So many choices, so little time!

[mawsoccer]

Most rebates expire on the 30th, and instant savings can be changed at any minute. Please help me decide which Motherboard and Graphics card to go with. I hope to take my E6600 to 3.6 ghz with a Tuniq Tower and a pair of Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AL1005 DDR2-1000 Ram. Which motherboard would work best to achieve this speed and which graphicscard should I get?

As far as graphics cards, I can see myself playing to many games in the future, I just want Vista to look and perform smoothly.

Do you thnk I will be able to get by with the eVGA 256-P2-N554-AX e-Geforce 7600 GT KO 256MB (580mhz) at Newegg for $125 or should I consider one of these?

eVGA 256-P2-N584-AR Geforce 7900 GT KO 256MB (500mhz) - Newegg - $220
eVGA 512-P2-N637-AR Geforce 7900 GT KO Superclocked 512MB (600mhz) - Newegg - $275
MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256E HD GeForce 7900 GT 256 MB (500mhz) - ZZF - $200
eVGA 512-P2-N635-AR Geforce 7950 GT KO 512MB (560mhz) - ZZF - $245
eVGA 512-P2-N637-AR Geforce 7950 GT KO Superclocked 512MB (600mhz) - ZZF - $281

As far as Motherboards, I can't decide between the P5B Deluxe, eVGA 680i, the DFI Infinity, and the P5WDH Deluxe. I am kinda strapped for money, so the P5B fits into my budget better, but I would go with one of the others if they would offer a better overclock for my E6600.


Please give me feedback on both parts so that I can hopefully decide by tomorrow night and order those last couple parts.

 

[n7]

Any of those mobos will get you 3.6 GHz if the chip is willing, so i've have to recommend my beloved P5B Deluxe

If you don't game, then any video card will do, but if you want play some newer games, how about the X1950 Pro:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=324623
$200 (or $205 for the Sapphire)

Or the 7900 GS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143070
$145 AR

Those would be just barely below the 7900 GT performance for a lot less.

 

[secretanchitman]

either the P5B or the P5W (have one myself - see sig) would be nice. i can definitely recommend both of them.

i think you should get a 7950GT KO. its really just a lower clocked 7900GTX (same memory, same pipelines, etc) for a much lower price. directx10 isnt even being used yet and the 8800GTS/GTX cards are too expensive. an x1900xt would also be a good choice if you're an ati...er, i mean amd fan. heh...

 

[mawsoccer]

So the general consensis on the motherboard is that if I get a P5B DLX, I should be fine for getting 3.6ghz, processor willing?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
either the P5B or the P5W (have one myself - see sig) would be nice. i can definitely recommend both of them.

i think you should get a 7950GT KO. its really just a lower clocked 7900GTX (same memory, same pipelines, etc) for a much lower price. directx10 isnt even being used yet and the 8800GTS/GTX cards are too expensive. an x1900xt would also be a good choice if you're an ati...er, i mean amd fan. heh...

The bolded portion isn't correct. That's a different card, the 7900GTO is a 7900GTX, just downclocked. And a 7950 GT KO is a factory overclocked, normal 7950GT. A P5B will get you to 3.6, if your chip can handle it. And as far as video cards, which you should get will depend totally on what games you like to play, and at what resolution. If you won't be playing any games at all, a 7600GT is more than enough for Vista's graphics.

 

[Skott]

I like the P5W DH but after looking at the XS forum I'm thinking you'll hit 3.6 easier using the new Intel BadAxe2 instead. Of course you have to look at the features each mobo has to see if one has something in particular you need. And This is just comparing the two 570 mobos. You still have the 680i mobos to consider as well.