Which motherboard would you buy for this rig?

Computer Forum CPU, Motherboards and Memory
1

So I want to buy a new rig to play all the next gen PC games like Call of Duty 4, Crysis, starcraft 2, age of conan, etc.

I probably won’t overclock anything since i’m a noob at PC building.

What mobo would you use for this setup? Please give me the brand/model.

CASE: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
MOBO: ???
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
CPU FAN: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
VIDEO CARDS: 2x EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
HARD DRIVE: Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM SATA-150 Hard Drive - OEM
DATA HARD DRIVE: SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
OPTICAL DRIVES: 2x Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-115DBK - OEM
CARD READER: Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader - Retail
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Monitor: SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1) - Retail

Grand Total: $1849.86

I’m also open to any suggestions or criticisms you might have about my setup. I’m noob at building PC’s so I need all the help I can get. Thanks in advance.

2

If you’re set on SLI, you’re down to two options: either an nForce 680i/680i LT or 780i-based motherboard.

3

Go for this baby:

MSI P7N Diamond nForce 780i SLi

Also one other thing, there isn’t a huge price gap between the E8400 and the Q9300 so i would suggest you get the quad 9300 over the C2D E8400.

Have you considered 64-bit OS?

4

I heard that 64-bit OS have compatibility problems and that it’s better to go with 32-bit for now. I think 32-bit OS can only utilize 3GB of ram right?

5

I have had no problems with 64-bit, i just simply downloaded new drivers for my old components and programs and they worked fine. Only if you have really old stuff, it will be hard to find drivers for other then that there’s no worries.

And yes 32-bit is supposed to do 4GB but it never will.

So i recommend you get 64bit :slight_smile:

6

i would go for EVGA | Products

or

this one

both are pretty good and one of them supports 3way sli, so its pretty much future proof, both are great for overclocking, and i have the first one i posted there, and i havent had any problems with it in the seven months or so ive had it