Looking for mobo recommendations...

[cadeted]

Looking for any recommendations anyone can give me. I need helping finding the right mobo for my system.

This is what I am putting into it:

Q9450
HD Radeon 4870x2
4GB x DDR2 800
850W PSU

Other factors:
No Crossfire needed
SATA connections for 2xDVD drives and 2xHDD
Good amount of USB headers
Decent OC capability, but not overly important

I think that's it (let me know if I missed something). I can't decide between P35/P45/X38/X48 boards. I don't have a proclivity for one manufacturer or other, but do like ASUS, MSI, or Gigabyte.

Thanks for any help...

 

[aevm]

Wow...

P5Q Pro. I love that it has 8 SATA ports, that's rare these days. It has a second PCI-E 2 slot but you don't have to use it.

Don't get a P35, it will bottleneck the card with its PCI-E 1 slot. P43 overclocks less well than the rest so avoid it too. X38 and X48 are overkill in your case since you don't want to add a second card. Your PSU won't allow it anyway.

GA-EP45-DS3L would also meet all your requirements, I think (unless you want RAID), but at current prices the Asus is better value IMO.

 

[cadeted]

Thanks for the info aevm...I was looking at the P5Q Pro...just couldn't decide.

So by your advice, I should only look at P45 chipsets?

Anyone else got any suggestions for P45 boards?

 

[cadeted]

Someone recommended this DFI (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136050) on another board.

Does anyone recommend DFI boards? I haven't dealt with them at all, so don't know.

Thanks...

 

[aevm]

Thanks for the info aevm...I was looking at the P5Q Pro...just couldn't decide.

So by your advice, I should only look at P45 chipsets?

Anyone else got any suggestions for P45 boards?

Well, X38 and X48 will be good too, but they cost more. They're between $200 and $300, mostly, while P45 boards are usually between $100 and $200. The main advantage X38 and X48 have over P45 is they run Crossfire at full speed, but you won' t take advantage of it because you will not use the second PCI-E x16 slot. If you find an x38 or x48 board at a very good price somewhere then it's worth considering, sure.

 

[curryj02]

DFI are definately good boards for overclocking. I've had a few in the past and never been dissapointed.

if you want another suggestion then try this DFI X38:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136045

that should be the cheapest X38 you will find. Even still I would stick with the Asus P5Q Pro because it'll be cheaper, and do everything you want it to. but if you want to step up into the Xfire club then the DFI X38 would be a good choice.

ohh yeh... what kind of PSU you going to choose? if you haven't decided then have a look at the Zalman 850w:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379007&Tpk=zalman%2b850w

heres anands review:
http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3343