Thought I was decided... (HELP!!!)

sprognak · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:05

So I thought I was settled on a nice P5W64 WS Professional motherboard. From what I read it clocked higher than the P5WD series and should be the same as the EVGA 680SLi for clocking.

Then I read Xtreme hardware and it seems the P5W64 was a very anticipated card before it came out, but has a few stability issues and doesn't clock as well as expected.

So now I'm contemplating going for a Gigabyte DS3/DS4 card as I hear the 965 chipset is better and newer for clocking than the 975 based systems.

BASICALLY I'M STUCK!!!

I'm prepared to pay for a 680Sli motherboard, but the chances are I won't be going the SLI route so I'm loathed to pay for what I won't use.

I want something that I can clock the ******** off. Anything that can come close to 500FSB without serious mods would be considered.

Help, please! My wife has given me a nice budget on the condition it's ordered today!

Big.Wayne · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:18

Lol

Yeah it can be frustrating, but i think you need to be patient and really do your homework, also don't assume what people are telling you is gospel truth!

I'm looking for a CD2 mobo also, the i975x doesn't make it into any of my lists, neither does the 680i (the price is waaaay high!) however the cut-down versions of the 680i should be out at some point (650i SLI and 650i Ultra) and they may be worth the wait.

Right now if I had to buy I think the Intel P965 Express chipset is the one to go for if you wanna overclock. The Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3 looks decent but I prefere the look of the Gigabyte GA_965P_DS4 myself! :cool:

The mobo for me right now is the ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP iP965 but I would prefer it at around £100!

sprognak · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:29

I'm tending towards the DS4 now. I can add in a Creative Xifi Fatal1ty then!

this_is_gav · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:53

Big.Wayne said:
The mobo for me right now is the ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP iP965 but I would prefer it at around £100!

It seems OcUK doesn't do it, but ASUS do have the P5B Deluxe without the WiFi. I know, I bought one last week. It's about £10 cheaper, but still not down to £100.

Scratch that... OcUK do have the mobo, and in stock too.

sprognak · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:56

Will there be much noticable difference between the Asus and DS4 as far as overclocking?

Big.Wayne · 27 Nov 2006 at 14:07

Did you spend much time reading up here:

Intel - XtremeSystems Forums :cool:

sprognak · 27 Nov 2006 at 15:07

Yes, if you read my original post, that's where my re-indecision came from...

Big.Wayne · 27 Nov 2006 at 17:12

sprognak said:
Then I read Xtreme hardware

sprognak said:
Yes, if you read my original post, that's where my re-indecision came from...

Lol ok, I didn't register Xtreme hardware as Xtreme Systems!

God they are totally cuckoo over there, but I do enjoy reading the various results (a lot of suicide shots and kudos seekers though!).

You don't really need any help choosing, you just need a bit more patience, and tell the wife not to rush you. The longer you take to decide, the cheaper the hardware will be (ermm well DDR2 prices is a funny thing! :eek:

) or in fact something better will be released!

If you wanna overclock and have a budget of roughly £100 then a good Intel P965 Express chipset is gonna do the business!

sprognak · 27 Nov 2006 at 18:12

Actually my wife and I run our own company. It's getting to the close of the financial year and we need to make the purchase asap - that's the true motive....

But decided on the Gigabyte DS4 now. Bang for buck it seems to be the winner by a longshot.