What MOBO should i get???

[gerbel248]

this is the list of stuff i already have, but i just need to get a MOBO now. please tell me what you think i should get that is compatible with all of this.

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115005

Video Card - EVGA 256-P2-N381-TX GeForce 6800XT 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail (no more link)

Power Supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194003

RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145526 (only DDR2 533)

Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

DVD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151133


So what MOBO should i get??

[LeftyAce]

The best motherbaord for the C2D processors is the Asus P5B. There are a couple of different versions, some with firewire, some with onboard wireless. Pick one with the features you need.

Unfortunately, the P5B has issues with its IDE controller. If it's at all possible to exchange that DVD drive for a SATA one, that would be much better.
Here's a possibility: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

[gerbel248]

i was looking at the P5B and it did seem to be the best bet. that is probably what i am going to but get.

and i wont be able to switch the DVD. i wish i could but i am way past the 30 day refund mark. i could only get a replacement for the same DVD player. next time i am definately going lite-on and SATA.

[freakitchen]

A friend of mine recently installed an IDE optical drive on the P5B, and it worked no problem. I think it's a 'hit or miss' situation as far as compatibility goes - if yours works then great.

[chuck4456]

For one dollar more, you get the E6320. Actually, the P5B may be the best P965 motherboard, but it is far from being the best C2D motherboard. The best C2D motherboard is the ABIT AW9D, followed by INTEL's BAD AXE. The AW9D is probably the overall best motherboard currently available. The i975x chipset may not acheive the vast overclocking speeds that can be accomplished by the P965s, but it is by far the best performing and issue-free that you will find. Forget the 680i. It's the same old INTEL/nVidia story. There will always be issues between those two. That's not meant to be. Money-wise, the P5B is more affordable, and very user friendly. You'll probably be OK with it.

[Cricket]

I think it's going to come down to how much gerbel248 wants to spend on a new motherboard. The Intel BOXD975XBX2KR ("Bad Axe") is $229.99, the ABIT AW9D is $184.99 and the ASUS P5B is $119.99 at Newegg.

Of course the "Bad Axe" and the AW9D are 975 motherboards while the P5B is a 965 motherboard so it's not really a good comparison as far as performance goes...you'd have to swap the P5B with a P5W DH Deluxe ($215.99 at Newegg) for it to be a fair comparison.

Cricket

[gerbel248]

Originally Posted by Cricket I think it's going to come down to how much gerbel248 wants to spend on a new motherboard. The Intel BOXD975XBX2KR ("Bad Axe") is $229.99, the ABIT AW9D is $184.99 and the ASUS P5B is $119.99 at Newegg. Of course the "Bad Axe" and the AW9D are 975 motherboards while the P5B is a 965 motherboard so it's not really a good comparison as far as performance goes...you'd have to swap the P5B with a P5W DH Deluxe ($215.99 at Newegg) for it to be a fair comparison. Cricket

ya i dont want to spend too much so i am definately going to get the P5B. The other mobos are way too expensive for me now and it seems that the P5B is a really good board for a really good price.

[gerbel248]

one other thing i wanted to make sure was that i have DDR2 533 RAM. the P5B says in the overview part it supports 800/667/533 but in the specifications part it says only DDR2-800 memory supporting. can someone explain this to me?

[minsonngo]

DDR2 667 would be the the sweet spot... but DDR2 533 is a exact match to the FSB of the processor... so using it would be okay also.

You will be fine with 800... 667... or 533.

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=307

[gerbel248]

Originally Posted by minsonngo DDR2 667 would be the the sweet spot... but DDR2 533 is a exact match to the FSB of the processor... so using it would be okay also. You will be fine with 800... 667... or 533. http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=307

cool. thanks alot.

[minsonngo]

No problem!

[gerbel248]

i am just replying because i got the P5B, my computer is all set up, and i am very happy with it. thank you all for your suggestions and help.