Motherboard for Core 2 Duo...

[pam123]

After having choked at the $250 SLI boards it looks like something reasonable has turned up :

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=512&l1=3&l2=11&l3=185

Anyone found others ?

[glc]

Some manufacturers are in fact retrofitting 945 chipset boards for Core 2 Duo. I'd wait a bit to see how well that works out. The 965 is a good way to go now without dropping a fortune, but you should get a SATA optical drive so you can boot with a CD to install the OS. The 3rd party IDE controllers are having issues trying to boot.

[MaxRat]

I'll second the sata opticals...

I just did a AM2 build and with 1 IDE port I got a IDE card for opticals....I didnt work at all...

Newegg has dvd-sata drives for $20.45....

[pam123]

Good info and about what I thought.
I'm waiting, still, and I'm telling my customers to wait.

[glc]

Pam, if you HAVE to pull the trigger right now and build one with a lower end motherboard, I'd probably use an Asus P5B and get a SATA DVD-Rom drive. You can still hang an IDE burner on it. I'd also use only QVL ram.

[Spirit]

Pam, if you HAVE to pull the trigger right now and build one with a lower end motherboard, I'd probably use an Asus P5B and get a SATA DVD-Rom drive. You can still hang an IDE burner on it. I'd also use only QVL ram.
I installed my OS on a Lite-On IDE combo drive... I have a P5B deluxe...
I do agree with the second statement glc made though. These 965 motherboards are so picky on what ram they'll fully accept. However, I know that you can go with the common sticks of Corsair DDR2 800 ram (XMS2) that are not on the QVL.

[glc]

Spirit, any trick you had to do to get the IDE CD to boot?

[Spirit]

Spirit, any trick you had to do to get the IDE CD to boot?
Not really, just put on the jumper to Cable Select, put the master part of the IDE ribbon cable into my drive, connected that to the mobo, put the drive first in the boot order, and my Windows XP CD booted up fine.

Are people having trouble booting from the CD with 965 mobos?

[glc]

So I've read - it seems to be hit or miss.

[blue60007]

Might depend on how well the manufacturer implemented the 3rd party controller...I'd imagine the cheap brands have more problems than the good ones as ASUS and the like would put more effort into it...

[Mr.Ferrari]

I know with the P5B's and DS3's they have been some sucess stories with the booting. Ive had a friend of mine boot 3 p5b's and 2 ds3's out of the box with Pata opticals.But im getting this from a small number so you cant really say for sure. Some mobo's have been doing good some not..
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Heck even the 865p chipset has been modified for core 2 duo support. Only thing that makes c2d different is different voltage requirements..pretty funny combo, agp plus core 2 duo.

[pam123]

Pam, if you HAVE to pull the trigger right now and build one with a lower end motherboard, I'd probably use an Asus P5B and get a SATA DVD-Rom drive. You can still hang an IDE burner on it. I'd also use only QVL ram.

I have a customer who "wants one now!" and what I was thinking of doing is what you suggested.
In addition to office stuff the guy plays the occasional game and does some photo editing.
Thanks for the reminder about QVL ram.:)