Can’t decide, please help!

[waz]

Can’t decide between these 3 motherboards for a 6420:

MSI P6N SLI-FI $147
ASUS P5N-E SLI $150
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $149

I plan on overclocking my 6420 to the highest I can get, and have no need for SLI. The problems people have had with the Gigabyte scare me off that board a bit but it seems like a good overclocker.

I’m ordering from NCIX.com which has this sale on right now:

http://www.ncix.com/promo/promosale.php?webid=diy2007

Was going to combine one of those motherboards with this ram:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21778&vpn=PDC22G6400LLK&manufacture=Patriot&promoid=1064

Should I go for a different board altogether that is still priced at around $150 or even some different memory?

I want to order my new computer already but can’t make up my mind!

Edit: Forgot to mention I would like to hit over 3ghz with my overclock, hopefully around 3.5

 

[FluffyPirate]

9x400 with that memory would get you at 3600MHZ. For longevity I'd reccomend 8x400@3200MHZ .

Personally, I'd go with the P5N SLI. Great performer, and I've never had major problems with Asus boards.

 

[engiNURD]

I've used the DS3 in over a dozen builds, and its great. I've have yet to run into any issues with them. I've been using them since rev1, and have never encountered the cold boot issue. The board OC's great, but the NB gets hot, so pickup a fan for it or replace it with a Thermalright HR-05 heatsink instead.

Any of those boards would help you reach your goals.

 

[Dangman]

Another vote for the DS3. It's in my current gaming rig now and haven't had any problems that weren't of my own doing. And enginurd's right, the north bridge does get hot so pick up a Thermalright HR-05 if you can.

Here's a pic of the HR-05 in my system along with the DS3:

NOTE: This pic was taken a month ago. It's a bit cleaner now.