Reliable Motherboard for Higher End Home Office PC for 1st Time Builder

[DualMonitors]

Hello! I'm a reader here but have not yet build my own pc. I think I'm ready to now but concerned about the initial software installation issues, i.e. less concerned about the physical assembly of the components, but more about what happens when you turn it on and only see BIOS. Never done that before.

I think in terms of priorities, I have decided finally to go Intel Core 2 Duo (most likely in the 6600 4MB Cache range for the good "sweet spot" in terms of price/performance/reliability). I'll ask about my questions re: finding a motherboard below, after I list my purpose for the machine and "requirements".

Requirements:
1. work out of home - needs to be a stable, reliable PC for doing work.
2. prefer large / multiple monitors: 1x30" Dell LCD, 1x24" Dell 2405, 1x21.3" Samsung 4:3 213T (prefer to be able to watch CNN and other news-y programs/channels on the 21.3" Samsung 4:3, probably have to get some tv converter card as well? Since I'll likely be fine with the first 125 channels/non premium, maybe i don't need to rent another cable box? the ATI TV Wonder may NOT work due to my video cards being Nvidia based.)
3. don't game
4. email, web surfing, Photoshop CS2
5. I am not that great with computers but can follow directions
6. need min one DUAL DVI outputs due to one of them being the Dell 30" LCD panel, one single link DVI out for the 24" Dell 2405, one more for the 21.3" Samsung 213T (this one probably for cable TV news like CNN)
7. To Repeat: a RELIABLE, STABLE higher end non-gaming PC, more of a great workhorse BMW rather than a temperamental Ferrari.

MOTHERBOARDS:

I'd be grateful to hear the pros and cons of various motherboards for the Intel Core 2 Duo. I need to choose my motherboard / CPU first, then all else begins to follow. Thanks in advance for those who might give me "the bottom line" of which way to go for a "non gamer", reliability/stability first (the analogy of a great workhorse BMW rather than a temperamental Ferrari).

the TechReport's System Builders' "System Guides" for beginners has an update and recommends as their Sweet Spot sytem this MB:

ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard

but if you were to look at new egg's users' reviews, 66% gave it 5 eggs, 22% gave it 4 eggs with reservations and some issues, including DOA.

what do you guys feel about this MB? of course, ANY product will have issues, i realize. I'm not "stuck" on this one brand (Asus) at all. I have no brand loyalty yet as this will be my first system, but as a start, i thought that i'd read and consult well written and respected reviews like the TechReport's first time System Builder's Sweet Spot Recommendations.

ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard

As for VIDEO cards, i'm afraid that i might have to wait the 1 month if not more for the 8600. the 8600 seems to have everything that i would like to have and need (i.e. DX10) and at a far lower cost than the current 8800. the trouble is i don't know when the 8600 might really finally come out even though they say around 4-6 weeks, and plus the early cards and early drivers may well be problem prone - all not good for a 1st time newbie! So i might be better off living with DX9 (prefer DX10, obviously for more "future proofing") by getting a pair of 7600 or 79x0 video cards right away and not be that concerned about the 8600 coming out. Then again, the 8600 is literally around the corner and it is VERY tempting to wait. The first batch of new 8600 cards, issues, drivers, all are disconcerting.

VIDEO uses/arrangement, the intended use is:

- LEFT: 21.3" Samsung 4:3 for CNN-type day time cable TV viewing while at the computer (Time Warner digital cable tv service: do i need to get another digital tv decoder box?? preferably not. do i have to buy a special "tv card" to plug into the mother board? the ATI TV wonder is not desirable since my 2 video cards would be Nvidia based. Also, i might only need the 125 channels and none of the higher channels of premium services like HBO - this is for news channel watching during the day ONLY, like CNN/MSNBC, etc.)

- CENTER: 30" Dell, either the current 30" LCD or the one coming out in 2 days, the "HC" version of the current 30" LCD model

- RIGHT: 24" Dell 16:10 2405 (the older 24" Dell, not the current model that they are selling) mostly up all the time with Microsoft Outlook for having email up all the time

Case:
I've looked at Lian Li's and Coolermasters and others. Am torn between the Full Towers versus the Mid Towers. Tempted to go for the Full Towers but realize that there will be much unused space but like the versatility for various sized motherboards, various odd sized video cards, no danger of this card bumping into that card and run out of space, and no or little danger of one power supply not really fitting into the case. My original theory is: if those several inches isn't the real constraint for space in my case, why go Mid ATX?? But, friends are really strong in persuading me to go for mid ATX and i'm torn.

thx so much for helping this first timer. I thought of posting this on someone else's thread but i realize that my requirements are quirky and not the same so i ended up starting this thread. Sorry for being so verbose.

thx in advance!

 

[moosey]

Reliable and Stable = Intel BadAxe2 on 975X chipset. Can be had for $200 or less, just shop around.

 

[DualMonitors]

what might be another name for the Intel BadAxe2? can't search for that on NewEgg. thx. sorry for being such a newbie.

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: DualMonitors
what might be another name for the Intel BadAxe2? can't search for that on NewEgg. thx. sorry for being such a newbie.

Intel D975XBX2 . Search under the 975X chipset. Newegg is a bit pricey for it though. I got my from TigerDirect, MWave also has a nice price on it.
Newegg (retail)Note that this is overpriced though.

Edit: fixed link

 

[DualMonitors]

ok, Mr. Moosey: i found it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=17&Go.y=34

may i ask what the impact might be of 2 identical video cards, say either the upcoming 8600 or the existing 7600 or 79x0, where one is plugged into that MB's PCIe16 and the other video card is plugged into that MB's PCIe8 slots? 2 identical video cards, but plugged into 2 PCIe slots with different "electrical" whatchamacall it: x16 and x8. i'm very new at this and don't understand. thx!

 

[DualMonitors]

oh, btw, i forgot to mention: when you read the reviews on newegg, there are something like 20% of 4 egg reviews which talk much about how bad the BIOS is, how bad this is and that is. i don't really understand this and, of course, every item will have bum units. but these seem like very significant issues. then again, i have to admit that there is NO item that doesn't have a certain number of not-so-good reviews.

 

[moosey]

Are you running SLI? (didn't realize that) I'm not sure how your setup will be setup, but any board on an Intel chipset (965/975) only officially supports ATI Crossfire, not Nvidia SLI. I'm pretty sure 2 cards on the BadAxe2 run x8x8 though.

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: DualMonitors
oh, btw, i forgot to mention: when you read the reviews on newegg, there are something like 20% of 4 egg reviews which talk much about how bad the BIOS is, how bad this is and that is. i don't really understand this and, of course, every item will have bum units. but these seem like very significant issues. then again, i have to admit that there is NO item that doesn't have a certain number of not-so-good reviews.

I just flashed to the most recent BIOS 2507 and a lot of issues have been worked out. I've never had a problem and flashing was fine. Those people may have been referring to earlier BIOS releases.
Intel D975XBX2

 

[DualMonitors]

NT

 

[DualMonitors]

this whole "flashing of BIOS" thing worry me a lot. i understand that an incomplete or problematic flashing of BIOS is going to be detrimental to the MB. i know that many here can do it with their eyes closed, but i really have little idea on how to do it (i've done it rarely on my old Dell w/tech support on the phone).

if i get a new MB now, wouldn't it have the latest BIOS on it?? not knowing how to do it would scare me a lot!

Oh, btw, i intend to use either the upcoming 8600 video cards (2 cards for 3 monitors) or the 7600 or 79x0 that are available now, though the 7600 and the 79x0 obviously only have dx9, a real bummer considering how 8600 is around the corner, though around the corner could mean a long time considering how the first batch(s) might have lots of issues, and their drivers also might have a ton of issues - just witness how the 8800's drivers are STILL not done yet even though the 8800 cards are out - i mean "not done" for the resolution that i'll need for my soon to be purchased 30" dell lcd.

so what i'm saying is that possibly, i might have to grin and bear the idea of buying two of either 7600 or 79x0 just from the point of view of established drivers, and live with not having dx10. i really don't know how that would impact me, a non gamer, especially since i would like all the bells and whistles of the new Vista AERO interface. i would be majorly bummed out if future enhancements promised by Vista Ultimate would REQUIRE DX10, then i'd be forced to upgrade to 8600.

 

[DualMonitors]

oh, another clarification: i do not believe that as a non gamer, that i would want to run SLI. my limited understanding of SLI is that card A would render frame 1, and card B would render frame 2. since i'm not a gamer, i would likely not run in SLI - unless i misunderstood what SLI means.

also, i think i'd prefer nVidia video cards. my, again limited understanding is that nVidia's various applications built-in for multi monitors is really excellent. many have said that nVidia got this part down.

i only can say that i've been using 2 monitors with my 4 1/2 yr old Dell on XP for a while now, and the nVidia plus XP's extended desktop really makes setting up the two monitors almost a "non issue". i plugged both monitors in, and went to XP's set up and it's all done. of course, before i bought my 2nd monitor i had to do a lot of research on whether the video card that Dell gave me in my computer has the capability to go as high as the 24" Dell LCD (researching ANY parts that Dell gives you isn't an easy task and you can different answers from different people!). fortunately, the dell provided video card does go as high as 1920x1200 and that's what the 24" monitor is.

 

[Chapbass]

hey there dual monitors, good to see yer makin the jump!


quick question for you though...that seems like a lot of graphics power for no gaming....heres my setup, which also uses 3 monitors, might save you some $...


mainboard: gigabyte p965-DS3 (you could use any mainboard though..)
video cards: 1 Geforce 8800GTS plugged into the pci-e 16x (obviously)
and one FX5200 plugged into just a normal PCI.


monitor setup is:

Left: 19" widescreen gateway 1975W plugged into VGA in the 5200
Center: 24" Dell 2407WFP into a DVI of the 8800 (main monitor)
Right: another gateway 1975w into the DVI of the 5200.


This setup allows me to have all of my other apps on the two flanking monitors and my main monitor be used for gaming and everything else....

just make sure you get one dual link card for your 3007, and then run DVI to the 2405 and then either vga or dvi to the samsung.

the other nice part with using the 5200 is that mine is passively cooled, and it uses drivers built into winxp, so i didnt even have to update those. just ran the 8800GTS drivers from nvidias website and configured where i wanted each monitor.




i would imagine this same type of setup would work for you too. it was a little confusing getting it running at first (now im trying to tackle getting it to run in openSuSE linux....headache so far)...so if you need help with it, drop me a PM!



edit: ah, i see why you have those video cards picked...dx10....makes sense for one card....or maybe two depending on what your doing.....honestly im not sure how that would work with only one card running dx10.......an interesting predicament...

 

[Chapbass]

illl post this in a different message to change the topics off of the video stuff:


as far as the digital cable...i havent used digital cable much at all and am not familiar with the connections it has...but if it has something like coax, you could always get a hauppauge TV card and see if that would work....youd have to get an IR blaster like USB-UIRT in order to get the signal to work with the remote, but that wouldnt be too bad.


for more info regarding the TV aspect of the build, you might wanna check out www.htpcnews.com


great guys over there

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: DualMonitors
this whole "flashing of BIOS" thing worry me a lot. i understand that an incomplete or problematic flashing of BIOS is going to be detrimental to the MB. i know that many here can do it with their eyes closed, but i really have little idea on how to do it (i've done it rarely on my old Dell w/tech support on the phone).

I don't know what version a board you order now would come with, but you'd only have to flash if you wanted the updated features in a more recent BIOS. Intel provides 4 ways to do it and it's not bad at all.