Best motherboard for me? Help!

tempac · 4 Feb 2008 at 03:02

Hi,

I have decided that I am going to upgrade my present computer to a new Intel Q6600 based system. With this in mind I need a board with a lot of connections for harddrives and external storage.

I have found the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...rboard&ProductID=2543&ProductName=GA-P35-DS3R most notable because it's got 8 SATA connections.

Some might say 8 is enough, but I am a little dissapointed to note there isn't a firewire, or any e-sata connections. So I would like to ask:

Does anyone know a more suitable motherboard connection wise for my requirements? I would eventually be in all probability installing an ATI 3870x2 GPU at a later date, or the new Nvidia card so obviously it needs to be capable. I forgot to add that SATA II capability is a must as well.

Thanks for your time.

jbloggs · 4 Feb 2008 at 03:21

Gigabyte GA P35 DS3P

SATA - 8
Firewire
eSATA via supplied bracket
PCI-E x16 - 2

Rroff · 4 Feb 2008 at 03:35

The DS3R (atleast the one I bought) has 2x eSATA via a supplied bracket and you can get a firewire addin card for not much more than a couple of quid - tho buying the DS3P would be better...

tempac · 4 Feb 2008 at 19:43

Thanks for the replies guys, I was just about to go with the DS3P and a mate called me in the midst of the ordering process we got chatting about motherboards and just before he had to go he sugested I should look at the 'Gigabyte GA-X38-DS5' http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...erboard&ProductID=2672&ProductName=GA-X38-DS5 as it would be 'more future proof' and should I decide my soon to be new setup consumes too much power (electricity) I could invest in a 45nm chip when they're more readily available and cut costs, being a bit of a novice at this motherboard malarky... I am now a bit confused.

What's the difference between the DS3P and the DS5?

Thanks again... now more confused than ever