GA-P35-DS3R or MSI P6N SLI PLat.???

[vulcan1]

I'm doing a new build and am wrestling between 2 boards.

I've concluded that I am probably going with an Intel core 2 duo E6750 instead of quad core, mainly for the money difference.

I know Tom's mid-range pcbuild recommened the MSI P6N SLI Platinum, but I was considering the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R also. The money is nearly the same. I kind of doubt I would do two graphics cards on the MSI since it drops to 8x each instead of 16x for one. If that's the case, I'm really not sure what (if any) major pros or cons are for one mobo versus the other...?

Would anyone be willing to throw their 2 cents in? If you an another mobo that would be comparible, let me know and what the pros vs. cons are.

Thanks!

 

[Maziar]

what resolution do u play @ ? if u play lower than 1920x1200, then go for P35 DS3R ,if u play @ 1920x1200 or higher , go for SLI

my vote goes for P35 DS3R , its one of the most populare P35 boards

 

[vulcan1]

I don't usually play on the higher resolution settings or play the more intensive games (althought that has somewhat changed recently).

If I *were* to go for the higher graphics, how much of a difference would the sli (w/ 2 cards, obviously) make, especially considering it drops to the 8x rate when 2 cards are active?

 

[cptmac]

All of the P35's are worth the upgrade. Two vid cards, maybe, but I have the 8800 GTX, one of them, it is a monster. In the last month I have built on the Gigabyte board and the Intel. The gigabyte looks pretty-er, but what a dog fight, the intel was no struggle at all. Haven't done the 6750. Both were 6850's. Perfect processor. You won't dog it out. My stress is over Vista 64, the software of the immediate (one year) future. It is a vicious beast. XP sits in it's cage and does exactly what you ask of it. Really, when was the last time you crashed it? Bitchta, I mean Vista, crashes daily, it looks for reasons to fraustrate you. In fact a window pops up and literally says, "hey, I'm crashing, see you in BIOS !!!!"

 

[vulcan1]

At the moment, I'm happy with sticking with XP. Very stable, and it will be supported for 5 more years, at which point I figure Vista's replacement will be out or nearly out anyways... then I can skip Vista all together...

I'm having deja vu with my experience of having 98SE, skipping ME, and waiting for XP... didn't regret the decision AT ALL.

 

[Maziar]

I don't usually play on the higher resolution settings or play the more intensive games (althought that has somewhat changed recently).

If I *were* to go for the higher graphics, how much of a difference would the sli (w/ 2 cards, obviously) make, especially considering it drops to the 8x rate when 2 cards are active?

well a 8800GTX for example is fine even for 2048x1536 resolution , but as i said 1920x1200 and 2048x1536 and higher resolutions are the resolutions which benefit more from SLI than reslutions like 1600x1200 and lower , i have a 8800GTX with LG M228WA ( 1680x1050 resoltuion ) and it plays everthing beautifully , also about 16x16x SLI vs 8x8x , here are 2 nice artice ( its old and its for 939 systems but its about 16x16x vs 8x8x ) :

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/asus-a8n32-sli-deluxe-update_3.html#sect0
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/asus-a8n32-sli-deluxe_8.html#sect0

as u see there isnt a noticeable differenence between 8x8x wand 16x16x

 

[vulcan1]

Thanks, that helps me. I'm going to go with the P35 DS3R. I've been reading more on the two and I have a little more confidence in this one at the moment, plus I'm reading some very favorable responses about how stable it is. I'll take stability over speed if I have to make a choice.

 

[Maziar]

Good Lcuk !