Good X2/SLI mobo

[ishbog]

Im re-building my current system, as my bro is looking to buy it. but, im upgrading to a 3800x2, 2gb ram, and still want SLI ability.
current system:
Athlon 64 3500 Venice
MSI K8N Neo4 SLI mobo
1gb corsair valueselect
MSI 7800GT
Fortron 400W PSU
Seagate 200gb SATA150
silver Cavelier case, coolermaster very nice (->80mm---inside--->120mm-->)

Lite-on DVDRW
shitty old cd drive
g5 laser mouse
MS comfort curve KB
Viewsonic Q7 17" LCD, 1284x1024

Upgraded system:
Athlon 64 3800 X2
(looking for good MOBO, MSI stopped mine, which was great! tsk)
2gb Corsair XMS 2-3-3-6
EVGA 7800GT
Fortron 500W blue storm PSU
Seagate 250gb SATA150
black Cavelier case, coolermaster very nice (->80mm---inside--->120mm-->)

black Lite-on DVDRW
black DVD drive
g5 laser mouse
MS comfort curve KB
Viewsonic Q7 17" LCD, 1284x1024

these are simply the components, if you wish to research. i plan to buy from newegg, but with UPS they are going downhill. suggestions on places to buy accepted.

Im on a budget of roughly $1600. That has to include the monitor, etc. which i am all happy with. no need to change those.

what i really need suggestions on is the motherboard. I need a good overclockable mobo for the X2 AND SLI, but still need to remain on a budget.

Thanks!

 

[h3llscream]

I am not sure how much your looking to spend on the motherboard itself, but asus and dfi both make good sli motherboards with the nf4 chipset. I just built a system with the asus a8n-sli premium mobo with an x2 3800+. Its a full featured motherboard and has overclocking options as well. I was very pleased with it. I got it from new egg for around 150-160 US.

 

[ProdigyMS]

If you want to overclock, DFI is the way to go, since your on a budget I would recommend this board, DFI LP UT nF4 SLI-D.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136158

 

[ishbog]

the listed dfi mobo doesnt show support for the X2 processor, though. i was looking at the 199 dfi, looked good, only a TAD steep in price. i may go with it, however.

as for the asus board, looks like the best bet as of yet. liking that setup, with the 3800? tell me more, i may be going with it. what would you change? and it also doesnt say it supports the x2's...

thanks for the input, guys, thanks alot!

 

[h3llscream]

I wish I still had it sitting on my desk so I could go into detail on the the overclocking options, but I built it for my brother for xmas. The specs are as follows;
3800x2
evga 7800gt co
2 gig corsair( their value select line)
200gig wd sata HDD
dvd/rw
xg dragon case

Fired right up with no issues at all. I did overclock it some, but needless to say I couldn't go far due to the ram I used and also I used stock air cooling that came with the processor. The mobo has everything really that you could want. Gigabit ethernet, 4 sata raid, 4 sata( total of 8 sata connectors), usb2.0 firewire, audio, comes bundled with a ton of accessories.

 

[ishbog]

swang stuff. ive been reading reviews on it, and it does support the x2 now. im a big fan of wiring and re-wiring and adjusting and optimizing the inside (as well as software side...) of the case, so the black IDE cables are a big plus. as are the two gigibit ethernet, though i cant imagine using two internet connections at once... could i use it as a hub? that would KICK ASS at a LAN, cause the person next to me could plug into me! hah!!!! good times! (okok, im starting to get stoked on this mobo)

I totally dig the fanlessness too. the ram im getting will allow for better overclocking. and isnt the stock cooler for the CPU excellent? with 4 heat pipes? my bud overclocked his 4400 to fx 55 speeds no problem. sweet. and hows the audio? should i say screw it and invest in an X-fi?

looks like a winning board. thanks!

 

[h3llscream]

Yeah the audio is ok if you need something to get you by for the time being, but I would invest in something better def. Thats the only thing about the board that is disappointing really.

 

[ishbog]

sweetness. thats prolly what i would do.

got the specs together, on newegg with shipping, its all $1650, $1725 with shipping. i dont like ups, thats fedex.

 

[h3llscream]

I don't think you will be disapointed. After I finished building it I was half tempted to keep it for myself and wrap mine up instead to give to my brother, lol.

 

[ishbog]

hahaha! nice.

My bro came back from college for christmas. My parents were going to get an older $300 ibm laptop, or something of that sort, but he instead decided on a desktop. thus, im trying to get him to buy mine, which i built 3 months ago, so i can build this better, dual core rig. I do alot of 3d modelling and such, so this would be very handy. i figure ill get it to him for around 1400 as a gift.

 

[h3llscream]

I got to wait till after xmas before I start redoing mine. ATM I'm running a matx MSI K8M800 with a athlon 64 2800 1 gig ram and an fx 5600 in an aspire x-qpack case. I'm way over due on an upgrade, but I'll take care that sometime in january. I'll keep the one I have as a back up mostly.

Good luck to ya on your build.