What Motherboard to buy for Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe?

[uberloungedotcom]

Building a new system and getting the Intel Core 2 E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor.

I heard this overclocks to 3.4GHz with ease so I want an overclocking board. I've always loved aBit boards.

Anyways, something to consider is that right now I have a dual display (2) 20.1 inch LCD's and I want to step it up to (4) 20.1inch LCD's and run a canyon display. Is there any motherboard outthere that would allow me to do so with onboard graphics or has the ability to use onboard graphics and then add another card?

This is my first time actually considering onboard graphics and my first time manning up to (4) screens.

Thanks.

 

[Operandi]

In recent years Abit boards have been rather mediocre but seem to have turned a new leaf with the recent merger with USI and are producing some very good boards (assuming the BIOS is of a stable build).

For 4 displays you could go with the Abit AB9 QuadGT; choose a traditinal primary 16x PCI-E graphics card along with a PCI-E 1x/4x secondary card.

Or you could opt for the Abit AW9D-MAX which would allow you to use 2 PCI-E 16x cards.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

what about the IN9 32X-MAX? What's the main benefit of that? I've been out of the latest and greatest hardware scene for 1.5 year or so.

Out of the abit AB9 QuadGT and the Abit AW9D-Max, what would be the cheaper solution for QUAD display? I'm not too sure what the difference of the two boards are. I notice a $10 difference in price.

Thanks for your help and being patient with me. I never use to be a n00b, uuuuhhhhgggg...

 

[rwpritchett]

You could try this motherboard:

P5B-V DH DELUXE/HDMI

That would give you two onboard graphics ports, a PCIe card would give you two more.

It might be better if you just bought 2 PCIe cards with two ports each and run then on a board with 2 PCIe slots like the ABIT AB9 QuadGT.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

I noticed that people have been complaining about the IDE controller on the aBit. If you had the processor I am getting and wanted a board that supported 4 screens, what would you get?

 

[uberloungedotcom]

Does the P5B-V support Open GL so that I can run Sabayon Linux with Beryl and AIXGL?

 

[Operandi]

One of the outputs on that Asus board is analog VGA something you'd probably want to avoid. Consequently thats also the weakness with all boards with on board video -- one of them will be analog while the other is DVI HDMI.

The IN9 32X-MAX is based on the high-end nVidia chipseet and gives you 3 PCI-E 16x slots (among other thigns); something you don't really need. With the AB9 you will have to use a graphics card with a PCI-E 1x slot which are few and far between limiting your options. The AW9D gives you two 16x slots giving you much more flexibility and the option of selecting two identical cards.

I would go with the AW9D and two of these wonderfully passive Gigabyte X1650Pros.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

Operandi, thanks for your help. I will get the Abit AW9D (I know you didn't say Abit was the best...would you still get that?) and two graphics cards but I think I would prefer nVidia because of running Linux and using Beryl. I think the nVidia is better in Linux when running a 3D desktop. With that said, do you disagree and why? Also, what nVidia cards would you get? I liked the pricing of the ATI cards that you showed me.

 

[Operandi]

I mean to say Abit used to on the outs, currently (after their merger) I think they make some of the best boards out there.

I don't use Linux at all so I can't comment their directly but Gigabyte also makes a passively cooled 7600GT with dual DVI outputs though it is a bit more expensive. I like to push passive cards for their reliability and 0dBA nature.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

OK, Abit and passive cards it is. Can you please send me the link to the nVidia cards you would recommend. My budget cap is $150 per card (i can stretch it a few more bucks if necessary)

Also, some knucklehead is giving me "BEEP" about starting a thread asking about which Windows OS I should use. So, with that said, do you know if I should keep Win XP or upgrade to Vista and if so which version. It appears I am entering the 64-bit world here...

 

[Operandi]

Here is the passive Gigabyte 7600GT.

I haven't installed Vista yet but will be farily soon so I'm in a similar situation. I haven't come to a conclusion yet but it looks like 32bit Vista might be the safest bet for awhile until 64 driver development catches up. Though if you get the Ultimate version of Vista you get both 32 bit and 64bit installation discs so that could be an option if you'd like to move to 64 bit in the future.

 

[jkresh]

I actualy posted in your other thread about vista, but what are you using windows for exactly (since you mentioned linux before)? If you plan on using 4 monitors in windows then vista has better support for that and visually aero is a big improvement (I would assume you care about visuals on some level since you mentioned beryl and aixgl) .

 

[uberloungedotcom]

Visuals are very important. A must have.

Operandi, thanks for the video card recommendation.
jkresh, thanks for your help as well.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

One more thing, will I have room to install a PCI card with the (2) Gigabyte 7600GTs on the Abit AW9D? I need to make sure because the PCI card I am talking about is the M-Audio 10/10LT required for my Pro Tools configuration.

Thanks!

 

[uberloungedotcom]

Can I use a power supply from like 3 years ago from an old Dell Server P4 system>?

 

[rwpritchett]

I have the Gigabyte 7600GT Silent Pipe II... love it. It does take up 2 slots though and it's a little wider because of the heatpipes. I've only heard of people having issues with using slim cases (such as HTPC) with this card.

 

[uberloungedotcom]

Am I going to need a new power suppy when using Dual 7600FT Silent Pipe II's in SLI mode since I have a stand P4 500w?

 

[jkresh]

Dell often has proprietary power supplies 500w is likely to be enough (and you cant use sli if you want 4 monitors anyway, 2 nvidia cards in an sli board is fine but you cant enable sli), but it is unlikely that the ps will have proper connectors.

 

[Operandi]

The AW9D only has one PCI slot and you will loose it if you install both of the Gigabyte 7600GTs. One possible solution would be to go with a pair of these XFX 7600GS cards. The heatsink is much smaller but should be fine since the clock speed is much lower and assuming you have some air flow within your case.

Dell often uses proprietary PSU designs in their systems so I wouldn't try it in anything else unless you are sure it conforms to standard ATX specifications. The Core2 6600 and 7600GS don't draw a lot of power so you don't need a massively powerful PSU. Personally I would go with the 380 watt Seasonic S12 for your build.