In the past I've built 5 computers for myself but they've all been ATX. Right now I'm running a Q6600 @ 3.0GHz in an Intel D975XBX2 (Bad Axe 2) mobo, and 2 x 1GB DDR2 800. For video I've been using an X1950PRO 512MB for the past year or more.
The thing is that since getting an Xbox 360 I don't really do any gaming on the PC anymore. The above system is housed in an Ultra m998 case and the whole thing is freaking gigantic. Had I known this case was so huge when I bought it, I would have regrouped on the whole situation. So even though my system is still pretty good, I've decided to build a micro ATX system. The thing is, I've never built a micro ATX system and am hoping you guys can give me some advice on which board I should go with.
I'm hoping I can sell my other system minus the CPU and just start all over. As I said, I do my gaming on the console these days but I still HATE FPS console games. When I play a FPS on the console I get sick feeling. I think it's because just about every FPS I've tried seems to have an FOV of 70 or less. Plus trying to get headshots with a controller ain't my cup of tea. Because of this, I still want to have a decent system in case a good shooter comes along on the PC even though they seem to be getting fewer and farther in between. I don't do multiplayer and loathe WWII shooters so in my eyes, the next best thing on the horizon looks like Far Cry 2.
Anyway, my plan is to sell of the other system and for the next month or two until I have enough cash to get a video card, just use the onboard graphics of whatever micro ATX board I go with. I don't plan on doing any sort of gaming with the onboard graphics, I just plan on running Windows with it. Since I like ATi cards and the Sapphire brand, I plan on putting a Sapphire 3870 512MB in it later (it should fit). FWIW, I'll be using a Cooler Master Elite 340 case for my new system. Even though it's a mini ATX case, it has dual 120mm fans and should be perfect. Plus it's a simple no frills case and exactly what I've been looking for. My days of side panel windows, cold cathodes, and LED fans are over.
At first I was leaning toward an Intel G33 board mainly because it has 4 RAM slots versus 2 on the G31. I figured if I went with the G33 then I could get 2 x 1GB of RAM and slap another 2 x 1GB in it later when I decide to run 4GB. But I read a little on the subject and according to what I read, 2 x 2GB is going to be better than 4 x 1GB. If this is true then I might as well go with the G31 since I won't need the other 2 slots anyway right? By the time I need more than 4GB It'll be time for a new mobo upgrade anyway the way I see it. If I wasn't strapped for cash on this build I'd just go with the G33 and run 2 x 2GB in it and forget the whole thing. But I figure the 30 or so bucks I'd save on a G31 I can put towards the more expensive 2 x 2GB RAM setup instead of 2 x 1GB like I had originally planned. Of course there's also the G35 but from what I can see, the only advantage it has over G33 is that the onboard video has DX10 and since I plan on using a discrete video card in the near future that's a nil point. Plus it's out of my price range for a mobo anyway.
I looked into the 610i boards but from what I could tell, they don't have dual channel support. Plus the last nVidia chipset I owned which was an EVGA 680i board was a nightmare. Until the 680i I always used Intel chipsets and after 2 RMA's of the 680i I said screw it and got the D975XBX2. I knew the 975X was getting old when I bought the board last September, but it met my overclocking needs and was a tried and true Intel so I went with it. That 680i left a bad taste in my mouth and I just wanted something that could overclock and just worked like it should.
Besides that EVGA 680i I always used Intel brand boards (I didn't start overclocking until this last build with the Q6600). But since none of the micro ATX boards from Intel can overclock AFAIK, I'm leaning towards the Gigabyte board. The Gigabytes seem to get good reviews on Newegg and seems like a good choice. My second choice would be Asus I guess.
On the G31 side I'm considering this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128078
On the G33 end I'm considering this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128085
So what's your reccomendations on a micro ATX board? G31, G33, neither? I guess it boils down to should I run 2 x 2GB or 4 x 1GB. Just please don't tell me to just keep what I have or go with another ATX board. I'm tired of giant computers and I'm going micro. That's all there is to it.
Thanks in advance.
The thing is that since getting an Xbox 360 I don't really do any gaming on the PC anymore. The above system is housed in an Ultra m998 case and the whole thing is freaking gigantic. Had I known this case was so huge when I bought it, I would have regrouped on the whole situation. So even though my system is still pretty good, I've decided to build a micro ATX system. The thing is, I've never built a micro ATX system and am hoping you guys can give me some advice on which board I should go with.
I'm hoping I can sell my other system minus the CPU and just start all over. As I said, I do my gaming on the console these days but I still HATE FPS console games. When I play a FPS on the console I get sick feeling. I think it's because just about every FPS I've tried seems to have an FOV of 70 or less. Plus trying to get headshots with a controller ain't my cup of tea. Because of this, I still want to have a decent system in case a good shooter comes along on the PC even though they seem to be getting fewer and farther in between. I don't do multiplayer and loathe WWII shooters so in my eyes, the next best thing on the horizon looks like Far Cry 2.
Anyway, my plan is to sell of the other system and for the next month or two until I have enough cash to get a video card, just use the onboard graphics of whatever micro ATX board I go with. I don't plan on doing any sort of gaming with the onboard graphics, I just plan on running Windows with it. Since I like ATi cards and the Sapphire brand, I plan on putting a Sapphire 3870 512MB in it later (it should fit). FWIW, I'll be using a Cooler Master Elite 340 case for my new system. Even though it's a mini ATX case, it has dual 120mm fans and should be perfect. Plus it's a simple no frills case and exactly what I've been looking for. My days of side panel windows, cold cathodes, and LED fans are over.
At first I was leaning toward an Intel G33 board mainly because it has 4 RAM slots versus 2 on the G31. I figured if I went with the G33 then I could get 2 x 1GB of RAM and slap another 2 x 1GB in it later when I decide to run 4GB. But I read a little on the subject and according to what I read, 2 x 2GB is going to be better than 4 x 1GB. If this is true then I might as well go with the G31 since I won't need the other 2 slots anyway right? By the time I need more than 4GB It'll be time for a new mobo upgrade anyway the way I see it. If I wasn't strapped for cash on this build I'd just go with the G33 and run 2 x 2GB in it and forget the whole thing. But I figure the 30 or so bucks I'd save on a G31 I can put towards the more expensive 2 x 2GB RAM setup instead of 2 x 1GB like I had originally planned. Of course there's also the G35 but from what I can see, the only advantage it has over G33 is that the onboard video has DX10 and since I plan on using a discrete video card in the near future that's a nil point. Plus it's out of my price range for a mobo anyway.
I looked into the 610i boards but from what I could tell, they don't have dual channel support. Plus the last nVidia chipset I owned which was an EVGA 680i board was a nightmare. Until the 680i I always used Intel chipsets and after 2 RMA's of the 680i I said screw it and got the D975XBX2. I knew the 975X was getting old when I bought the board last September, but it met my overclocking needs and was a tried and true Intel so I went with it. That 680i left a bad taste in my mouth and I just wanted something that could overclock and just worked like it should.
Besides that EVGA 680i I always used Intel brand boards (I didn't start overclocking until this last build with the Q6600). But since none of the micro ATX boards from Intel can overclock AFAIK, I'm leaning towards the Gigabyte board. The Gigabytes seem to get good reviews on Newegg and seems like a good choice. My second choice would be Asus I guess.
On the G31 side I'm considering this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128078
On the G33 end I'm considering this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128085
So what's your reccomendations on a micro ATX board? G31, G33, neither? I guess it boils down to should I run 2 x 2GB or 4 x 1GB. Just please don't tell me to just keep what I have or go with another ATX board. I'm tired of giant computers and I'm going micro. That's all there is to it.
Thanks in advance.
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