Quick Help - Which Motherboard

[SnowWar]

Hi peeps,

So I am to buy a P4 2.533b ghz CPU and I just need to choose a motherboard that would be best. It basicly have to be Gigabyte. So I need you peeps to advise me on what my best bet will be. Onboard sound is fine aslong as I can use my Creative Inspire 5300 with it. Do I go for something like the gigabyte ga-8iexp or rather the gigabyte ga-8pe667 ultra? Please just give me your opinion.

Thanks

Snowy

 

[Col_Kiwi]

for the BEST?

GA-8IHXP is the highest performance. it's not cheap, and neither is the memory it uses.

-Col.Kiwi

 

[elzt]

It really depends on your need. Basically the difference between 8iexp and 8pe667 is that 8iexp got onboard firewire controller which 8pe667 doesn't have. However, 8pe667 supports DDR333 RAM while 8iexp can only have up to DDR266 RAM. If you don't need onboard firewire, I'd suggest you go for the 8pe667.

 

[SnowWar]

Aha, I've overlooked the fact that the 8iexp does not support DDR333! I also do not need firewire atm. The 8pe667 also spupports faster cpu's right?

Seems like the 8pe667 would be my best bet. Just one question: Are that onboard sound ok and can I use my Creative Inspire 5300 with it fully?

Thanks

Snowy
"It's better to burn out than to fade away" - Kurt Cobain

 

[MeTaLrOcKeR]

On-Board sound is good as long as its NOT a AC'97 Sound Chip or something using the South Bridge Chipset for audio....if its an actual Sound card onboard like a C-Media 8738 or something or like a Sound Blaster 128 onboard etc. there good........and yes, no matter what kind of on-board sound u have u can alsways use your PCI Sound Card (Creative Inspire in your case) as you'll notice in Windows u have the option to select which Soudn Card u want to use as your Defualt device.....or Prefered device =)

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=13597" target="_new">-MeTaL RoCkEr</A>

 

[Jeff68005]

I have the GA-8IEXP which supports DDR200 and DDR266. I'm satified with it at 400 and I am about to upgrade it to 533. You may be interested in the <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=517491#517491" target="_new"> Gigabyte GA-8IEXP thread in this subject section.</A>


I am now considering a GA-8PE667 Ultra motherboard because the PC2700 is officially supported and the new HT Technology that will be more common in the comming year despite I don't know if I will have any use for it..

AC'97 Sound Chip? Not sure, but the sound chip is described as "Creative CT5880 E PCI sound controller chip" on the GA-8IEXP.

The GA-8PE667 Ultra motherboard says:
High quality 6-channel AC'97 audio with S/P-DIF function:
Integrated Realtek ALC650 AC'97 audio CODEC chip, enabling users to experience the seamless high quality 6-channel audio while watching movies or gaming.

Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

 

[jamminjeff]

From what i have read and heard, the Gigabyte GA-9PE667 Ultra rocks. i just ordered one today from Newegg. The Corsair XMS 512mb Platinum pc2700 will work great with this mobo.