975 or 965??? Conroe

[AugieCalcagno]

ok so im building a new maching with an e6600. I cant decide what motherboard to go with.... money isnt really an issue as it is for a rich friend but i need in pronto

 

[themelonator13]

the 965 chipset doesnt support sli or crossfire so go with the 975x chipset just make sure you got to a retail store and pick it up because only the new 975x motherboards work with conroe "Only versions of the Intel desktop board D975XBX with AA# D27094-304 or AA# D29532-303 or higher support these processors." http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/bx/bx_available.htm

there are 965 motherboards with two pci 16x slots but a little searching on the intel site will show you that 965 doesnt support sli or x fire

by the way the board version i was talking about was the intel version i like that one best it has 3 pci 16x slots two for sli and one other one for either a quadro or a physics card (i think there pci e) if you read this THG article http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/22/six_975x_enthusiast_motherboards_for_today_and_tomorrow/
you will probly like that one two
try to find a microcenter in your area i know they stock them and they have the best price right now (yeah better then newegg) i wouldnt buy that board online because you dont know what version they're sending you so if you cant find it at a local store then get the 965 but you wont be able to use sli but if your friend is loaded he can just get a 7950GTX2

 

[rahul_cracker]

My Dear friend the 965 chipsets do support conroe yes but not SLI or CROSSFIRE ,but i think he din't ask for sli support or crossfire ?
the list is from intel's site
Brand Model Number Form Factor Platform Technology Chipset
Intel DQ965WC pBTX Intel® vPro™ Intel Q965
DQ965CO uBTX Intel® vPro™ Intel Q965
DQ965GF uATX Intel® vPro™ Intel Q965
DG965PZ pBTX Intel® Viiv™ Intel G965
DG965MQ uBTX Intel® Viiv™ Intel G965
DG965OT uATX Intel® Viiv™ Intel G965
DG965WH ATX Intel® Viiv™ Intel G965
DG965MS uBTX - Intel G965
DG965SS uATX - Intel G965
DG965RY ATX - Intel G965
DP965LT ATX - Intel P965
Asus* P5B Deluxe N/A N/A Intel P965
P5B N/A N/A Intel P965
Gigabyte* GA-965P-DQ6 N/A N/A Intel P965
GA-965P-DS4 N/A N/A Intel P965
GA-965P-DS3 N/A N/A Intel P965
GA-965P-S3 N/A N/A Intel P965
ECS* P965T-A N/A N/A Intel P965
PX1 N/A N/A Intel P965
P965T-M N/A N/A Intel P965
G965T-M N/A N/A Intel G965
Q965T-MDO N/A N/A Intel Q965
MSI* MS7235-P965Neo N/A N/A Intel P965
MS7238-P965 Platnium N/A N/A Intel P965
Foxconn* P9657AA-8EKRS2H N/A N/A Intel P965
P9657AA-8KS2H N/A N/A Intel P965
QDI* P5I965P N/A N/A Intel P965

 

[_Morphine_]

Well if your rich friend isnt interested in OCing and wants stability for his money. I think the XBX is a good choice. Less hassle for you as the system builder and the 975 chipset has had more kinks worked out as its a bit older than 965.

Lets us know what you choose.

-M

 

[xgas]

Errr, the newer 965 chipset has the new so called HTT for Intel procs called CSI or something, now only the 965 chipset supports it, the 975 does not, plus a lot new features the newer 965 chipset has so to take advantage of the Conroes new features...... blah blah blah, anyway, 975 is expensive and doesnt have good priceerformance ratio.
SLI and Crossfire is a waste of money unless you have money to burn to buy two cards at the same time.

 

[_Morphine_]

Part of the point you are missing is he said price doesnt matter. The right board at the right time was the question posed. I think ANY 975 chipset has the potential to be an easier setup and more stable since its been out for a bit.

For an enthusiast's computer I might agree about looking at a 965, but this guy just wants a system and probably doesnt care whats in it, just wants it to work. You have to build for the person not the computer.
Since its for someone else, slap an XBX in it and be done fast.

-M