MSI P35 NEO2 or Abit IP-35 Dark Raider?

[bhavv]

I found a funny thing on scan with these two motherboards:

Abit IP-35 Dark Raider - £77
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=605524

MSI P35 NEO2 - £66
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=636580

I was originally going to get the Abit, but then I saw the MSI, its £11 less with Crossfire support, and a lot more copper and heatpipes between the chips, so would be better for overclocking.

Does the Abit have any extra features that are missing from the MSI one? Or is the MSI deffinately better?

I dont need crossfire, but wont miss out on it if the mobo is this much cheaper.

And I'm getting an E8400 as soon as its in stock, but I would need the motherboard bios updating to support the CPU, would scan do this for me if I ask?

 

[bhavv]

Ok I've gone for the MSU now, both the boards are pretty identical but the MSI has more stuff on it for less.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3169&p=2

I've pre ordered an 8400 with it and 2 sets of this ram:

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/gskill_pc6400/

Please advise me if this will work, I have asked the place i'm buying it from to check that the CPU works with the motherboard first and asked if they can update the bios first if it doesnt to save an unwanted return.