New motherboard choices ?

[Velish]

Hi,

I am interested in getting a new system built up purely for gaming... i am planning on using the following components so far:

OCZ RAM
ATI RADEON 9800 PRO or XT
Intel P4 The real work will be caused by games as the web design i do is basic and the work i do at home on this machine will be office stuff.

What is the best motherboard on the market at this time or is likely to be released in the next 6 months?

Thanks

 

[pspada]

That's some low end list there, I must say.

 

[o1die]

The abit Is7 or Ic7 will work fine. They come in several models. I don't know if they have prescott support, but prescott may require a different board by the time Intel releases it. I like abit's customer support and direct rma service. They also have frequent bios updates like asus. These boards have had no memory compatability issues, which asus sometimes has. Personally, I was waiting for the sis 655fx boards, but they're not out yet. I like sis as they usually have more memory settings then Intel.

 

[Vette73]

Actually there are a couple of 655FX boards out, at leats priceewatch has vendors listing them.

Also check out the new Via P4 dual Ch memory chipset. It also seems really nice from early reviews.

 

[stevennoland]

As for a recommendation now, go with the Abit IC7-MAX3 ! If your going to wait 6 months, PCI express will be here. If you need it now, go with the Abit, but if your even thinking about waiting, then WAIT for the PCI express boards. I have currently spent over $4000.00 on my new system (also took 8 months), and now half my stuff is outdated. Well at least my 9800XT will be the king untill next week. LOL!

 

[CraigRT]

Don't use OCZ RAM, it blows.

I'd buy Kingston Hyper-X or some Corsair.... OCZ is a JOKE! won't run at anywhere near the speeds the usually claim it will.. (I had some of that stuff once, it wouldn't even run @ default speeds - i'll never buy it again)

the rest looks ok

as for the best mobo, i have no idea, I don't follow Intel stuff.