Ideal Mobo For My Rig

[a4092940]

Hi everybody,
I know these forums are a busy place but I'm wondering if anybody can help clarify the mess that is the nomenclature of recent motherboard chipsets!

It's been two years since my last build, but due to the RMA of a broken GPU for a 320MB 8800GTS (and also the rather disappointing fact that I've currently got the southbridge heat sink in the way so I can't use the card on my MSI mobo..) I've decided to bring myself more upto date. I'm thinking of going to a 1,333Mhz FSB Intel C2D E6750 at 2.6Ghz, and I would like to OC this to 3.6Ghz which is definately possible. I'm going for the E6750 due to it's low price tag, and I already have a Zalman 9500 so cooling on air should be fine? Is there also any reason for the low E6750 price or is it a genuine bargain?

My next question which I have been pondering all day is what motherboard to get. I don't use or plan on using SLI (I'm only at 1440x990 so my 8800GTS should be fine), but obviously I plan on OCing the CPU, and hopefully my RAM when I decide what to get. This RAM is likely to be 2GB of DDR2 1066, simply because DDR3 is too expensive for me at the moment and there's not much difference compared to DDR2 because of timings. Therefore, does anyone know of any tasty DDR 1066 2GB sets that are good overclockers?

I understand that the P35 chipset if quite good for the overclocking I've mentionned above, and it also has support for the 45nm CPUs (although I doubt I'll even bother with that upgrade and will just wait for a system overhaul like now). The X38 chipset is meant to be out soon, but again this is expensive and only DDR3 (?), and I am then getting confused due to the IP35, G33, G35, 965, 975, 650, and 680 chipsets being in the mix. Can anyone narrow down which chipset would suit me, and if possible, any good mobo models?

Currently (due to the attractive low price, nice aesthetics, 1,333Mhz official compatability, and DDR2 AND 3 support), I'm looking at the Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R. This is known to be only an average overclocker however, and I don't think that squeezing an extra 1Ghz out of my E6750 is an average overclock! The Asus P5k series have also stood out, but they're more pricey due to their better OCing ability which kinda puts me off them a little bit. I know that the Abit Fatality FPIn9 board is around and a good OCer, but it has the 650i SLI chipset..........so I'm back to my original place of confusion with chipsets.

Thanks for helping me out!
Mike

 

[a4092940]

ummmm.........bump!

 

[sesarhayo]

Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 (Intel X38)
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/control.php?cid=6&id=2315&src=3rd is a great Mobo that support DDR2. (In a few weeks).

 

[a4092940]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I've been doing much more research, and I now know that I'm basically going to either get a P35 chipset now, or wait for a while and get an X38.

As I understand it however, the benefits of the X38 chipset relate to doing SLI bits and pieces, and having more OCing capability. Am I going to be paying for this with a huge massive price tag (even if I were to get only a DDR2 version) ? I'll only be using the one graphics card, but I think the OCign would come in handy for the CPU and RAM.

 

[echelon_101]

E6750 is amazing

OCZ Reaper is really good, Patriot and Corsair (fin versions) as well

P35 to go for at the moment for future proofing is P35C-DS3R by Gigabyte else wait for the X38 (only officially will support Crossfire), there will definately be DDR2 versions and probably hybrids.

PS You won't squeeze an extra 1ghz out with a Zalman 9500 maybe with a Tuniq 120, Zalman 9700 and definately a Thermalright Ultra-120 extreme with 120mm fan. Also depends on your case ventilation as well.

 

[a4092940]

I'm loving these speedy replies!

Ok then, the E6750 had been chosen, and I also think that the Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R has pretty much been sorted as well....***If I didn't want the DDR3 support, then would I be best going for the GA-P35-DS3P? ?**

I can probably go without the X38 for the moment, and then when I come to my next build in a couple of years I'll have a choice of things which destroy the X38. By this time I think that something will have changed with graphics cards e.g. dual setups prefferred or whatever else dx10 chooses to force to be created so this should be ideal. For now, my 8800GTS should suit perfectly.

As for the OCing tip, thanks for the info. I was looking at getting a case with mega nice cooling, but I've had trouble finding a case which is not too expensive, and also looks good (imo). Since I have saved a little bit of money getting the Gigabyte instead of the Asus Mobo however, I have a bit more money to play with.

I quite like the look of some of the coolermaster cases (the middle one http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product_list&p_class=1178)
but I still have a lot more to look at. I wouldn't mind something with a side window, and I'd prefer something not full stack e.g. 4 optical drive bays. I'd in a nutshell like my PC to look classy and not like something out of the starship enterprise's control room!

The antec 900 is overkill, and I've also been looking at NZXT. They have a HUSH case which seems pretty good. It silences the components inside using a foam material...but will this not decrease air flow and increase temps? If so, that 1Ghz squeeze may be more of a hammering!

Thanks everyone