Motherboard/Memory for E6300

[TooncesLives]

Well, my parent's PC finally died on them, so I'm donating my main rig to them (which is currently also my HTPC in the signature). I'll need to build a new system, and since it's on a budget I'll be going with the E6300. I also have a gig (2X512) of PNY Optima 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) memory from a friend that needed a memory upgrade, but then decided to not pay me back for the memory (so I ended up taking it back). Does anyone have any opions as to what motherboards I should look at getting to use with this memory? All I need is the processor and motherboard (and if there is anything left over, I'll put it toward a hard drive upgrade, but I doubt there will be). I want to keep the build in the $300 range if possible (less is always better). Would I be able to really overclock a system with this memory. I've never overclocked systems. Most of my hardware experience is only with upgrading/repairing OEM systems. Any suggestions or comments about the memory would be great.

 

[buffbiff21]

these are pretty much teh big three mobo chipsets for overclocking:
975X, P965, 680i

Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

OR

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe WIFI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

OR
ASUS P5B Deluxe

I would say get some new mem too, you would not be able get a decent OC with your mem:
Check this list BE SURE TO GET GOOD MICRON D9's
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=77442

 

[Arcygenical]

P5B Deluxe and any good OCZ (platinum), Corsair XMS or Gskill RAM.


System in my sig got me to to 3500mhz.

 

[jchen012]

Check the sticky in the Intel Processor section. There is a graph that shows all the overclocks from members on this forum. It even shows which motherboard they used. If you look at the chart, you will find that it is mostly dominated by the Gigabyte DS3 and the Asus P5W DH and P5B. It also lists the RAM. It will give you an idea of what you can expect. Hope that helps.

 

[engiNURD]

The DS3 and P5W DH are both out of his budget range.

$180 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz
$100 - Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express (review)
$116 - GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express

I'd go with the Foxconn. Both boards can overclock nicely. I have no clue how well those PNY Optimas will OC. Feed it some voltage, relax the timings, and find out how far they can go... then let us know, lol DDR2 seems to overclock better than DDR, so I'm guessing you can reach around 2.6Ghz at least (with stock cooling).