GA-965G-DS3 vs. GA-965P-DS3

[gscotty]

I am a complete noob to computer building and I am just wondering which one I should go with. I am going to buy an e6300 intel cor2duo. Basically building a budget computer, want to put in dual channel ram ddr2 800 ofcourse and an evga 7600gt. Whats the difference between the two and which one should I buy?

 

[CmdPT]

965G has an onboard graphics and 965P doesn't. I would recommend getting 965P. The onboard graphics sucks and if you game alot that graphics card wouldn't do. At least with the 965P you can upgrade the video card down the road, yes you can disable the onboard graphics card on the 965G to use another videocard but why get something you won't use at all.

 

[gscotty]

Wow, thanks for the info and such a quick response. I am now in a pickle about which processor to buy. I was going to go with the e6300 but reading some posts it seems as if the e4300 is a beast to overclock with. I have never used overclocking before, nor have hardly if any computer knowledge at all other than what I've read in the past few weeks. If I can get away with not having to tinker with the FSB or even overclocking a lot that I think would be my best bet since this would be my first build. I am on like a 700$ budget. I have put together a hopefully complete system through newegg.com. I am getting a case with a PSU(heard from some friends that cases with a PSU with it are crap but the case that I am getting is going to come with 4 fans and a PSU, can't find a case that comes with 4 fans on newegg that wouldn't set me back more for buying the case without a PSU and that many fans so I am ?guessing? that I would save more money than buying additional fans and a decent PSU).

Another thing, do I go with the GA-965P-S3 or the GA-965P-DS3.

 

[rdhood]

I am a complete noob to computer building and I am just wondering which one I should go with. I am going to buy an e6300 intel cor2duo. Basically building a budget computer, want to put in dual channel ram ddr2 800 ofcourse and an evga 7600gt. Whats the difference between the two and which one should I buy?

Reviews of the -G variant (onboard graphics) show that it is an overclocking dog. I would steer clear of it!

I overclocked my E6300 just like the articles at tomshardware, anandtech, and xbitlabs. It is as close to a slam dunk overclock as has ever existed in the CPU world. After seeing overclocks for 4300 and 6300, two things come to mind:
1) with the 965P-S3 or DS3, you can overclock either chip. The board is overkill for the 4300 and perfect for a 3GHz overclock on the 6300
2) the "standard" overclock... if there is such a thing... for the 4300 will be 200->333Mhz, and the standard for 6300 is 266->400Mhz. I only say this because DDR2 memory comes in 667 and 800MHz flavors, and these are the overclocks that will use those memory sticks 1:1 without overclocking memory. Thus, these overclocks are very doable, and the only thing being overclocked will be the CPU. Of course, my system is set at 430Mhz because I wanted a nice round 3Ghz overclock, but that requires memory that operates beyond its specification.

So, I would go with either:
4300, 667Mhz memory, S3
or
6300, 800Mhz memory, DS3

the first combo is definitely going to be a bit cheaper in 6 weeks.

 

[gscotty]

Thanks! That info is a big help! I think I may be learning towards just possibly waiting a few weeks or so to get my new system. Though I am a bit confused a little bit more now. Don't know if I should go with the e4300 or the e6300. I am most likely going to buy ddr2 800 RAM so whenever I upgrade things furthermore I can carry that over. Will be buying the Thermaltake Damier V5000C. Seagate 320GB 16mb SATA HDD. EVGA 7600GT video card. The Giga 965P S3(I think I read it is a bit easier to overclock than the DS3). And I am still up in the air about a PSU, though I am thinking of the APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W(It has 233 5 egg rating out of 344 on newegg for 39.99).