Motherboard Choice........<another one, sorry>

[Jonny Manc]

Hi XS'ers.....

Sorry, but I am in need of some expert help to decide my motherboard.
I am gonna get a 6600 connie (cooled by my Si-120...for now), some DDR2-800 (prolly GSkill HZ) and keep the rest of my current setup (in sig).
My PC gets used for EVERYTHING.....surfin, gaming, encode/decoding, bit of hefty graphics stuff, dreamweaver.....blah blah....

I am stuck between 4 yes 4 motherboards:

Asus P5W DH (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=434311)
Asus P5WDG2 WS Pro (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=459241)
Asus P5W64 WS Pro (http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6635) (similar price to the one above)
Abit AW9D-Max (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/09/01/first_look___abit_aw9d_max/1.html) (price unknown, but should be in UK from next week)
EDIT: Not @rsed about the PCI slot problem with the board layout

I am hoping (:stick: ) to get 400x9 (3.6 for those to hungover to figure it out :toast: ) using said new bitz.
No immediate plans for Crossfire, but, Christmas aint that far away.......<he hints to the wife>

The question is, which mobo is best for my needs, speeds and stability?????
As much as ££ is an issue, I can afford any of them, so don't bear that in mind!

Thanks in advance....

[Caubecari]

If I was you I will buy the board 965 because it's overlocking higher than 975 board. All the board you state will do at 400 easily. Go for abit aw9d-max, USA sell for $300 on Zipzoomfly.com.

[Jonny Manc]

C'mon guys, 65 views and only 1 reply..........I need you expertise / experiences!!

[AndrewZorn]

400fsb isnt asking a lot. most P5W DH do that. if youre willing to spend on a P5WDG2 then i hear that is the best one out.

[Durzel]

Based on your circumstances:

Asus P5W-DH Deluxe

Pros:
- Built-in WiFi-AP
- Remote control to switch it on (imo a gimmick but some people like that stuff)
- BIOS seems to be updated regularly, Asus are most likely to keep this board up to date given it's likely to be their primary consumer 975X board.
- Two PCI slots available even if using X1900 Crossfire (using middle one would limit airflow though potentially). See here (http://www.superficial.net/images/wp-site/conroe2.jpg) for a pic of my P5W-DH populated with two HIS IceQ3 cards in Crossfire.

Cons:
- Unlikely to do much more than 400FSB 1:1 unless you get a good board. My P5W-DH craps out at 410FSB 1:1 regardless of any other BIOS settings.
- Two versions available to buy at the moment, both are the same revision 1.02G but one has up to 1.65v vMCH and the other 1.85v vMCH. Newer version more likely to get over 400FSB. If you can try and get a board with a serial num. starting 68M0AG or newer (69M0AG, etc)

Asus P5WDG2-WS Pro

Pros:
- Reviews seem to show it doing at least 450FSB 1:1, with some people talking of 470+
- Can get the same WiFi-AP module as on P5W-DH (optional extra on this board, but plugs into the same place)
- 2 PCI slots available even if using Crossfire

Cons:
- PCI-e slots are much closer together compared to P5W-DH. Assuming you went Crossfire with another HIS IceQ3 X1900 card (like I have) then the two cards will be very close together. See this pic (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs305&d=06356&f=CIMG0618.JPG) from Natalias thread to get some idea (SLI, but probably the same distance). From talking to Natalia she said the top card has shown 13C hotter temps than the bottom one.
- PCI-X is redundant unless you plan to buy an extra SATA/SCSI controller.
- More expensive (~£30) than the P5W-DH.

Asus P5W64-WS Pro

Pros:
- Same or higher overclocking potential as P5WDG2-WS Pro. Hexus overclocked theirs to 500FSB 1:1 - though that could've been a golden sample board.
- Quad PCI-e means even with Crossfire you would have a PCI-e slot free for a X1600 Pro if ATI decide to go down the Crossfire+Physics 3 card solution

Cons:
- No availability of addon WiFi-AP module (only an issue if this is a selling point for you)
- X1900 IceQ3 Crossfire using slots 1+4 will obscure the SATA ports, you'd need to buy right/left-angled SATA cables (I'm hoping they wont then fit - I haven't got one to test!)
- Board isn't true PEG 16/16/16/16 - it's either 16/0/4/0 or 8/8/4/8. Not really a negative in the strictest sense of the word but it's something to consider.
- Whilst Crossfire on slots 2+4 is supported this would give you the same problem as on the P5WDG2-WS Pro assuming you went with HIS IceQ3 Crossfire.
- Marginally more expensive than the P5WDG2-WS Pro, ~£40 more than the P5W-DH.

Abit P5W64-WS Pro

Pros:
- Unknown

Cons:
- Board layout is dire
- An unknown quantity - it's not around in enough numbers to be able to ascertain whether its capable of high FSBs or not.
- X1900 Crossfire would leave you with no PCI slots at all.

Personally if I were in your shoes and you honestly don't think you're going to be going with water or phase cooling in the near future I would go with the P5W-DH - it's solid up to 400 imo. If you're looking for FSBs a lot higher than 400 then personally I'd go with the P5W64-WS Pro.

Just my 2p.

[jorisleem]

Go for an Gigabyte DQ6
You can easy go over the 400 Mhz FSB

[Dubz]

Durzel

that post was enough to help me decide my next high end. my current P5W is cutting it.

thanks man

[Anemone]

Out of those, the P5W64 would be my choice, IF the cost isn't a serious issue for you.

[rpg711]

dfi infinity x975 ftw
dfi is teh winner

[Vice]

I would go the the aw9, execpt my only problem with it is that i wouldnt be able to use my xfi..

[colfin22]

dfi infinity x975 ftw
dfi is teh winner

:rolleyes: It might be if Dfi got their finger outa their arse & gave us a proper bios. I'm sorry i didn't go for Asus.

[ReD.SkY]

asus p5wg2-ws pro or ws64 pro

The AW9-D max looks fantastic though... im sure it can hit 400FSB (or they wouldnt bother trying to sell them)


a P5B-Deluxe is a great board too... just no x-fire or sli

most hit 500fsb no prob

[rpg711]

:rolleyes: It might be if Dfi got their finger outa their arse & gave us a proper bios. I'm sorry i didn't go for Asus.
thats why there are dfi modded bioses out there, that no one will give out

[Jonny Manc]

Added a poll to get an idea of who thinks what!!

Thanks for your help so far, I have this week to decide!

[Durzel]

I went with P5W-DH mainly because if you're not planning on going much over 400FSB it ticks all the boxes, and is cheaper than the others.

&lt;shameless ad&gt;You can have my P5W-DH if you want, I've bought a P5W64 Pro :) - I've already done the things listed in FCGs guide (AS5 on the chipset) so you'd be all set. Only been used for about a day for benchmarking, full warranty, etc.&lt;/shameless ad&gt;

[derektm]

I went with P5W-DH mainly because if you're not planning on going much over 400FSB it ticks all the boxes, and is cheaper than the others.

&lt;shameless ad&gt;You can have my P5W-DH if you want, I've bought a P5W64 Pro :) - I've already done the things listed in FCGs guide (AS5 on the chipset) so you'd be all set. Only been used for about a day for benchmarking, full warranty, etc.&lt;/shameless ad&gt;

No warranty. You changed the TIM. :p:

[Durzel]

That doesn't affect warranty surely? :( Bit lame if it does.

[momomo6789]

ive modded so much stuff and still sent it in a got a new one you just have to make it look like the old one which is not very hard

[fornowagain]

That doesn't affect warranty surely? :( Bit lame if it does.
Course it does, IF they find out.