Please give opinion on motherboard..

[trancetunes]

Hi everyone, this is my first post ever! I have picked out some components for a new computer, but I am left with the hard choice of a motherboard. My budget after shipping/tax is ~1500.00 USD. I would really like for it to be at most 1500!

I guess I can include this as well--I am trying to make a "5 year PC"..where yes, it will last me 5 years without me having to upgrade anything... I want it to at least be "good enough" for that amount of time, and then I can get another PC..What does everyone think about that? More importantly, let's get to my real question--The motherboard.

Here is what I have so far in my cart..


Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
=$26.99

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$139.99-$30.00 Instant
=$109.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
$99.99-$15.00 Instant
=$84.99

SAMSUNG T240HD Rose-Black 24" 5ms HDMI Widescreen HDTV Monitor
$299.99-$40.00 Instant
=$259.99

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100269VXLE Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$209.99-$15.00 Instant
=$194.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power
$179.99-$70.00 Instant-$20 Mail-in Rebate
=$109.99 (before mail-in)


CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
$99.99 - $5 Instant
=$94.99


Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920
=$288.99

Subtotal: $1,170.92
Tax: $83.52
Shipping: $22.17

Grand Total: $1,276.61 (before mail-in rebate(s))

OK--Whew. That leaves $223 for a motherboard. Help me? What does everyone recommend? I have been so torn..I hear good things about different companies, and then I hear bad things about those same companies...Please use newegg.com to help me look for a LGA 1366 Intel Motherboard! ~$223 is my budget, I really do not want to go over. Last but not least, you should all know that I am a graphic design student, so I will be using Adobe Creative Suite 4 during my schooling. I may do some 3d animation, but my best guess would be that its mostly going to be Graphic Design oriented. Thanks!!

 

[gkay09]

^ Well why not use a Tri-Channel kit(6GB) with the X58 ? The apps that you use will take full advantage of the extra memory and bandwidth...

Now for suggestons on the parts...

CASE - Check out the Antec 300/ CM 690...These are also very good cases and with the money saved, invest in better components like additional RAM...

Mobo - ASUS Rampage II Gene...

Graphics card - You might want to check out the HD 5770...though they are not as powerful as the HD 4890, but are new gen and consume less power...

 

[trancetunes]

Hi, thanks so much for the recommendations on the case--the Antec 300 only gives me 10 more dollars--Since the one I selected has been bought by a friend I like it..it has enough fans etc and its only 109, compared to 99 dollar antec 300

Thanks and please keep the opinions on the MOBO for my system coming!

PS-newegg is currently out of the rampage II gene =X

 

[gkay09]

^ Antec 300 is about $55 with Free Shipping...So you save about $55 there alone...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Other options,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129073
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

And as for the mobo, here is the one that I had mentioned...Very good mobo, SLI and crossfire, overclocks even better than the P6T...
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-RAM2-GE&src=FR&pid=dbeae0ac0a06e849e53d32de77fd59840bfcdf2cd994710405b579e82d2cc3c5

Another mobo options - ASRock X58 Extreme...

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145258

 

[trancetunes]

UPDATE:
Hi, I just read the guide and:

#1) I am ordering this PC on December 28, 2009! Help me please!!

#2) I want to use newegg.com

#3) I won't be bothering with overclocking etc...I am not that knowledgeable and I don't trust myself to mess around with all that stuff. As far as Crossfire/SLI..I don't mind if it is included--Forgive me I am a newb..If that means using more than 1 graphics card--I am only buying one graphics card and I am not sure if I will ever use 2 at once..Maybe, but for now I don't know..So I don't mind if it is included if that is what Crossfire/SLI means..

Here is the setup I have right now...Please make any recommendations regarding the motherboard! I can go up to $1500 USD! I want the best motherboard I can get while staying in the $1500 limit. I have been pretty much decided on every other part. For now you will see an ASRock X58 Extreme mobo, but I am looking for suggestions on the best I can get according to my budget and other parts that I have selected. (That means I have $223 USD for the motherboard) Thanks so much for anyone that helps! (Click to zoom.)