Using a Q6600, 8GB OCZ DDR2 1000 ram and an 8800GTS on Vista 64bit, which motherboard would be best for
Stability and Gaming?

SLI isn't much of a consideration.

GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DQ6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128326

EVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188024

ASUS P5N-T Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131247

Explanation for your answers are appreciated, but not required.

Thanks,
Rik

X38 boards are far more stable and overclock better than the 780i especially with quads. 780i is a revised 680i and still suffers from some of the same issues although if you plan on SLI your best bet would be 780i or 790i.

X38 boards are the best boards .....
Asus maximus formula rocks

X48 Boards are now shipping, though most of the faster ones want DDR3.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3229

790i Boards should start shipping within a month.
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipse [...] spx?i=3265

Definately not interested in DDR3 yet and I prefer stuff that has been out for at least a month or so. I'm not good enough with trouble shooting (this will be my first complete build) to fight with bleeding edge technologies.

I'll let someone else be the first to discover any conflicts and issues

I am leaning towards the Gigabyte GA-EX38-DQ6. The only thing that puzzles me is that it is an ATI crossfire board, but apparently can run a single Geforce card just fine. Wouldn't that mean its been optimized just for ATI??

EDIT HERE:
I'm buying everything from Newegg in a package deal. I just checked and they dont even an have Asus maximus formula un-opened. They have the Striker II, but man- $330!

I know, these prices are nuts. There is no way any normal person can get an X38/X48 board with DDR3 right now without getting a loan....forget about it!

fuggetaboutit!

Some boards, IIRC have both DDR2 and DDR3 slots for those that are unwilling to wait for DDR3 prices to drop.....making room for the extra slots tho decreases the real estate for other goodies.

DDR3 is mainly "expensive" only in comparison to what DDR2 costs now.

$60-$190 / GB is not really a bad price historically. Just looked at a build I did for a friend back little over a year ago......$479 for 2 x 1 GB of CAS 3 Corsair Dominator Series.

Now it's $244 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145165

Corsair Dominators in DDR3 1800 are $464 today compared with the $479 DDR2 800 of a year ago
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145187

I've seen a couple of boards that can take both, but using you are bound at a max of 4GB of either type and I insist on using 8GB with no page file on Vista 64 (separate argument and thread lol).

In addition to the price, DDR3 @ 7-7-7-20 vs DDR2 @ 3-4-3-9 is a real turn off too! Those are the numbers of the sticks you posted. I don't understand enough to know exactly how they will affect the ram performance, but I do know lower is better.

Anyone have layman's terms for why the Gigabyte board can only run a single Geforce card but can run two ATI cards in crossfire? I can't find anything that explains it but I've seen several reviews where they are using a single Geforce card if I read them right.

I voted other MSI P35 Neo2-FR

I like the price, but Newegg only has one and its open box. Besides, it says it only supports Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium EE / Pentium.

Goo for Asus Rampage Formula
X48 chipset and support for DDR2 and fantastic OC

This is the board I would get if buying right now.

http://www.motherboardpro.com/DFI- [...] p-540.html

Looks and sounds like a great board- but it seems to be a bit too specialized for my skill level. I can't find a single review on it at ANY of the usual sites including this one. I found lots of threads about it and most seem to love it, but I need to stay with a board that is much more mainstream so when I make a frantic post for help with something, I have a better chance of someone knowing what I'm working with.... $300+ shipped doesn't help either lol.

^ I just let out that GOOOOO sound like when you see someone get a swift kick to the nads.

Hmm....layman's terms...Nvidia is greedy? No no...wait...Nvidia = jackholes?...hmm...

Ah, I got it. Nvidia = Gollum......his precious = SLI license.