So many motherboards to choose from!

[drizzt5]

Hi, i've been looking at mobo's for a long time now in preparation for a new one. I keep changing my mind on the type of board, to the manufacturer, and what model.

My latest decision was this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136039

But the price has gone up and then the 750i FTW came out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026&Tpk=750i%2bftw

And i thought... why not spend the same price on this board, and have the option of SLI later?

BUT then what about this board!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136045

grrrr... too many choices.

I have currently:

q6600
680i SE(EVIL)
8800gt 512
2gb crucial ballistix 800
Tuniq tower
Aurora 570

I'm gonna buy a Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev. 2
http://www.petrastechshop.com/accoacs1re2.html

To replace the craptastic old heatsink on my old xfx 8800 gt...

And these http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa1.html
to get in some lower temps on my aurora.


Basically i just want to know what mobo would be the best decision for the stuff i have. pci-e 2.0 and xfire/sli is just a plus... but not really needed atm, it's just nice to know I have it incase i one day decide to splurge money into my comp and want a 2nd video card or just want 2 9600 gt's or something.


p.s. Why did they make the 680i SE not support quad core overclocking... (i flashed the bios already and it didn't do anything to help)? It was the biggest FAIL buy i have ever done... i wish i had known beforehand that it didn't support it lol -_-

[CERO]

Get the DFI P35 LP LT , its the best buy imo atm

[drizzt5]

rather then the DK p35 OR x38?

[systemviper]

I think the most interesting board that has come out recently is the ....

EVGA 750i FTW SLI

So I like for you the 750i because of SLI.


It also looks like your best bet on a upgrade will be getting a
second 8800gt 512, their still great cards and as the new stuff is coming out they will keep dropping in price.

Plus with the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev. 2

I would add the fan kit for it plus for the ram chips I would also add....

the Custom 8800GT/G92 Cooling Kit by iandh - Black

I just did that same upgrade to my 8800gts 512 and it rocks....

So that is my 2c on that....
but the beauty of todays situation is there is no best way, but many great solutions and choices, all of which give you great gaming.

[drizzt5]

Ah... i had 8800 gt sli before and i was not getting good results, i was thinking that one option would be to buy the 750i and wait a while to look at some new gpu's... and then possibly sell my 8800 gt and buy 2 9600 gt's... because they scale better in sli compared to the 8800 gt's...

Idk...

how important is pci-e 2.0? because that might make me want to get the dk x38 or the 750i instead

[drizzt5]

I got a 200 point drop in 3dmark06 compared to 1 card....

The 2 cards were diffrent i suppose... 1 was an xfx 8800 gt alpha dog edition and had diffrent default clocks, and the other was a regular evga 8800 gt.

I'm seriously considering the 750i... I just wanna see some results with q6600 before i decide... I just think PCI-e 2.0 would be a plus and future proof it just a tiny bit.

[Emerica]

Get the DFI P35 LP LT , its the best buy imo atm

Agreed.

[drizzt5]

Does not having pci-e 2.0 effect performance at all?