Need to replace a motherboard

[imported_LoKe]

I'm looking for a decent replacement for the Gigabyte 965P-S3 I just apparently fried. The only issue here is the price; I'd like to keep it around $140 CAD (prefer to buy from NCIX with pricematching from DirectCanada if possible).

Requirements:

ATX
LGA775 (Q6600 compatible, even though I think they all are)
240 pin
Digital (coax) S/PDIF out. Optical toslink is acceptable, I'd just have to pick up a new cable.
20/24pin doesn't matter.
1+ PCI-E x16 (SLi isn't necessary at all, but I wouldn't complain)

This is the one I was looking at, here.

Current hardware, in case of compatibility issues.

Q6600
2x1GB Patriot DDR2 @ 800MHz (240)
eVGA 8600GT
SATA Hard Drive
450W ATX PSU (Corsair)

So..is the one I've found acceptable? I imagine non-SLi/CF boards could be found for the same price and of better quality, and since I don't especially plan on going SLi with this rig, I'd prefer to go that route.

Thanks!

 

[imported_LoKe]

Anyone?

 

[bruceb]

These are the specs for the one you picked:

Specifications [ Edit | History ] - by compRSP @May 28, 2007

CPU

LGA775 socket for Intel® Core?2 Quad / Core?2 Extreme / Core?2 Duo / Pentium® Extreme / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 Processors
Compatible with Intel® 05B/05A/06 processors
Support Intel® next generation 45nm multi-core CPU
*This motherboard supports FSB 1333/1066/800
** Please update the latest BIOS to support Intel 45nm CPU
Chipset

Intel® P35 / ICH9 with Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology
Front Side Bus

1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz
Memory

4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2 1066*/800 / 667 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual channel memory architecture
* The chipset officially supports the memory frequency up to DDR2 800MHz. Tuned by ASUS Super Memspeed Technology, this motherboard natively supports up to DDR2 1066MHz
Please refer to www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL.
Expansion Slots

2 x PCI-E x16 (blue @ x16 mode, black @ x4 or x1 mode) supports CrossFire Technology
1 x PCI-E x1
3 x PCI

Storage

Southbridge
- 4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
JMicron® JMB363 PATA and SATA controller
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
- 1 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
- 1 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
- Supports SATA RAID 0,1 and JBOD

LAN

PCIe Gb LAN controller featuring AI NET2

Audio

Realtek ALC 883, 8-channel High-Definition Audio CODEC
- Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming
- Coaxial S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
- ASUS Noise Filter

IEEE 1394

VIA VT6308P controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at midboard; one at back panel)
USB

12 x USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6ports at back panel)
ASUS AI Lifestyle Features

ASUS AI Lifestyle Features:
- ASUS AI Gear2
- ASUS AI Nap
- ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution
- ASUS Q-Fan 2
ASUS Crystal Sound:
- ASUS Noise Filter
ASUS EZ DIY:
- ASUS Q-Connector
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS AI Slot Detector

Overclocking Features

Intelligent overclocking tools:
- AI NOS? (Non-delay Overclocking System)
- ASUS AI Booster utility
Precision Tweaker:
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125V increment
- vDIMM: 16-step DRAM voltage control
- vChipset: 4-step Chipset voltage control
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection):
- FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 800MHz at 1MHz increment
- Memory tunning from 667MHz up to 1333MHz for DDR2
- PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to150MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

Other Features

ASUS MyLogo 2
Back Panel I/O Ports

1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial)
1 x External SATA
1 x IEEE1394a
1 x RJ45 port
6x USB 2.0/1.1
8-channel Audio I/O

Internal I/O Connectors

3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
1 x COM connector
5x SATA connectors
1 x CPU Fan connector
2x Chassis Fan connector
1 x Power Fan connector
1 x IEEE1394a connector
Front panel audio connector
1 x S/PDIF Out Header
Chassis Intrusion connector
CD audio in
24-pin ATX Power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector
System Panel(Q-Connector)

BIOS

8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

Manageability

WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE
Accessories

UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
FDD cable
2x Serial ATA cables
1 x 2-port Serial ATA power cable
I/O Shield
User's manual
3 in 1 Q-connector
Support CD

Drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
ASUS AI Suite
Anti-virus software (OEM version)

Form Factor

ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.4cm)

O/S Compatibility

Windows Vista/XP

I think it fits your needs .. But do you really want to buy Open Box
and hope it has no problems ? ? What is their policy on returns
or replacement if it is defective ? ?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: bruceb
I think it fits your needs .. But do you really want to buy Open Box
and hope it has no problems ? ? What is their policy on returns
or replacement if it is defective ? ?

I have no intentions of buying an openbox item ever again. Especially when it's only $6 cheaper. Just wondering if there's anything possibly better, maybe a non-sli board that would be better, for the same price.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I'd like to pull the trigger on this today, so it's between the ASUS P5K or the Gigabyte P35-DS3L, unless someone has another suggestion?

 

[bruceb]

I can't speak about either board as being better or worse, but both are
good brands. Your best bet, would be to print out the spec sheets on
both, put them side by side and compare which features are on one
and not the other. Then make a choice, based on your needs and
wether or not the board will work with your cpu and memory