High End Mobo Recommendation for this build

[SavageXP]

I've been looking for a couple weeks now on a good motherboard to buy, I don't mind purchasing online rather than at a local store.
I'm building a computer with a buddy of mine, it'll be the same build, so I'll need two mobos. But this is the build:


Intel QX6850 Core 2 Extreme -- Socket LGA775

2x 8800GT BFG OC PCI-E PCI-E 2.0 X16

Creative Fatality XtremeGamer PCI sound card

2GB DDR3 1333MHZ (2x 1GB)

1TB Seagate 7200RPM Master

250GB Slave

750watt PSU

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The motherboard I'm so far most interested in is EVGA 790i motherboard, so if anyone has a similar suggestion around the $320 dollar price range, or less it would be much appreciated.

Links:

EVGA 790I http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11610BD0454&vpn=132-YW-E179-A1&manufacture=EVGA
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Intel QX6850: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25345

OCZ Ram: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=13220BD9742

BFG 8800GT: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10096083&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN

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must have a PCI legacy port for the sound card I purchased.
DDR3 support is also necessary and the Motherboard must be socket LGA775.

 

[zenmaster]

Have you already purchased these parts?
I would question nearly every single part.

#1 - No Reasonable reason to blow money on an extreme edition.
#2 - The GPUs you listed are slow and outdated by current standards.
#3 - DDR3 will gain you very little now....I would get at least 3GB if not more. You could get 8gb for a sweet 64-bit system for that price.

#4 - 1GB and 250GB? There is no such thing as Master/Slave anymore.
Some of the money spent above would be far better served on a VelocityRaptor or perhaps an V2 SSD from OCZ. (I still prefer Velocity Myself)

#5 - 750w is fine, but brand is critical.

Even if you had to pay restocking fees to return the bought items, you would likely end up ahead.

 

[geofelt]

I would agree with zenmaster.

I hope you got one of the salesperson intel promotions, and are not paying retail. The QX6850 goes for about $350 on e-bay. I might have been tempted.

Assuming you want to play games, spend your money on the vga card/s first.
For the price of two 8800GT cards, you can get a GTX260 or 9800GX2 or 4870.

For a high end gaming build, get 4gb. It's cheap. Heres why:
http://www.corsairmemory.com/_appnotes/AN804_Gaming_Performance_Analysis.pdf

How much hard drive space do you need, and for what?

Usually it is better to have the system and programs on a fast, perhaps smaller drive, and backup and storage on a separate larger drive.
Consider a velociraptor 150gb or 300gb for the fast drive.

With that kind of a cpu, a separate sound card will not save any cpu cycles. Onboard HD sound today is very good. I would defer the sound card until you see how onboard sound works.

 

[SavageXP]

I bought the 6850 for $240 bucks through an Employee Purchase Plan @ intel.

I already own the 8800s and dont want to upgrade

I haven't purchased the MOBO, TB harddrive and RAM.

And why cant I use my old 250gb drive with the TB harddrive

And to be honest, im sticking to XP for now, only games I play are COD4 atm and dont need DX10.

 

[SavageXP]

I also already own the fatality sound card.

The signal to noise ratio on it is 109db, on the onboard for the 790i its 93db.

I noticed a signficicant improvement in overall sound quality, using high end desktop speakers and a high end home theater system with a 6080 yamaha reciever.

What I own:

Processor
Graphics
Sound card
Case
PSU

Need:
Motherboard
RAM
Harddrive

 

[MikuMiku]

hah well i would definately recomend a new GPU. a single GTX280 would be far better than both of those 8800GTs. those are very outdated. you should be slapped for not already trying to sell those and not get a new GPU. and the olny reason why u should keep the QX6850 is because you can add to the Multipliers which is a big plus for an OCer like myself. but i cant afford that right now so im stickin to the old stuff. anyways you should definately get a Velociraptor. thats top notch and looks cool also. but for the sake of me get a new GPU. otherwise you will added as a MAJOR FAIL in my book.

 

[o1die]

With your budget, I'd go for a cheaper board, like the asrock 1600 twins p43 for $70 at newegg. Use the leftover for a newer video card such as the 4870. I have 2 new asrock boards, the p45 ts-r and g43 full hd. Asrock has a you tube video showing compatability with the latest Intel cpus, and is offering a free board to the person with the best response. It's at the asrock website. Asrock also makes some cheaper sli boards if you want to keep the 2 8800gt's.