shinysuitman

Now the question is which Mobo.

Mac Daddy

OK some questions ....

What CPU are you planning to run ?

Are you planning on running crossfire or SLI ?

You are using DDR2 now aren't you ? If so stick with it DDR3 is way to expensive and doesn't improve performance enough to worry about (yet)

Do you have any other PCIE devices ie PCIE x 2 .. tv tuners etc ?

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shinysuitman

I just want good performance for the money whether it's ATI or Nvidia. I want to go Crossfire or SLI eventually. Instead of selling the 2600XT I also have the option of buying another ATI card and going Crossfire if I get a new motherboard. I might leave some parts in the old PC for my parents to use. My dad also wants a second PC as well. I may receive additional funding in the future. I would still need another case, monitor, soundcard,PSU, HD and OS. I plan to run Core 2 as AMD isnt looking that great now. I want to save up for a Yorkfield but at the rate I get money I might as well start saving for Nehalem.I want to go DDR3 eventually andwould like to get the Physx card eventually too. Thats my plan so far.

Mac Daddy

OK so Intel it is the first decision you have to make is how effective you want crossfire / SLI to be. As we have found the P35 based chipsets work great but are limited on a second card as the second slot is cascaded PCI x 4 and disables the PCIE x 2 slots.

The X38 and upcoming X48 provide true 2 x PCIE x 16 support.

Heres two Genrage and I have looked at from Gigabyte they are DDR2 and support all Intel including the new Extreme Quads.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/main....189&cid=MB.157

http://www.canadacomputers.com/main....613&cid=MB.157

The first I am purchasing. ASUS offers almost the identical board but they use DDR3.
Feedback from there

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"People who live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones"

shinysuitman

I decided to save up till I have more money. When I reach 1000 I should have enough for all the parts I need.

Mac Daddy

Sounds like a solid plan I have been saving too for months now and in the next couple of weeks I should be done (I hope lol )

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"People who live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones"

shinysuitman

Im looking at the Asus P5E3 Premium, Rampage Formula, or the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6

I think Ill get the QX9650 CPU ( By the time I get that kind of money maybe we'll have Nehalem)

In regards to GPU Im not sure whether to get the eVGA 8800 GTS SSC 640 MB with a 576 Mhz clock or the 8800 GTS with 512 MB and the 675 Mhz clock. Both have 128 stream processors. ATI is off my menu for now.

jula182

I agree with Mac Daddy. You should get a better mobo and cpu first....

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Unixlord

Nehalem isn't going to be released soon and it won't be cheap and you'll need a new motherboard for it anyway.

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shinysuitman

It wont even work with an X48 mobo? I plan to get the money saved by the time Nehalem comes.