P5KC, P5K3, P5K, DQ6, DS3R, DS3P, etc.

[GauteHauk]

(Admin, feel free to delete this, I just realized I probably posted this in the wrong section. Making a post about this in the Motherboard section.)

I am looking for a new computer. I'm building this myself, owing my current prediciment to my vid card crapping out on me and the cost being so high to upgrade/replace anything in the old computer that it's just not even worth it to do so.

Therefore, I am in the market for a new comp. I'm looking to P35C and P5KC as my two primary options, since this won't be my permanent main rig. It'll be a secondary later. For now, it offer price/performance/features/upgrades/compatability/substantial tech advance to justify the $800 I'll probably spend to build it.

The problem comes down to the ASUS, EVGA, GIGABYTE. I'm not sure where the performance crown/features/overclockabiliy currently lies. These are the boards I'm really interested in: GIGABYTE P35C DQ6, GIGABYTE P35 DS3R, ASUS or GIGABYTE P965, ASUS P5KC or ASUS P5K Deluxe(WIFI or not)? Also, I am interested in EVGA, they're good stuff, just haven't scoured the net for info on their versions and such, yet.

Has anyone had experience with these relatively bleeding edge sets? Any advice to offer a new builder? I'm looking to keep my purchase of motherboard roughly within the $100-200 range.

I've just been looking at reviews, benchmarks, compatability, price, maturity, upgradability, future-proofing, and so on. Basically, I need some two-way conversation on this. Discussing the merits and faults of each option with someone else in fluid fashion. I'm just too tired to keep reading long reviews/etc.


Major questions: SLI or Crossfire, which is the better and should I care about dual video cards? I am a gamer, as much as I can call myself one, with having allowed mysystem to fall to crap over these past five years. Haven't been able to play the past three games I got for my PC(the one that has since died).

DDR2 or DDR3 or DDR2/3 combo?

ASUS, GIGABYTE, EVGA?

Penryn support or don't bother?

Dual 1gig ethernet? Need it if I'm only running a computer online to play games? Or is this more for running a home, wired network?

WIFI built into mobo? Worth it, or waste of mobo space/power/money?

P965(cheaper, more mature) or P35(slightly stronger at stock settings, will mature with time, for better or worse)?

Overclockability?

I'm sure I have more questions. If I remember them, I'll post them here. I'm just too tired to do any more thinking on this alone. (None of the people I -know- are interested in computers, therefore I have no one with which to discuss this stuff. Girlfriend is TIRED of hearing about something she knows nothing about. Just like her talking about purses to me, I guess. Hah.)

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

 

[bigsnyder]

P35 over P965 - Yes. P35 is off to way better start than the P965 did with maturity and stability

Gigabyte or Asus - Fairly even but Gigabyte is more legacy friendly if thats important.

SLI or Crossfire - IMO not worth the trouble, however P35 does have limited support for crossfire (x16/x4). SLI not currently an option.

WIFI in mb - Not worth it IMO, since these boards feature gigabit ethernet it is almost a waist, (though the convenience is nice I suppose)

Dual gig ethernet - single is fine for most, dual might be handy if your machine will also double as a server

DDR2-DDR3 - DDR2 for now. DDR3 is too new and at least several months from decent price/performance ratio. The combo boards are nice if the features and price of those suit you.

 

[GauteHauk]

Yeah, thanks for the reply. That prett much reaffirms my opinion on which to get. Oddly enough I got -no- reponse when I posted this in the correct area.

Thanks again. I'll probably be going ASUS, non-wifi, DDR2.

The only other option would be(since I can't get to the ASUS DDR2/3 combo board right now) getting the GIGABYTE board with combo DDR2/3.

Once again, I appreciate the reply. Here's hoping this build comes out well.

 

[nevaziah]

IF still in doubt, you can get the ASUS P5KC motherboard that supports BOTH ddr2 AND ddr3. I tried a combo board with SDR and DDR a while back , they are really good.