Replacement Spec...

Badgerboy · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:12

Hi,

My current rig has decided it doesn't want to play ball any more. Bench tested all the parts, and it looks like the board has given up the ghost.

Spec was;

Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI
3Ghz Conroe Core 2 Duo
4GB Geil DDR2
2 x 7950GT's

It's used as a media centre/gaming box. (Although not played games for ages) It's sat in a water cooled Zalman HTPC case and displays on a 40" LCD. Board will need to be ATX sized.

Can you spec me a new MB, and take into allowance possibly a new graphics card(s) if the 2 x 7950's can't cut it anymore. Are the new chipsets DDR3? New RAM as well then! Machine won't be clocked, its only watercooled for noise reasons. (Got fed up of OC'ing nailing my RAID arrays)

Thanks chaps!

neoboy · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:16

DDR3 is a waste of money especially if you're using this as a media centre.

If games are no longer a priority then your graphics cards will still cut it as well.

What's your budget?

Badgerboy · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:20

If it's just for a board, up to £200 I suppose. It'll need all the toys though! (I'm assuming a nVidia chipset considering the SLI 7950's) Don't do too much gaming, but I'd like the ability to throw a couple of better cards in there at some point if I change my mind.

Cheers matey. (Been out of the loop for too long!)

neoboy · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:34

That is a very big budget just for a motheboard there, however, apart from a working PC what do you actually want from a board (not sure what you mean by toys)? I mean if you're not interested in overclocking then go for a P35 board like Abit IP35, etc that'll only cost you in a region of £75. If you want SLI/Crossfire though then P45, X38 or Nforce is what you should be looking for.

Badgerboy · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:51

When I mean toys, I merely mean a premium board. RAID, decent audio, (7.1) optical out, SLI etc.

I shall have a nosey through the motherboards.