Which is the Motherboard to Buy?

[pchoi04]

I'm getting a Q6700 (I know I can get a Q6600 and OC it but I get a really good deal on the Q6700), and either an 8800GTS (G92) or a next gen card.

I doubt that I would go SLI although having the option is nice. I want to say a P35 would probably go well but I wanted to get some other recommendations.

From what it sounds like the 780i isnt going to be anything special.

 

[chookman]

780i is meant to be a 680i with a PCI-e2.0 controller chip.

P35 is the way to go unless you are stressing about the whole PCI-e2.0 thing or crossfiring (x38 the go there)

Gigabyte Asus and Abit all make nice P35 boards. Choose based on your needs and price.

 

[aevm]

I'm getting a Q6700 (I know I can get a Q6600 and OC it but I get a really good deal on the Q6700), and either an 8800GTS (G92) or a next gen card.

I doubt that I would go SLI although having the option is nice. I want to say a P35 would probably go well but I wanted to get some other recommendations.

From what it sounds like the 780i isnt going to be anything special.

Having the SLI option is nice, yeah, but the mobo will cost about $100 more, if not $200 more, and you'd need a more expensive PSU too. Do you have, or expect to have, a monitor with 1920x1200 or more pixels?

 

[pchoi04]

I have a Dell 24 and a 700W Thermaltake.

I don't mind spending a little more, so price isnt a big issue of course within reasonable means. However, not interested in DDR3.

I guess PCIE 2.0 is a nice touch. Only wished the X38 supported SLI.

 

[aevm]

I think it's worth it, then. Your PSU already supports dual high-end cards and 24" means even the best card around today will be challenged in some games. I'd wait to see some reviews of the 780i.

How about X38 with two HD 3870 in Crossfire?

 

[chookman]

How about X38 with two HD 3870 in Crossfire?

That thought would be crossing my mind also. Cheaper than the SLI 8800 combo. Better Penyrn and general support with the x38 also.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed

 

[pchoi04]

Doing two 3870s have crossed my mind. But I suppose I'll wait and see what the 780i holds.

 

[aevm]

If you're not in a hurry - nVidia promised a new video card for February. Can hardly wait to see that one

 

[at0micsmurf]

i spent ages looking at motherboards, and asus, gigabyte and abit all offer good P35 boards. in the end i found none of them were perfect, and so had to decide based on what features i wanted most. i found the gigabyte P35 DS3R to be most suitable and am happy i chose it

i read too many complains about memory not being recognized in asus boards, plus the heatsinks in on the asus P5K-E SLI board are crap and overheat. on the asus P5K the extra PCI-E slot is useless unless you use crossfire

with Abit i thought the PRO was the best that they had to offer, but it was £30 more than the gigabyte board