Looking for cheap, feature rich mobo!

[chased13]

Here's my quick story... skip it if you want

About a year and half ago i built a C2D machine (pretty much right when they came out). I used a gigabyte 965-S3 mobo (exactly like the DS3, but had cheaper caps or something like that). I was pretty cheap, like 120$, it had some good features (digital out for sound) and worked fine. Now I've been having problems (random hangups) that can't be explained by pretty much anything . Done numerous reinstalls with different pieces of hardware, and basically brought it down to being a processor OR mobo problem. Recently, however, my ram slots have been going nuts, which leads me to believe i have a mobo problem. Also, it seems during intense read/write sessions to the HD it hangs, but i've tried different hds...anyways, i somehow think a new mobo will solve it.

My gigabyte 965-S3 had all the features i needed, but when i just checked out newegg, it seems like there's tons of new goodies in the mobo section. Is there something else i should be looking at, as far as a mobo with digital out for sound thats C2D friendly, solid, and cheap? As far as futureproofing goes, i really dont care, as ill be going to college in a year and a half, and i wont be bringing a desktop anyways.

Thanks for any help!

 

[chased13]

After seaching some more on newegg, it looks like gigabyte p35 ds3L looks like its very similar to my old board and is 90$, is there anything else i should be looking at?

 

[chookman]

definetly the DSL3... solid , lots a praise... should have everthing you need, if you want RAID, firewire etc. i would look at Asus P5K-e

 

[chased13]

Thanks man, thats what i was looking for- someone who was up to date on things, and yeh, i really dont need "features", i just meant digital sound (which seems to be somewhat standard now).

Like i said, this machine is going to the dumpster (well sitting at my house) while im at college in a year and a half.