Please would you check these for me?
 
Will this mobo: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] tID=729913
 
Suit this cpu: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] tID=767360
 
Thanks all

They are compatible (albeit an odd combination), but what's the rest of the setup, and what's the intended use (games, resolutions, applications)?

If you are overclocking the Q9300 stay clear of the NVIDIA chipsets ... the 780i supports it but struggle to overclock it. If you "DONT" want SLI i would go back to an Intel Chipset P35, x38, x48 or new P45
 
EDIT: added DONT

 
You do realize that the X48 and P45 chipsets support Crossfire, but not SLI, thanks to Nvidia refusing to allow Intel to make SLI chipsets.
 
As for the 780i board and the Q9300, they should work together. Not the greatest for overclocking, but the Q9300 is a low end chip that won't overclock all that well anyway. For use at stock speeds, I don't foresee any problems.

I don't overclock, never really have. I just want a rig that will comfortably run Age of Conan, graphically intense game.
 
Around June/July, I'll be looking at buying the GTX280 Graphic Card as well.
 
It's despairing though, that cpu costs almost £180 and it's low end?

 
Good catch on my wording sailer... there was supposed to a DONT in there somewhere.. i have edited my post

I think a better description would be 'entry-level quad core CPU'.  I second the vote for a P35 chipset unless you foresee SLI in your future.

What is a P35 chipset?  
 
Would it be better for me to go for a Core 2 Duo, of a higher clock speed perhaps? All things equal, would a cpu of that description be better performing?

Sorry for this but for some reason I am not allowed to edit my own messages.
 
This mobo is a P45: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] tID=818509
 
I was going to get this one: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] tID=729913
 
Would you be so kind as to explain why the P45 motherboard is better than the more expensive nF780i?  
 
And would a Core2Quad entry level out perform a Core2Duo high end cpu? Or is the Core2Duo better because of 'value for money?'
 
Thanks all
 

As to why the P45 is better than the NF780i, Nvidia has been having troubles, either with its boards or its drivers, most likely drivers from what I've read. Nvidia's decision to end SLI support for Intel boards has likely as not caused Intel to treat them similarly, thus making life even harder for Nvidia. Its an odd situation, with Intel supporting AMD's ATI cards, which are provided by its rival.
 
As to the question of a C2Q entry level CPU verses a C2D high level CPU, the C2Q would be better only if you were doing things and using programs that demanded a Quad. Otherwise, the high end C2D would be much better. This is one of the places where mhz proves its worth. Another difference is that the Q9300 doesn't have the large cache that the Q9450 and better chips have.

thank you for the info

Ok sorry, still confused.
 
With an E8400 C2D and a GTX280 Graph. Card, what mobo would you recommend please? Probs wont bother with 2 Graph. cards either.

Any good name (Gigabyte, Asus, Abit) P35-based board.
 
Here are a few good ones:
Gigabyte P35-DS3L or EP35-DS3L
" P35-DS3R or EP35-DS3R
Asus P5K
" P5K SE
" P5K-E
ABit IP35P
 
Edit:  Yes, the E8400 would be a good choice for the use you described.

Or this one?
 
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Pro [...] tID=770819

That's a great motherboard, you should enjoy it.

 
A good pick. It should do what you want.  

thank you all very much for your help and patience
 
now in th words of that illustrious bard...game on!