New Motherboard with IrDA header

[Redstorm]

I'm about to upgrade my ageing Athlon64 machine, with either a C2D or Phenom based system.

Must have features:
IrDA header
6 SATA ports (Raid 5 capable)
PCIe Gen2
DDR2 1066 support

Optional features:
SLI support - 780i or 780a that have yet to materialize
Intergrated Creative Sound (aka MSI 680i Diamond) but 780i


My current board is a MSI K8N Platinum all the features minus the 6 SATA ports and PCIe Gen2.

MSI seam to have moved away from providing the IrDA port on alot of thier newer offerings, and DFI are slow to market with the newer chipsets but they seam to be including the IrDA header.

Any other mobo manufactures I should be looking at?

 

[Quiksilver]

IRDA Port? I have not idea what that is and you could get the 6+ SATA ports but for the RAID 5 support you would be better off using an RAID expansion card.
Oh, 780i chipsets aren't even on the market yet...

 

[AmberClad]

What exactly were you planning on doing with it ?

I have one on my board (Foxconn) and I've never found a use for it. Are they used for remote controls? Where would you go about buying a IrDA...thingy?...to connect to such a pinout?

As far as your question - Foxconn lists board specs on their webpage. The part you'd be interested in is Specifications --> Internal I/O Connectors. I think I saw a few that didn't have the IrDA pinout, so you'd have to check to make sure. And find a decoder ring while you're at it -- you'll need one to figure out Foxconn's cryptic board codenames . Also, I think all of their boards use Realtek HDA, even their fancy-shmansy MARS. So no Creative here.

 

[Redstorm]

Yep Mars board has the header, but is PCIe gen 1

Their X38 board also has the IRDA header and is PCIe gen 2 but is DDR3 (too expensive to put 4GB in)

Looks like im going to be stuck waiting a while longer till nVidia can get their new chipsets out the door.

What do I use the IrDA header for, IR connection with Cell Phone etc.. you can build a IR TX/RX off the shelf for about $10... saves having an unsightly USB dongle sticking out the front of you machine.

 

[AmberClad]

Really? I saw the X38A over at NewEgg and it seemed like it will take either DDR2 or DDR3. But I would still wait a bit, if nothing else, for an updated BIOS. It's still too new to have all the kinks worked out, imho.

Thanks for the tip about the IrDA, I'll look into it . Sounds like an interesting project.

EDIT: Hmm...well actually looking a little more carefully, the specs on NewEgg say DDR2 up to 800 MHz. I think you wanted DDR2 1066 support. The 1066 and 1333 support is only for DDR3.