Best 1366 (Core i7 920) Motherboard?

[ckaz]

I am really looking for value, but it needs to meet my requirments and then some.
Right now, I am looking at this ASRock X58 Extreme mobo, for 200$.
Its apperantley good for just about anything, but I am tentative going with ASRock as opposed to Gigabyte, Asus, or EVGA (the more well known).

I need three PCI-E lanes, but I don't really understand something. I hear that only two lanes will supply full power, and the third will supply something like 8x bandwidth. The reason I need three is for my sound card that uses a PCI-E lane, as well as the future possibilty of Crossfire mode on my GPU(s). I don't need SLI.
I need support for very high levels of RAM speed, and up to at least 12GB's.
I will be OC'ing, and I like a feature-full BIOS.
I could care less about aesthetics.
Also, something I like about the ASRockis how conviently it laid out its components. Not looking to spend anything over 250$, but if you see something that is really amazing then I might consider it, so it is worth mentioning.

 

[TheViper]

Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 - $268.99
x16, x16, x8


ASUS P6T - $239
x16, x16, x4

Your sound card will not need the full bandwidth anyway (actually, neither will your graphics cards) so you'll still be OK putting it on the x8 or x4 slot from the 2 boards.


Also, these 2 are of higher quality than the ASRock with better stability and overclocking potential.

 

[ckaz]

What about the Asus P6T SE? How des it compare to the actual P6T (what are the differences)

 

[redgarl]

The one that cost the less...

 

[Shadow703793]

My recomendations:

1. P6T SE
2. P6T Deluxe v2
3. P6T WS
4. RAMPAGE II
5. X58-UD5

 

[ckaz]

Some great suggestions, but unfortunatley out of my price range. Way, out of my price range. Besides the P6T SE that is.
Any thing else?

 

[cygone]

EVGA X58i SLI (non Classified)
Gigabyte UD3
ASUS PT6 SE
XFX X58

 

[Shadow703793]

Some great suggestions, but unfortunatley out of my price range. Way, out of my price range. Besides the P6T SE that is.
Any thing else?

Not much besides that. You may be able to find a MSI,etc board for about the same price as the SE, but imo, I'd stick with Gigabyte or ASUS.

One more thing: Don't get the X58-UD3R. That thing has a massive vdroop one you hit 3.6+Ghz. I'm planing on switching my UD3R to a P6T Deluxe v2 or a SE soon.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm w/ Shadow's 2,3 and 4 recommendations

4. RAMPAGE II Extreme P($329) PCIe = 16 x 16 x 1 ....or.... 16 x 8 x 8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131352

3. P6T WS ($399) PCI-E = 3 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ x16 or x8), 3 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ x8), 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ x16), *4 x PCIe 2.0 x16 or 7 x PCIe 2.0 ( 6x8, 1x16)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131390

2. P6T Deluxe v2 ($289) PCIe = 16 x 16 x 1 ....or.... 16 x 8 x 8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

 

[MRFS]

Newegg has quite a selection of X58 motherboards
between $100 and $200:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000280%204017&Description=x58&name=%24100%20-%20%24200


Here are the $200 to $300 X58 motherboards
(prices are BEFORE MIR):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000280%204018&Description=x58&name=%24200%20-%20%24300


Choose one tentatively, and then search the Internet for reviews of same
e.g. EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE
$200 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188049&Tpk=N82E16813188049


MRFS