which motherboard

[9mak9]

Hey all,

I put together this build with a lil help but I am still not sure as to what MB I should get.

This is the one I am thinking of buying
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Rev. 2.0 LGA775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard Retail ($90)

But I people keep telling me to get Abit or Asus and if I want to spend some more get DFI or Foxconn...and I am pretty sure I want to get sli compatibility also...can anyone recommend a good motherboard to buy? Right now I'm at about $1030 and I would def spend more (not over $200 for the board) for a worthwhile MB...

any advice? Thanks alot


CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB cache Retail
$280
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80864

Memory
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Video Card
EVGA 512-P3-N802-A3 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130306

Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$105
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136073

CD Drive
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write - OEM
$33
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106070

PSU
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, C-tick, CCC, CB - Retail
$75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371001

Case
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...+Cases+-+ATX+Form)-_-Cooler+Master-_-11119137

Cooling Fan
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
$22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

 

[farfromhome]

There's nothing wrong with the DS3L, or with Gigabyte in general. In fact, I'd recommend Gigabyte over ASUS at this point, though abit is the crowd favorite. I have a slightly higher-end version (the P35C-DS3R), and it's running wonderfully. That said, there are some things you really need to know...

If you want SLI, you need a mobo with a NVIDIA cihpset, period. Intel chipsets can only do Crossfire; blame NVIDIA for that one, as they don't want to share SLI with anybody else. If you decide to go that route, I'd pick up the MSI P6N SLI Platinum, which uses the 650i chipset and seems to be popular. That said, I don't think that SLI is worth it unless you want to go super-high-end right now; as an upgrade path, it stinks. Intel chipsets are much more stable and future-proof CPU-wise; the 600-series chipsets won't be able to run the new Yorkfield quad-cores (though they can run the current Kentsfield quad-cores just fine, just not overclock them as well as Intel chipsets). Stick with a P35 or X38 motherboard unless you're absolutely certain that SLI is important to you.

 

[9mak9]

thanks for the advice...

i am not goin to go sli yet...but when the 9 series comes out and such and maybe sli is a better value for video cards...i might not ever go sli but i like the option at least...so which is better from these 2?

ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $90
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $96

thanks again

 

[farfromhome]

Both are great and lots of people are happy with either. You really can't go wrong with either of those two motherboards.

(Sorry if you already know and I'm just stating the obvious, but neither are SLI motherboards, as they both use the excellent but SLI-less Intel P35 chipset. Just so you won't be disappointed.)

 

[9mak9]

haha thanks...

if i spent the extra money for a nvidia sli board and dont get another card...is the MB i have worse than the abit or gigabyte?

 

[BUFF]

Both are great and lots of people are happy with either. You really can't go wrong with either of those two motherboards.

but the abit will probably overclock better if that is a concern.

if i spent the extra money for a nvidia sli board and dont get another card...is the MB i have worse than the abit or gigabyte?

Yes, because it won't run Penryn quads whereas the P35s will.