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Ordering MOBO Today! Help Please!

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Ordering MOBO Today! Help Please!

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kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 04:23:17 PM

Here is the list of components I either already have, or am purchasing for my custom gaming pc.

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

Memory
2x G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail

Power Supply
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail

Case
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Thermal Paste
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

CPU Cooling
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

GPU
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512-P3-N841-A3 Video Card - Retail
To Take advantage of EVGA's upgrade program if nVidia decides to bring out their new GPU's in the next 3 months

Drives
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail
And Generic DVD I have setting around

Harddrive
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

OS
I've got a copy for Windows XP Home Edition 32 bit I might use until Vista SP1 comes out to utulize the full 4gb of ram. Maybe dual boot XP and Vista 64 later on.

The Problem is....I cant decide which motherboard to get. I want something under 200$ but it has to have 45nm support and I would like it to have a PCI express 2.0.

I have already posted this question but didnt get much response. Any input would be appreciated. I was going to order this MOBO

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

But I figure I should spend a little bit more and go with PCI express 2.0 since it doubles the bandwith. I'm not too worried about SLI but it would be nice if I could get it all under 200$

One final thing.... I want it to be able to hold a decent overclock. I hear 4.0ghz isnt hard to accomplish with the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro.

Thanks ahead of time!


Message edited by kustomizedstang on 01-25-2008 at 04:59:36 PM
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rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 04:35:02 PM
- 0 +

Everything looks pretty good. How much are you paying for the HDD though? Newegg has a deal on the 750GB Caviar for 20cents / GB. It's like 149.99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-22136131

If want, I can PM you the promo code that gives $10.00 off and free shipping.

You've got a solid build though, enjoy it.

Reply to rgeist554
kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 04:57:01 PM
- 0 +

Yeah thanks for the input! I've gotten EVERYTHING except the motherboard. The HDD I paid 109.99 shipped which equals roughly 21.9 cents/GB. The HDD in my current gaming system is the orig. sata and 250GB. I have only filled that half way. I still need some MOBO help though :( Are there any upcoming intel boards that should support 45nm cpu's and PCI Express 2.0?

If I have to wait until February for p45 or any other new chipset, I will. Im not sure when they are supposed to come out though and at what price.


Message edited by kustomizedstang on 01-25-2008 at 05:00:28 PM
Reply to kustomizedstang
rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 05:06:39 PM
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There is no performance gain between 1.0a and 2.0. Personally, I would just stick with the GA-P35-DS3L. It works right out of the box with the 8400.

Reply to rgeist554
kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 05:08:07 PM
- 0 +

I know there is no way of predicting....but I will be using this PC for the next 2-3 years... I want to be able to play next years games without a hitch. Of course I will have to upgrade the GPU next year. Should the g92 8800GTS be able to stand up to that criteria with the PCI Express 1.0a standard?


Message edited by kustomizedstang on 01-25-2008 at 05:12:27 PM
Reply to kustomizedstang
rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 05:19:05 PM
- 0 +

The g92 GTS is one of the best cards out there right now. The only thing better is the GTX (only in some benchmarks) and the Ultra. If you want, you can wait a while for the 3870x2 or the 9800x2. Those should take the new spot as top card, but they eat a ton of power and probably generate a boat-load of heat.

I think that card will suit you just fine though. If, however, you play at 1920x1200, then you probably will want the option to add in a second card at sometime so it can still have that extra horsepower to let you play at high settings while maintaining a high frame rate.

For that, I would recommend the ASUS P5E for ATI. (X38 chipset on DDR2 RAM - It makes for an excellent Crossfire Board)

As for an Intel chipset that can handle SLI, I don't think there is one. Isn't Intel pissed at Nvidia for not selling / giving them the rights to do so? Anyways, you'll need a 780i or 790i motherboard to support PCI-E 2.0 + SLI, and still have 45nm support. (I think 680i users got stiffed on the 45nm support - sucks) Anyways, be prepared to pay $200+ for one of these.

Feel free to correct me if the above information is incorrect.

Message quoted 1 times
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kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 05:29:39 PM
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Yeah your dead on. I actually ordered the 780i but canceled it because I couldnt see paying 249.99 for a motherboard. I figure I can get the GA-P35-DS3L and have 160 bucks left over for other things. Thanks alot for your help. Actually the 680i from evga is said to support 45nm but its only 30$ cheaper than the 780i!

Reply to kustomizedstang
rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 05:32:54 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

Actually the 680i from evga is said to support 45nm but its only 30$ cheaper than the 780i!

Careful, they posted that it would support 45nm on all the specs, but there have been people saying it currently does not. (They could be referring to the 45nm Quads though, I'll have to check this out)

 

*edit* The xfx 680i board does support Wolfdale chips after a BIOS update, no Yorkfield support though: http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums [...] c=28&t=532


Message edited by rgeist554 on 01-25-2008 at 05:36:03 PM
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kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 05:35:38 PM
- 0 +

I might just bite the bullet and go for 780i for future support. Thanks for all the help.


Message edited by kustomizedstang on 01-25-2008 at 05:35:56 PM
Reply to kustomizedstang
kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 05:42:42 PM
- 0 +

What about the 680i LT. I cant seem to figure out if it would be a good motherboard to get since I could add another g92 mid year when the x2's come out.

Reply to kustomizedstang
aevm   01-25-2008 at 05:48:53 PM
- 0 +

rgeist554 wrote :

The g92 GTS is one of the best cards out there right now. The only thing better is the GTX (only in some benchmarks) and the Ultra. If you want, you can wait a while for the 3870x2 or the 9800x2. Those should take the new spot as top card, but they eat a ton of power and probably generate a boat-load of heat.

I think that card will suit you just fine though. If, however, you play at 1920x1200, then you probably will want the option to add in a second card at sometime so it can still have that extra horsepower to let you play at high settings while maintaining a high frame rate.

For that, I would recommend the ASUS P5E for ATI. (X38 chipset on DDR2 RAM - It makes for an excellent Crossfire Board)

As for an Intel chipset that can handle SLI, I don't think there is one. Isn't Intel pissed at Nvidia for not selling / giving them the rights to do so? Anyways, you'll need a 780i or 790i motherboard to support PCI-E 2.0 + SLI, and still have 45nm support. (I think 680i users got stiffed on the 45nm support - sucks) Anyways, be prepared to pay $200+ for one of these.

Feel free to correct me if the above information is incorrect.




Another vote for P5E. It is used with an E8400 in this review here, so you know it's a good fit:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/c [...] fdale.html

And yes, if you haven't got the nVidia card yet you might as well switch to HD 3870 X2 or even HD 3870 so you can do Crossfire later.

Reply to aevm
rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 05:51:09 PM
- 0 +

Reviews say that it performs on par w/ other 680i boards at stock settings, but it falls behind a bit when overclocking the CPU. If you want to go it, I'd suggest sending an e-mail or support question to XFX about Wolfdale support. (I'm assuming the normal 680i BIOS update would work, but they consider this chipset a "stripped down, "lite" version of 680i". So it's definitely worth asking about before you buy it)

Reply to rgeist554
bobbknight   01-25-2008 at 06:58:52 PM
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To use a newegg promo code do you not have to be on the email list?

Reply to bobbknight
kustomizedstang   01-25-2008 at 08:44:29 PM
- 0 +

Well, I just made an extra $100 that i didnt expect to make since starting the thread so i might just jump for the evga 780i. Thanks for everyones help.

Reply to kustomizedstang
rgeist554   01-25-2008 at 09:25:52 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

To use a newegg promo code do you not have to be on the email list?

Not sure, but if you do, it's pretty easy to sign up. :)

Reply to rgeist554
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