Need advice on a new motherboard

[pos3idon]

Hello everyone,

well I'm in the process of putting together a new computer and I could use a little advice.

Here is the components I chose:

• GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-EXTREME LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128350)

•EVGA 512-P3-N873-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130376)

•Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037)

Now heres the problem I'm having, my motherboard shipped in non functional used condition so I RMA'd it to New Egg and they informed me that they could not replace it because they had sent me the last unit. So now I am unsure of what motherboard to get, I liked the GA-EP45T-EXTREME because it seemed pretty robust and upgradeable for quite a while.

What motherboard do you think I should get? I need to keep the price under $266.


PS i am considering this motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024)

 

[aevm]

The EP45T uses DDR3. Have you already bought DDR3 RAM? If yes, you should avoid 780i because it needs DDR2, and get a 790i version like this eVGA for example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188028

 

[aevm]

If you haven't bought the DDR3 yet, you're in luck. You can get a much cheaper eVGA 750i FTW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026&Tpk=750i ftw
and some (cheaper) DDR2.

If you haven't bought anything yet, consider switching to an X48 MB with DDR2 and a pair of HD 4850 cards. The Intel X48 is more stable than nVidia's chipsets, and HD 4850 CF will usually beat 9800GTX+ SLI. Edit: or a GA-EP45-UD3R ($104) and a HD 4870 X2. That beats both 790i MB + 9800GTX SLI and X48 + HD 4850 CF and it's cheaper too.

 

[pos3idon]

The EP45T uses DDR3. Have you already bought DDR3 RAM? If yes, you should avoid 780i because it needs DDR2, and get a 790i version like this eVGA for example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188028

I had purchased DDR3 ram, however I RMA'd it to New Egg along with my motherboard, because one of the two sticks was defective (or mislabeled) because it was marked 1gb and only registered as 512.

So I can purchase compatible ram for whichever motherboard I chose now.

Thanks for your input.

 

[o1die]

I recommend getting 2 identical less expensive boards if you don't like downtime. It can take 2-3 weeks for an rma to the manufacturer, and they may send you a completely different board. I never spend more than $100 for any motherboard, but if you'll use all the x48 features, then get it.

 

[pos3idon]

the only component I currently have is the graphics card:

• EVGA 512-P3-N873-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

 

[pos3idon]

I recommend getting 2 identical less expensive boards if you don't like downtime. It can take 2-3 weeks for an rma to the manufacturer, and they may send you a completely different board. I never spend more than $100 for any motherboard, but if you'll use all the x48 features, then get it.

this probably sounds like a stupid question but what do you mean by x48 features?

 

[aevm]

OK, forget X48 and P45 since you have an nVidia card already. Get that eVGA 750i and some DDR2-800 2x2GB .

 

[zero3one]

You could go with the EP-45 Extreme instead. It uses DDR2 instead of DDR3.

 

[pos3idon]

Do you know if the EP-45 extreme (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128349)

supports using two graphics cards in SLI?

I see that is supports crossfire but does anyone know about sli?

Much thanks!!

 

[aevm]

I know that it doesn't support SLI. You can't use either X48 or P45 with two nVidia cards in SLI. You need a 750i or 780i board for that.

 

[pos3idon]

ok thanks, thats what I thought but needed to be sure

 

[pos3idon]

has anyone used an evga mobo? Are they good? Do they come bundled with any software to help with overclocking or monitoring hardware?

For example Gigabyte mobo's ship with easytune which allows you to monitor hardware and OC.

Thanks for the info

 

[aevm]

Seems like a good deal but I also don't know what 48x is. http://seoagora.com/img/459/k08q1024glza/ecstatic.gif

Google "x48 chipset" for example.