Crossfire x16 based Motherboard needed for E8400 CPU

masop

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Feb 14, 2006
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Happy election day to all. I am considering going with an Intel setup for the first time since 1996. I currently have an Asus M2N-E Motherboard, AMD X2 3800+ CPU and 4GB (1GB x 4) of OCZ Platinum Revision 2 (CL4) PC2-6400 memory.

I am looking into the option of getting a Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU, but want to get a solid capable motherboard to use it in. I have little need for OC'ing, so that isn't an essential feature, though it wouldn't hurt to have the flexibility to do so. I've read about some having post issues with certain versions of the E8400/E8500 CPU. Any suggestions on a good board? My budget on the motherboard will be a maximum of $200. It must be capable of Dual x16 Crossfire/CrossfireX; not 4x or 8x mix. Since I don't have any nvidia cards, an SLI board is not an option.

I believe I can use the existing memory, though it would probably be best to buy another set of memory that will better match the FSB of the E8400/E8500 processor. Any suggestions on that as well? Thanks!

-- MaSoP
 

wacky7

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Jul 4, 2008
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wel if i were u I go with a E8400 but if your rich sure why not E8500/or the Q's
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS Maximus II Formula LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
or the DFI

so far i haven't seen a 2x@16 2.0 PCI-E lane speed for dual video card crossfire yet there all 2x@8 for crossfire, just an AMD does the crossfire 2x@16 speed for dual video cards.
But crossfire 2x 4870 X2 would be nice lol but power of your elec bill. like adding another refrigerator. Computer are getting closer to that point.
 

spathotan

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Nov 16, 2007
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Plenty of X38/X48 boards under $200, some good DFI ones. Also since the E8500 is only a few bucks more, snag that, might as well.

The P45 is only 8/8 crossfire, so scratch that off the list.
 

doomsdaydave11

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Oct 16, 2007
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16/16 CF offers very little performance over 8/8 CF, especially when they're PCI-E 2.0. Remember that PCI-E 2.0 has double the bandwidth of PCI-E 1.1.