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Which P35 board? Abit IP35-E or MSI Neo2-FR?

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Doomguy

Platinum Member
I just got an 8800GT to replace my Ati X1950Pro on my Biostar P965PT setup with an E6300 at 3.08 GHZ. However, as soon as I swapped video cards, the highest stable overclock for some reason became only 2.4ghz. The motherboard refused to work at high FSBs anymore. I decided to try another BIOS, and for the first time in my 11 years of putting together computers, I had a bad flash. Bios boot block recovery from a floppy was a no-go, and hotswap is not an option.

Basically, I'm looking for a new board ASAP. I like the Abit IP-35E's price tag, although the MSI Neo2-FR isn't expensive either. I will not be using on board lan on either, as I have an Intel PCI-E Gigabit NIC. I may upgrade to 2GBx2 of memory, or continue using my D9 fatbody.

Does anyone have any experience with both of these boards? Any recommendations of which I should get? I liked DFI back in the Nforce 2 days, but modern day DFI boards are very complex BIOS wise, and I don't need to go insane with the overclocking/tweaking like DFI does it.
 
This review sings the praises of the MSI.
I've had both...right now using the MSI...I've got my e6300 running @ 3.2 right now @ 1.3V.
I kinda like the MSI better than the Abit perhaps because of the heatpipes & the eSATA connector. I didn't like the fact, however, that I had to go out & purchase an 8-pin extender because of the connector mounted lower than my Abit. I know I didn't have to, but it looks nicer when ran behind the mb tray. $15 there.
I know when one of the SATA connectors came off right after I got my Abit, that kinda bummed me out. I shipped it off for RMA replacement yesterday. $10 there.
I can't remember in the bios how low one could adjust the vcore on the Abit. I know on the MSI it bottoms out @ 0.25c below stock, IIRC.
You probably can't go wrong w/either one, though.
 
i love my DFI for the exact reason that the BIOS have every imaginable option and if you don't need the most extreme overclocks, default tends to work very well. The LP DK P35 is a little more expensive than either of the two you listed but, I think it's worth it to know you're getting the best board they can make and possibly the best on the market, and it's still only $140 at the egg.

The issue you're having with the video card is related directly to the P965, the 8800GT supports PCIe 2.0 and though it can internally scale back to PCIe1.1 the 965's just don't handle it well on C2D for some reason. I'm sure it's BIOS related and could be cured with a newer BIOS but, I doubt motherboard manufacturers are going to take the time to work it out considering how inexpensive new P35 boards are.
 
I like the DFI P35 Dark as well. Haven't used it but DFI has never failed me and their boards are by far my favorites. I also heard nice things about Foxconn Mars, but last time I checked that board was almost ~$200 and at that point you'd better consider X38.
 
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