ASUS update fried my MOBO - replacement help - thanks

[bocado]

Well no thanks to ASUS' update BS program, I can't reset my mobo apparently (talked to a local computer tech on the phone).

So now I'm looking for a replacement board that can handle the following

1) Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHZ if I recall (99.999%) sure.
2) 8G of DDR2 Corsair 800mhz RAM
3) EVGA 8800 GTS video card.

4 SATA drives.

This was my old board. - Asus P5B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131030


This is the one I'm looking at now, unfortunately it's an ASUS board (would have preferred going with anyone but them)
But again, need 4 slots and Socket 775.
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=mF3Leph339ZGlwdz


My ASUS P5B was an Intel P965 chipset and this newer model is B43 chipset - I'm not as tech-savvy as most of you, so does this make a difference or not?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I can't wait to call ASUS tomorrow and flip out a little bit.

My store options are from here

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?minorcatid=107&subminorcatid=27


OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627+600007879+600036416&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=280&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=


OR here..

http://infonec.ca/site/main.php?module=catalog&catID=1071&ParcatID=2

Help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[rgs80074]

was goign to recommend the same board i recently had to buy after the msi board died.

oddly it seems its never wise to do any major updating from the motherboard makers

i had the msi board for six months or so and was alwasy thinking damn its so slow then i found out it didn't support that specific cpu out of the box. used their recommened update program and it fried the bios, that was a pain, they have horridble customer service.

ended up buying a gigabyte board, then did the same thing wanted raid and they had updates and such to do that so i installed them and it ruined the board, but that was brand new so it was rma's and i've been using it since but its deactivated .

have you looked on ebay for some boards?

 

[bocado]

was goign to recommend the same board i recently had to buy after the msi board died.

oddly it seems its never wise to do any major updating from the motherboard makers

i had the msi board for six months or so and was alwasy thinking damn its so slow then i found out it didn't support that specific cpu out of the box. used their recommened update program and it fried the bios, that was a pain, they have horridble customer service.

ended up buying a gigabyte board, then did the same thing wanted raid and they had updates and such to do that so i installed them and it ruined the board, but that was brand new so it was rma's and i've been using it since but its deactivated .

have you looked on ebay for some boards?

I did, but a lot of them are used and for $80+ with shipping some without (extra $$)
Found a local guy with the same Mobo for $50 straight up, but again with used my concern is it being a dead mobo or something wrong with it.
So I thought maybe I should just get a new one and be able to sleep at night about it.

This is the local seller.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-Asus-P5B-VM-motherboard-socket-LGA775-working-W0QQAdIdZ257450075

My only concern is that he said he "thinks" the BIOS was updated, so that's weird. Either it was or wasn't. lol

 

[megamanx00]

it's kind of tough to recommend any LGA 775 boards right now. Of what's left of the better boards are generally models that support DDR3 rather than DDR2. In your case though I would probably go with this Biostar board

BIOSTAR P43-A7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138184

Figure you shouldn't spend too much on it. That board is based on the p43 chipset and should do a good enough job.

 

[bocado]

Ya just my luck, I JUST bought the 8G DDR2 RAM (3weeks ago) HAD I KNOWN this would have happened... lol

I'll check BIOSTAR to make sure it works with my processor (like I said, not overly tech savvy)
Read the latest review of it and the person complained it wouldn't work with his.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138184
"Doesn't support pentium D processors. I assumed that since it supported newer LGA775 cpus that it would also support the rest of the 775 cpus. It does not."

I'm assuming I'll be safe since he posted it March/2011 and he has a newer processor.

 

[bocado]

What do you guys think of this board, I'm assuming this board would work and Intel is good enough for MOBOs?
Not a gaming machine, just surfing and photoshop CS5
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=43367&vpn=BOXDG43GT&manufacture=Intel

Has HDMI, figure why not get one and hook it up to a TV eventually, turn it into a HTPC down the road maybe?

Or, stick with Asus' newer model for my set up?
http://infonec.ca/site/main.php?module=detail&id=449059

 

[bocado]

Okay so its intel or Asus. I like the idea of HDMI out on the iNtel and hate the idea of dealing with Asus' cust. Service again or giving them my coin

I would assume intel boards are reasonably good and I wouldn't have much to worry with them?