P35 or 680i for new system

[EGrunt66]

Where to start, over the past week I have searched this web site and others to try and find the next MB for my new PC.

During the Labor Day weekend sale, I picked up the following parts from Fry?s:

Intel e6850
ASUS P5k-E
EVGA 8800 GTS 604mb
2GB of Corsair DDR2 8000 (5-5-5-12 at 1.9v)
Coolermaster real power pro 750w PSU
ASUS Silent Knight CPU cooler
Antec Nine hundred case


I already have two WD raptor 150gb and two WD raptor 74gb hard drives that I will be using in the new PC. For sound, I will be using my SoundBlaster audigy 2.

I am looking at buying the Samsung SH-203b 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW from Newegg.

I was all set to buy the combo deal (E6850 and EVGA 680i MB for $468) at Fry?s. Then the numerous sales personnel directed me towards the P35 chipset and recommended the ASUS P5k-E. I have used other ASUS boards in the past (6-8 years ago) and never had any problems. I felt comfortable leaving with the ASUS. I thought briefly about not being able to use SLI on the ASUS and decided that I will only use one video card. I left the store with the ASUS and started researching this board once at home.

To make a long story short, I am taking back the ASUS board. There seems to be too many issues to list concerning this board. Information was obtained from the ASUS forum. Sorry I cannot remember all the problems since all I have been doing over the past week is researching MB options on the web and my head is spinning with all the information. I have used Newegg customer reviews as well and the MB has 13 reviews and they appear to be positive.

With every P35 board that I have considered (Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R P35 and ABIT IP35-E or PRO) there seems to be problems that I have read about.

What am I looking for, I want to be able to put everything together and have it work with no problems. Maybe that is a tall order. My last two PC?s that I built I have used MSI boards and they worked from the start and are still working great.

My current PC is has a MSI K8N Neo platinum MB with a Athlon 64 3400 processor. Never had any problems since I built it back in August of 2004.

I am thinking about going with the EVGA 680i, it appears the only problem I have read about is the thermal paste on one of the coolers.

 

[JustaGeek]

There are problems with every board, and especially the new chipsets.

IMO, you should keep the board. I believe that P35 based boards have less issues than 680i or 650i, especially when coupled with 1333MHz CPU's, and are generally more stable.

Don't panic, get it to work (or not!) and then make your decision.

Good luck!

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Fry's has Abit IP35-E and E6750 on sale for $229 AR. See my review in MB and HOT DEALS forum. IP35-E's double post has been fixed. E6750 should be able to hit 3.5GHz. If you don't RAID or SLI, then this is the best combo (price/performance).

Stick with high quality 1.8V DDR2 800 RAMs from Crucial or Kingston (N5 only) if you want to have a trouble free build. 680i runs hot and is not as good as P35 in the overclocking department.

 

[Ozoneman]

680i or P35? The answer is, are you going to do sli or not? Sli - 680i, if not Sli - P35.

I have both the 680i and the P35 and both work fine. I haven't had a single problem with either one. Both of mine are Gigabyte boards.

By the way, my previous PC was also a MSI K8N Neo also with a 3400. Never had problems either.

 

[EGrunt66]

I usually rely on Sharky Extreme web page for building my gaming PC?s. As of right now they are recommending the ASUS Striker for their extreme build and the Asus ASUS P5N32-E SLI for their high-end build. I used their advise when building my MSI K8N NEO / AMD athlon 64 3400 rig. I am happy with the system but it is starting to show it?s age. I believe that they (Sharky Extreme) is sticking with the 680i chipset due to SLI. Even Maximum PC chose the EVGA 680i for their dream machine build; again I believe it is because of the ability to use SLI.

It appears that people are still having issues with re-boot (double boot) issues with the Abit P35 boards. I do not have any problem with flashing the BIOS, however I have been spoiled with my MSI board and it did via windows with the MSI software. I never encountered any problems with flashing the BIOS via windows. I have read that you should not flash the BIOS via windows. I am not going to use a floppy drive in the new PC. I have heard of people on the web using a thumb drive to flash the bios. I remember some time ago flashing one of my older PC?s in the DOS environment with a 3.5 disc. I would have to brush up again on the procedure.

I usually try to buy the fastest components and never try to over clock. In fact I have never over clocked any of my hardware. This web site has given me a lot of information and the members are very knowledgeable. I really do not know how to over clock and it is intimidating to me. I have gone into the BIOS and set the memory timings and I feel comfortable doing this.

After doing further research I may go with the Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R. I am going to take back the memory to Fry?s and order the 2GB Corsair DDR2 800 (TWIN2X2048-6400C4 , 4-4-4-12 at 2.1v) from Newegg for $64.00 after rebate.

I appreciate all the help.

 

[Ozoneman]

Are you planning to use DDR3 memory latter? If not, why get the P35C...? Do you realize that the DS3R doesn't have firewire either? If you want a board with firewire and only plan to use DDR2, and don't want to pay for a DQ6, then I'd consider the DS3P.

 

[Ozoneman]

EGrunt66,
I just noticed the cpu cooler you got. If you want to save some money, Newegg has the Scythe Ninja cooler on sale ($25 off). This cooler doesn't require you to use a backing plate either. We have one on the 680i/Q6600 setup and it cools it well. In fact when at idle the fan doesn't even spin (I put a PWM fan on the cooler).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835185038