I was planning to buy one. And here are infos from my research

IC7 and IC7-G is 100% identical, except one with no-lan and another with gigabit lan.

IC7-G MaxII Advance is minor upgrade version of IC7-G. It fixed some problems (don't remember what exact problem was, but there were some) but not voltage dropping issue that majority of 865/875 mobo has.

IC7-Max3 is major upgrade version of the rest IC7, which fixed other many issues (mostly OC related) and implemented OTES -- which is quiet useless. Also, it fixed voltage dropping issue. OC capability has increased a lot as well. While IC7, IC7-G, and MaxII Adv were only at average (or a bit higher) level of OC, IC7-Max3 is known as the best OC mobo for s478 along with P4C800.

About G variation, there's only one kind of MaxII Adv. and Max3, and they are already 'G' version w/ gbE lan.

 

[Safeway]

And when compared to a P4C800E Deluxe ... how does it fair?

I think I remember a major droop problem.