Buying new computer, help choosing best motherboard

[herabec]

I am buying a new computer from iBuyPower.com (or I might just use the configuration I get there and build it myself, if I can save over $100)

For the following: Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8600 (2x 3.33Ghz/6mb L2 Cache/1333FSB)
Vista Home Premium
2x Geforce 9800GX2 SLI (Is it worth getting 2 for the current software world? My understanding is that one of these is the equivalent to having 2 SLI 8800Gt cards, but by doing 2 9800gx2's, it's like having 4x 8800gt... I want this system to last a while, please slap me if I'm doing something stupid here)
4GB's of 1600 Mhz DDR3 , 2x 2gb (For the sake of upgrading Ram in the future, should I get vista 64bit?)

I would like to have at least 5.1 surround sound.
The choices of motherboard's are here:

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/Store/HelpMeChoose.aspx?mid=313&oid=3


Sorry, this is the first PC I've ever bought for the purpose of gaming/3dwork (used a Mac g5 till now, for 3d at least).

Thank you in advance for your time and help.

 

[gkay09]

OMG having no need of going with the DDR3 wit the E8600...dosnt make sense...rather go wit a mobo wit DDR2...
And as for the Graphics card, 9800GX2 is good, but u can get the 2X GTX260 instead...a better choice...

 

[gkay09]

And give ur budget here so ppl can get a nice config to fit tat...

 

[herabec]

I'm aiming for around $2,500, since I'll also have to get a monitor.

It's DDR3 because that's all IBuyPower.Com offers. It was my understanding that most games don't even take advantage of multiple cores, so the clock speed was more important. But on the other hand, I'll do a lot of 3d modeling/rendering on it, so do you think it's worth it to go for the quad core?

Thank you for the advice about the GTX260. Having looked at the specs, I get the feeling they're definitely worth the extra nine bucks a piece.

What about an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9650 (4x 3.0GHz/12MB L2 Cache/1333FSB) with 4x GB DDR3 1333Mhz .

Any ways, which of the motherboard options is best? You didn't really answer my question with any specificity (from either a religious or scientific standpoint).

 

[50bmg]

If you want to stick with Core 2, then:

If you got the money get the Q9650. Good OCer and future games may use those cores. more than not.

Asus, Gigabyte would be my choice. I prefer Gigabyte.

X48 if you go with crossfire or P45 if you go with one card. If you go with a Nvidia card you can't SLI, so go P45 with 1 better gpu. I dont care for Nvidia Nforce mobos. Their gpus are great. I am not sure about Gigabyte X48s. With X48 chipset you can only crossfire not SLI, so a good couple 4870 1G cards may be a good choice.

so, a good Asus X48. Newegg has a few with both DDR2 and DDR3. DDR3 boards are a bit higher. Any of those boards will be all that you need. $300 +/-$20 + shipping and tax.

IF your bent on SLI your only choice is Nvidia Nforce boards. Someone else will have to talk about those.

Or go with i7 and X58. Then your DDR3 will make better sense and you can run either SLI or Crossfire.

 

[herabec]

Using your recommendations, 50bmg, it actually only added about 200 dollars to what I originally had, odd as that sounds.

So, Asus P6T Intel X58 Chipset MB,
Intel Core i7 Processor 940 (4x 2.93GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
1000 Watt Extreme Power Supply( --- Quad SLI + Active PFC + 80 Plus Ready),
Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooling Fan System Kit,
6Gb DDR3 1333Mhz (3x 2Gb),
2x 1TB 7200RPM HDD,
LG 20XDVD drive,
Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Speakers + Subwoofer,
Logitech Deluxe Keyboard,NZXT Avatar 2600 dpi Gaming Mouse and
Vista Home Premium 64bit for $2,611. Is that reasonable? How long do you think this rig will last (as in, still be top-tier, or at least high end)?

 

[theAnimal]

Using your recommendations, 50bmg, it actually only added about 200 dollars to what I originally had, odd as that sounds.

So, Asus P6T Intel X58 Chipset MB,
Intel Core i7 Processor 940 (4x 2.93GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
1000 Watt Extreme Power Supply( --- Quad SLI + Active PFC + 80 Plus Ready),
Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooling Fan System Kit,
6Gb DDR3 1333Mhz (3x 2Gb),
2x 1TB 7200RPM HDD,
LG 20XDVD drive,
Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Speakers + Subwoofer,
Logitech Deluxe Keyboard,NZXT Avatar 2600 dpi Gaming Mouse and
Vista Home Premium 64bit for $2,611. Is that reasonable? How long do you think this rig will last (as in, still be top-tier, or at least high end)?

Don't bother with the i7 940, get the 920 instead for about 1/2 the price. A simple 10% overclock will make it equal to the 940.
What brand is the "Extreme" PSU? 1000W is overkill for 2 GTX260. (Corsair TX750 would be a good choice.)
Thermaltake coolers are not good, get a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme or Noctua NH-U12P SE1366.
Make sure the HDDs are not Seagate, too many issues at the moment.

If you build yourself, you could probably save at least $500.

 

[herabec]

Don't bother with the i7 940, get the 920 instead for about 1/2 the price. A simple 10% overclock will make it equal to the 940.
What brand is the "Extreme" PSU? 1000W is overkill for 2 GTX260. (Corsair TX750 would be a good choice.)
Thermaltake coolers are not good, get a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme or Noctua NH-U12P SE1366.
Make sure the HDDs are not Seagate, too many issues at the moment.

If you build yourself, you could probably save at least $500.

I chose the 1000w for future upgradability, since it was only 40 more dollars than the 750w default/min, as opposed to the $109 to step up to the 950w Tuniq.

Unfortunantly, Ibuypower doesn't seem to always list the manufacturer for everything, the HDDS, PSU, are not listed.

There are no thermalright coolers offered, only these http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/Store/HelpMeChoose.aspx?mid=356&oid=8

In your 500 dollar saved estimation, did you calculate shipping costs? If the shipping is 20+ bucks an item, and I'm buying 11, 12 items, that's easily 200 dollars in shipping, potentially 300.

 

[theAnimal]

I chose the 1000w for future upgradability, since it was only 40 more dollars than the 750w default/min, as opposed to the $109 to step up to the 950w Tuniq.

Unfortunantly, Ibuypower doesn't seem to always list the manufacturer for everything, the HDDS, PSU, are not listed.

There are no thermalright coolers offered, only these http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/Store/HelpMeChoose.aspx?mid=356&oid=8

In your 500 dollar saved estimation, did you calculate shipping costs? If the shipping is 20+ bucks an item, and I'm buying 11, 12 items, that's easily 200 dollars in shipping, potentially 300.

If you want a 1000W PSU, get the HX1000. Don't cheap out on the PSU, it's the most important component in your system.

The Coolermaster V8 is a good cooler.


Antec 1200 case $155
Silverstone ST1000W $230 (190AR)
ASUS P6T $250
Intel Core i7 920 $289
Corsair XMS3 3x2GB DDR3 1333 $112
2 x WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD $130 x 2 $260
2 x XFX GTX260 216 $235 (205AR) x 2 $470 (410AR)
Xigmatech Dark Knight S1283V Cooler $40
LG 22x DVD $23
Logitech X-540 Speakers $79 ($59AR)
Logitech Deluxe KB $27
NZXT Avatar Mouse $70
Vista 64 Home Premium $100

Total: $2105 (1985AR) + shipping (which will be less than $100)