ASUS P5B vs GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3

[geckoeyes]

I have been searching through this forum and haven't seen any comparison of these two budget boards. Can someone please help me decide?

I noticed that the S3 gets recommended most often for budget boards and may be a better over clocker and cost $109. But the P5B has RAID and only cost $127. My initial configuration will not have RAID but shouldn't I keep the option open? This will be a hobby system, some gaming.

I am pairing up with:
SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe (I would like to OC this)
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Thanks! Go easy, I'm new here. Any advice appreciated.

 

[1Tanker]

I have been searching through this forum and haven't seen any comparison of these two budget boards. Can someone please help me decide?

I noticed that the S3 gets recommended most often for budget boards and may be a better over clocker and cost $109. But the P5B has RAID and only cost $127. My initial configuration will not have RAID but shouldn't I keep the option open? This will be a hobby system, some gaming.

I am pairing up with:
SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe (I would like to OC this)
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Thanks! Go easy, I'm new here. Any advice appreciated.

The S3 is a better overclocker than the P5B(vanilla). The P5B-[b]E[/b] would be a better choice(board rev 1.02G), but it competes more against the DS3, and is priced accordingly. GL :)

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070[/url]

 

[ZozZoz]

Hold your horses when it comes to RAID )). Raid is implemented thru the JMicron controller, which has 1 SATA port on the Mobo, and the second (not even a proper SATA port but an external splitter) on the outside of the board (for you that means using an external SATA harddrive if you want raid.

I didn't care about RAID so that's why i got the P5B, but you might want to consider.

 

[Bobsama]

The GA-965P-S3 has many reviews for good overclocking. At stock it is stable at 450+ mhz FSB. If you buy a few 4cm case fans, you can put them onto the northbridge and southbridge; it will cool these a little bit more. It's a little recommendation if you push byeond 1800FSB.

 

[geckoeyes]

Thanks for the help! I think I will get the S3.

Heaven forbid I move money from the video card to fund a better MB!

 

[Pax2All]

If you havent ordered it yet, and can wait a little longer (yeah that sounds familiar ) Gigabyte will be releasing revision 3.3 boards that will include the s3 model. Circuitry on the board has been revised to allow native 1333mhz FSB support. The release is set for the end of January.

 

[geckoeyes]

I haven't ordered yet. Thanks for the tip! I wonder if/how this will affect prices?

Is there a way to specify which revision you want when you order? I don't see it detailed in the specifications on Newegg at all. I guess I could wait for them to advertise it with 1333mhz FSB.

 

[M3d]

True. The P5B vanilla does not have Raid, thats why its in my closet. Had to buy the DS3 to to run my two raptors.

 

[1Tanker]

I haven't ordered yet. Thanks for the tip! I wonder if/how this will affect prices?

Is there a way to specify which revision you want when you order? I don't see it detailed in the specifications on Newegg at all. I guess I could wait for them to advertise it with 1333mhz FSB.

Just keep in mind, that if the release is set for the end of January...you could have to wait a month more. Newegg will sell all the older revisions first..and i'm sure they have lots of inventory.