For a new system build I'm having trouble deciding between which mobo I should for the system I am building. I can't decide which of the two chipsets I should get for my new gaming rig; i will be using an Intel Quad core (probably Q6600) and it will be my first time I'm building a system to overclock
Here are the pros/cons of each chipset I've determined from my research:
P35:
* FSB Support: up to 1333MHz native, but 1600Mhz FSB by overclock
* RAM Support up to DDR2-1200 native, but DDR2-1200 by overclock
- Typically has issues with RAM over DDR2-800 (so people simply overclock the DDR2-800)
+ I already have a guide to overclocking it see: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/245679-29-guide-overclocking-ds3l-updated-2008
- is already over a year old
- Does not support PCIe 2.0
- runs slightly hotter (90nm Manufacturing process)
+ Slightly cheaper
P45:
* Native support for 1600MHz FSB (I will still have to overclock the CPU to avail of the speed)
+ Native support for DDR2-1200
+ Supports PCIe 2.0
+ just released
-- May be more difficult to overclock (see http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/247170-29-will-overclocking-mobo-read-this)
+/- Just released/Issues not yet known
- Slightly more expensive
So what I'm looking at so far, is a P35 from Gigabyte ($89):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128337
or a P45 from MSI ($99):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130181
but am open to other suggestions
I'm trying to get the best bang for buck (as long as the price difference is around $40 it's no big deal - can even get a PCIe 2.0 8800 GT for $130).
What I'm most concerned about is not being able to overclock the CPU if I get the P45 (since it's my first try at OC'ing) - can anyone speak to this from experience? Should I get the MSI or will it totally prevent me from OC'ing (due to noobness)? Should I instead pay $150 for the Gigabyte P45 or will it not make a difference in terms overclocking difficulty?
Here are the pros/cons of each chipset I've determined from my research:
P35:
* FSB Support: up to 1333MHz native, but 1600Mhz FSB by overclock
* RAM Support up to DDR2-1200 native, but DDR2-1200 by overclock
- Typically has issues with RAM over DDR2-800 (so people simply overclock the DDR2-800)
+ I already have a guide to overclocking it see: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/245679-29-guide-overclocking-ds3l-updated-2008
- is already over a year old
- Does not support PCIe 2.0
- runs slightly hotter (90nm Manufacturing process)
+ Slightly cheaper
P45:
* Native support for 1600MHz FSB (I will still have to overclock the CPU to avail of the speed)
+ Native support for DDR2-1200
+ Supports PCIe 2.0
+ just released
-- May be more difficult to overclock (see http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/247170-29-will-overclocking-mobo-read-this)
+/- Just released/Issues not yet known
- Slightly more expensive
So what I'm looking at so far, is a P35 from Gigabyte ($89):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128337
or a P45 from MSI ($99):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130181
but am open to other suggestions
I'm trying to get the best bang for buck (as long as the price difference is around $40 it's no big deal - can even get a PCIe 2.0 8800 GT for $130).
What I'm most concerned about is not being able to overclock the CPU if I get the P45 (since it's my first try at OC'ing) - can anyone speak to this from experience? Should I get the MSI or will it totally prevent me from OC'ing (due to noobness)? Should I instead pay $150 for the Gigabyte P45 or will it not make a difference in terms overclocking difficulty?