Which board to keep Abit IP-35E or Gigabyte GA-965-DS3?

S

sfsilicon

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
505
I just upgraded my main PC to an i7 930 with MSI X58 Pro-E motherboard and 4GB DDR2. I'm moving my Q6600 that was replaced and 8GB of DDR2 memory to my server box (see sig).

I'm trying to figure out which motherboard to keep of the two I have available. This should bring some good memories back for the early Socket 775 days. I have a Abit IP-35E and a Gigabyte GA-965-DS3 rev1.3.

The DS3 is older technology but a higher end model. The IP-35E is a low-cost motherboard but has the newer IP35 chipset. Here are the specs:

Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 (rev. 1.3)
  • Intel P965+ ICH8 chipset
  • Supports Intel® Core™2 Extreme Quad-Core / Core™2 Duo processor
  • Supports Dual channel DDR2 800 memory
  • Features PCI-E graphics interface
  • Features SATA 3Gb/s interface with RAID function (2 ports with RAID function supported by GIGABYTE SATA2)
  • Intel High Definition 8 Channels Audio
  • Optimized Gigabit LAN connection
  • Industry's leading all solid capacitor motherboard design

Abit IP35-E
  • Intel® P35
  • FSB 1333
  • Dual DDR2 800
  • PCI-E X16
  • SATA 3G
  • Gigabit LAN
  • 7.1 CH HD Audio

Audio is not important. The Gigabyte has 6 SATA 3Gbps ports, but last I recall 2 can't be used when overclocking due to a implementation (Bios?) bug. The Abit is limited to 4 SATA ports. OC'ing wise both are enough to OC my Q6600 to 3GHz. Not planning to OC to far because I need stability from my server and not maximum performance.

Any input is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
IP35-E for sure!

I'm actually using that with my current rig. Q9550 at 4ghz. Been running strong ever since I first had me e2160 at 3.4ghz with it.
 
sfsilicon said:
The Gigabyte has 6 SATA ports, but only 2 are 3Gbps and 2 I can't use when overclocking.
Click to expand...
Da fuck? Dude, all six SATA ports on the Gigabyte are 3Gbps. I don't know how you though only two are 3Gbps.
 
Danny Bui said:
Da fuck? Dude, all six SATA ports on the Gigabyte are 3Gbps. I don't know how you though only two are 3Gbps.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. Any idea if the OC problem with 2 SATA ports was ever fixed? I think they messed up with the implementation and 2 ports would be running OC'ed as well and would cause crashes. Haven't done a Bios update in ages and it's been running solid. The GA-P965-DS3 like a lot of GA boards was the bomb back in the day. ;) Picked up the Abit IP35-E more as a budget build when I got my Q6600.
 
sfsilicon said:
Thanks man. Any idea if the OC problem with 2 SATA ports was ever fixed? I think they messed up with the implementation and 2 ports would be running OC'ed as well and would cause crashes.
Click to expand...

I've never even heard of that issue. If that issue exists, it's more than likely been fixed considering that I'm using all 6 SATA ports in my Rev 1.0 DS3 right now with zero crashes. In fact, I'm still using the old F7 BIOs.
 
Danny Bui said:
I've never even heard of that issue. If that issue exists, it's more than likely been fixed considering that I'm using all 6 SATA ports in my Rev 1.0 DS3 right now with zero crashes. In fact, I'm still using the old F7 BIOs.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. Have more SATA ports is a big plus for me since I end up filling my file server with cheap drives.
 
i have an ip35, and the only thing i can think of is that with Quads and overclocking it gets pretty bad Vdroop and can be unstable. poster above seems to be OK with in on his board but something to keep in mind.
 
Me, I'd go with the Gigabyte mobo. If it's gonna be a server then more SATA drive connects are better. I end up stuffing all my old HD's into my servers.
 
It depends on the final use of the machine. I have both motherboards as well and I have overclocked Q6600s on both of them as well.

The IP35-e is likely to be a better overclocker with quads due to the chipset. I had no trouble hitting 3.6Ghz with my IP35-e. The Gigabyte is probably going to be a better motherboard for a server due to the extra two SATA ports. There should be no problem with the extra two SATA ports when overclocking. I have used both on mine and that motherboard has never been run at stock speeds.

Right now my IP35-e is being used as the motherboard in my server. I had not originally meant for the system to be used as a file server but as a folding machine with some server duties in the beginning. It actually replaced an old P3-700 machine. At the time, the Gigabyte machine was in use for other things as it was my primary machine before I got my quads and built my current main system. At one point I was going to make the Gigabyte system my server but I was needing money at the time so I kept the system from running anything critical as it would have been the system I was going to sell if I had to sell a system. Since then, I have not switched that system to the server as it would be a major pain in the ass to basically swap the two systems. So far I've been lucky and the 4 SATA ports on the IP35-e haven't hindered me too much in duties as a file server. I've just had to make sure I use an IDE optical drive. However, the system is maxed out on hard drives. The only option I have anymore is to replace the 1TB drives with larger drives or buy a PCI-e SATA expansion card for more drives. I would be much better off with the Gigabyte board in the system as the server.

From the sound of things, I'd probably suggest using the Gigabyte board as your server.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top