Need suggestions for a replacement MB.

I use my computer primarily for gaming (fps) and video processing along with some database and cadd. I currently have the following configuration -

Dual Boot - XP Pro / Vista 64 (each on its own non-raid disk (74GB raptor))

Intel BOXD975XBX2KR LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor (quad proc)

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop

2x BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOCE GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI

3ware 9650SE-4LPML PCI Express Lanes: 4 SATA II Controller Card (PCI Express Lanes: 4) – currently running 4x drives in a raid 5 array.

Dell 24” and Samsung 22” monitors, each on its own 8800GTX.

I found that performance was great on the primary monitor in all programs but performance dropped considerably on the second monitor (avg 22 FPS vs. 120 FPS). Performance is better under Vista on both monitors (avg 50FPS) but it is still 50% at best. (Gaming rates used but percentages are the similar on all applications used) I am ordering a replacement monitor (Dell 30”) with the idea being that I will get better performance out of a single monitor solution in whatever OS and application I run. At this time I need 3 16x slots, 2 for the 8800GTX video cards and 1 for the 3Ware raid card (4x really for the raid card but I have only been finding 1x or 16x slots) so I can run SLI to drive the monitor. Technical support hasn't been able to address the performance issue either.

In looking at New Egg I have found the following boards that seem to meet my needs and they are rated top to bottom based on user reviews.

ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX The Ultimate Gaming Motherboard $299
ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $199
ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $179
ABIT IN9 32X-MAX LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $229
DFI LP UT NF680I LT SLI-T2 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $229

Questions:
Are the issues people have been having with the 680I chipset resolved? It looks like they are still happening and are pretty severe and in the reviews it’s still recent. I think that by going with the 3Ware raid card I will avoid the issues people have had with the onboard raid but I don’t know about the rest.

Is there enough of a performance increase to only go with the 680I and not the 650I chipsets? Is the 650I still viable?

Any thoughts as to which motherboard to use (even if its not one of these).

Thanks for any and all input!

Asus Gigabyte DFI Abit MSI all known for their products being top of the line. Some people have personal preferences so they may say something else. I have seen here in this forum people racking on manufacturers because of one example of bad experience but behind each of those are most likely 90 to 95 people with good experience of the same product.

For 680i, ASUS and EVGA do very good boards. EVGA is a little better on price.