Suggestion Needed (Updated with benchmark results)

[xonic]

I built a new machine back in december, picked a Gigabyte board with SiS 648FX chipset ( http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-8S648FX.htm ). I thought dual channel memory support was by default, but I was so wrong.

Now, I want to buy another motherboard with dual channel support, and get new pair of memory sticks also. Any suggestions on what board to get?

Current I have,
P4 2.8GHz northwood
crucial 256MB x 2
GeForce 6800 (non-GT, non-ultra)
SoundBlaster Live
3Com 3c905 NIC

So I don't care about onboard features on those. I probably will get 2 sticks of 512MB memory chips and either sell the 256's or put them onto the new board if it helps performance.

Hard decisions: Intel or AMD, nVidia or ATI, Windows or Linux, Neverwinter Nights or Counter-Strike, computer or woman.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by xonic on 07/05/05 01:50 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Scout]

You should be able to pick up a good 865PE board at a reasonable price. Abit, Asus, or MSI should all work well for you and give you some nice overclocking options.

If you're not into overclocking, Newegg has the Foxconn 875P board for $76.

Scout
700 Mflops in SETI!

 

[xonic]

Thanks for the info. I've narrowed down my selection to those three boards. Are those good boards? I want to get 1GB (512x2, or 256x4 adding my current sticks) memory also, any recommandations? Thanks in advance for any suggestion anyone could share.

currently I have,
P4 2.8GHz northwood
GeForce 6800
Crucial DDR400 256MB x 2
3Com 3c905 NIC
SB Live sound card


<A HREF="http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=865PE_Neo2-V&class=mb" target="_new">MSI 865PE Neo2-V</A> $74 buy.com

<A HREF="http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=865PE_Neo2-PFS_(Platinum_Edition)&class=mb" target="_new">865PE Neo2-PFS (Platinum Edition)</A> $78 newegg

<A HREF="http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=875A02-6EKRS" target="_new">Foxconn 875A02-6EKRS</A> $76 newegg

Hard decisions: Intel or AMD, nVidia or ATI, Windows or Linux, Neverwinter Nights or Counter-Strike, computer or woman.

 

[Scout]

Of the two MSI boards, the Neo2-PFS is the better board. I'd probably opt for that. I've always had good luck with MSI boards.

I have that Foxconn 875 board and can tell you it runs very well (I'm typin' on it now!)and it's a real deal at that price. The only reason I wouldn't pick it is I like to overclock and the Foxconn only has limited OC options.

Scout
700 Mflops in SETI!

 

[xonic]

I think I am going to go with the <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813130450" target="_new">MSI Platium</A>, and a pair of <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145440" target="_new">CORSAIR ValueSelect</A>.


Hard decisions: Intel or AMD, nVidia or ATI, Windows or Linux, Neverwinter Nights or Counter-Strike, computer or woman.

 

[xonic]

upgraded from Gigabyte mother board with SiS 648 chip set (no dual channel support) to MSI 865PE Neo2-PFS Platinum Edition (with dual channel support)

with the same crucial value ram, 256 x 2 CL3 memory sticks, 1024x768x32bit, no AA:

= old board, single channel:

* 3DMark05 - 35xx

* Counter-Strike:Source video stress test - 91fps avg.

= new board, dual channel:

* 3DMark05 - 37xx

* Counter-Strike:Source video stress test - 101fps avg.

eye-ball obervation: Guild Wars runs quite a bit smoother espcially in crowded town

I just got my 1GB Corsair value ram sticks (512 x 2) this morning. If I have time I'll run some benchmarks with new ram sticks along, and new ram + old ram together and see what the results are.


Hard decisions: Intel or AMD, nVidia or ATI, Windows or Linux, Neverwinter Nights or Counter-Strike, computer or woman.