motherboard selection for E6550

dmeyer85

Distinguished
Aug 21, 2007
29
0
18,530
I am doing a complete overhaul on my current self-built pc. I am planning on getting a new motherboard, processor, RAM, video card, optical drive, and power supply. Basically all I am wishing to carry over are my 2 current hard drives, which are both old PATA, but are Barracudas and are still fully operational.

Been doing a ton of research about components over the last 2 weeks and being outta the PC building game for a while has left me learning a lot about all the new technologies, but I believe I have come to a pretty firm decision on all the components except for the motherboard, I am having the hardest time choosing one, all the review websites offer such varying opinions, was hoping someone here could perhaps shed some light for me. I use my PC primarily for gaming, genres incl. mostly MMORPG's and the occasional FPS or RTS. The components I have decided on thus far are:

CPU: Core 2 Duo E6550
Video Card: eVGA Nvidia 8800GTS 320mb
Memory: 2 - 1GB A-Data DDR2 800
Power Supply: Rosewill RP550V2-D-SLi Ready

I am unsure if SLi is something I am entirely interested in or is even worth the money. Upgradeability is an important aspect for me as I usually only do a rebuild like this every 3 years or so. I'm not much for intense overclocking, but a nice stable board will do me fine. Something in the price range of around 100-150 dollars is what I'm looking for. Also if anyone has some other recommendations for me on moderate gaming builds they have done recently feel free to input anything you think I may find useful, as I said, I have paid much attention to the components market for the last 2 years so it has changed quite drastically for me. I am not completely opposed to switching to an AMD build as that is what I am using currently, but from what I've read Intel C2Duos are the best on the market at the moment.
 
SLI is good if u play @ 1920x1200 , P35 boards are good , u can choose to have DDR2-DDR3- DDR2 and DDR3 , and Also PCI-E2 is supported on P35 :

http://xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20070817093804.html

and also 45nm CPU support:
http://event.asus.com/mb/45nm/

$100-$150:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280+4017+1070509908+107172277&name=Intel+P35+series

Get ASUS P5KC or GIGABYTE P35C DS3R (they have both same features) if u want DDR2 and DDR3 (note that DDR3 is limited to 4GB)

Get ASUS P5K or P5K-E or GIGABYTE P35 DS3R , if u want DDR2
 
mate why dont u post a reply WHEN U DONT EVEN READ MINE ?! :

Note that these limitations have been revealed only for the Blitz mainboard series that uses CrossLinx chip. Other Asus mainboards on Intel P35 chipset should have no problems with PCI Express 2.0 graphics cards support.
 

zenmaster

Splendid
Feb 21, 2006
3,867
0
22,790
I would recommend only the E4400 instead of the E6550 if you want to save some money as the E4400 will easily hit the same speeds as the E6550 if only running DDR2-800 memory.

If you want the E6550, I would try and shoot for DDR2-1066.
The E6550 can likely hit close to 4.0Ghz on air cooling, but DDR2-800 will require an OC of the ram to even get past 2.8ghz.

You said you are not into crazy OCs, but that chip can likely get to 3.6ghz before it starts to break a sweat if given good ram. With slower RAM you can save a chunck of change and go with an old CPU that should hit 3.0ghz with the slower ram before it starts to sweat.
 

hheiber

Distinguished
Jun 4, 2007
54
0
18,630


I am looking at these two boards, but it looks like the DS3R does not have firewire. Is that correct?
 

dmeyer85

Distinguished
Aug 21, 2007
29
0
18,530
Well the main reason I decided to go with the E6550 is for future upgradeability options. I haven't looked into prices for DDR2-1066 memory but I will check them out, the unfortunate aspect of this all is my budget is limited so I am trying to get the most out of the money I have, it seemed to me that if I could afford the E6550 now, then I might as well go for it. But if you really think going for the E4400 would be a better decision I will definately consider it.

No one else has any mobo recommendations ?