Yet another new system...

[outoftheloop]

I've been reading the forums, here and elsewhere, and I can't decide on a new motherboard. Everytime I decide on one, I read some forums or reviews somewhere that make me sigh. Help!

For the money, I've decided the Intel E6600 is the best price/performance ratio. For the motherboard, here are my specs:

-I am NOT a gamer so I will never have dual graphics cards or physics accelerators, etc.
-Will be installing between 4-8GB RAM
-Do a lot of MP3 and DVD encoding/burning
-Run at least 1 or 2 VMWare sessions in the background
-Will be using all new drives so IDE is not necessary, just SATA
-Only need 1 ethernet port

I guess importance of features to me is
1 RAID options and performance
2 # of internal SATA connectors
3 Overclocking abilities and stability

I would love some recommendations based on my needs. Feel free to throw in case and PSU suggestions as well as I haven't even started researching those. Thanks!

 

[The_Prophecy]

Here are my recommendations:

Mobo:Abit AB9 Pro <--- I know you said you only needed one LAN port, but this one does have 9 SATA ports on it (support for RAID 0/1/5/10)

or

Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 <--- Only 6 SATA ports on this one, but only one LAN port as well. Only has RAID 0/1/JBOD support though. This one has more overclocking potential though. I have one of these, and got my Core 2 E6600 from 2.4 to 3.2.

 

[Newf]

The_Prophecy is right on.

Power supply ideas:
Seasonic S12-500 PSU Active 12v:17+16a 20+4pin $125+8 3/30/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817151024

Antec TruePowerTrio TP3-550 PSU Active $100+8 3/31/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371002

Absolute minimum acceptable unit (and the best value):
FSP AX450-PN 450watt 12v:2x18a PSU 20+4pin $51+8 3/31/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

Case:
No bling, but a solid well-cooled workhorse with lots of room:
Chenming CMUI-P-601AEB-0 Blk SOHO Tower w/o PSU $60+16 3/31/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811125480

(2) Scythe 3110KL-04W-B19-EB1 80mm 1400rpm Fan $9+5 3/31/07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185034
or get Panaflow low speed fans when available.

 

[g-paw]

This is a good board, sounds like you might have a camcorder so you'd probably want on board firewire for the camcorder. Also has optical audio out.

EDIT: For got to post the mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082

 

[Canuck1]

Hello, I'm seeking a similar system. I'm currently looking at the Intel P965 motherboards as well.

What about the MSI Platinum P965?

I'm comparing this board and the Gigabyte board mentioned along with the Asus P5B-E.

Can anyone give me any opinion of these boards in a comparison between boards? It would be appreciated.

I would like to buy a board under $200 (if possible) since the purpose would be for DVD encoding/playing and using a PVR/DVR (HTPC) system. I don't know if it would need Firewire but I think I would need a tv tuner card and was thinking an Nvidia 7600GT to 8800 video card would be best to use for this computer. I don't need to overclock or use two cards (no need for SLI?).

I thought the Core 2 Duo cpu would be better than using AMD (system) since it wouldn't produce as much heat and the E6600 (the cpu I was considering) should be going down in price this April.

Comments?

 

[moose64]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127018
This could be the one you need.

 

[knowsitall]

just so u know, if ur shooting for 4-8gb ram, your going to HAVE TO have xp or vista 64BIT. if u dont have 64bit operating system, ur pc will only recognize about 3gb i believe in windows.

 

[The_Prophecy]

just so u know, if ur shooting for 4-8gb ram, your going to HAVE TO have xp or vista 64BIT. if u dont have 64bit operating system, ur pc will only recognize about 3gb i believe in windows.

For the sake of specifics, 32 bit OS'es are limited to seeing 3.25GB.

 

[knowsitall]

just so u know, if ur shooting for 4-8gb ram, your going to HAVE TO have xp or vista 64BIT. if u dont have 64bit operating system, ur pc will only recognize about 3gb i believe in windows.

For the sake of specifics, 32 bit OS'es are limited to seeing 3.25GB.

ah ha thanks learned something new today

 

[Canuck1]

I read the reviews here and elsewhere of these boards:
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
Asus P5B-E
MSI P965 Platinum

Each had issues but it seems there are subtle differences in performance and quality. I think the Gigabytes are good choices if you get the Rev. 3.3 board.

Can anyone give a comparison of these boards? Even after reading the reviews, I'm not sure which one to get but I've narrowed it to these boards if I go Intel.

Anyone interested in discussing these boards (at least)?

 

[outoftheloop]

Thanks for all the input..

From the boards listed, it looks like only 2 support RAID 5:

MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI
ABIT AB9 Pro LGA 775 Intel P965 Express

I'm leaning towrds the ABIT board. Do the PSU and Case recommendations above still stand?

 

[Canuck1]

outoftheloop, I'm not sure of the best cases (and that depends on what your needs are and what you want out of it) but I recommend Corsair power supplies. What I've read, everyone says they're quite good. I believe they're made by Seasonic, too.

So, the models are:
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX

I am planning on buying one of these.

 

[Newf]

Thanks for all the input..
From the boards listed, it looks like only 2 support RAID 5:
MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI
ABIT AB9 Pro LGA 775 Intel P965 Express

I'm leaning towrds the ABIT board. Do the PSU and Case recommendations above still stand?

Yes.
If you are leaning toward using the SLI capability of the MSI, then do not skimp on the power supply $$$. Get the Seasonic, a higher end FSP, OR a PC Power & Cooling 510 ($200). If not, the original choices stand as is...