Motherboards the way forward

Joined: Nov 12, 2007 Posts: 349

I thought I would share my thoughts on this as I have been burned twice in the past upgrading mobos when they are expensive only to see better performing kit come out immediately!!

therefore after researching P35, X38, X48 and new 780i nvidia chipsets I have come to the conclusion that the key driving factor for my update to 9800 nvidia graphics will simply be the cheapest PCI-E 2.0 motherboard.

My reason for this is due to the change Intel are making to their chipsets in Q2/3 of this year - the Nehelam chipset will see intel introduce a Hypertransport like AMD and therefore overcome the Northbridge restrictions in memory transfer. This will see a massive increase in performance for the price. therefore yes iam gonna upgrade with quality parts except for the mobo.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:21 pm

Thanks for the heads up chief, i knew Intel where planning on doing something simliar to AMD with there chips soon, just didn't know it was that.

I was going to upgrade my system this summer, about June/July time, with an X38 mobo, Intel 45nm 3Ghz CPU, 2 x ATI 3870X2's and 4GB DDR2-1066 RAM but i better wait till Q2 has finished before i start parting with some hard earn cash.

Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Birmingham

I was hoping to upgrade soon need a new Case, PSU and want to go Dual core intel pentium preferably with a new motherboard as mine getting dated. I have no idea what to go for. Especially concerning a motherboard.

Any motherboard sugestions if i want to go Intel Dual Core (Oh yeh need at least 2 sata plugs for my hard drive and writer.)

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:52 pm

Worlds your oyster there chief! I've lost count as to how many socket 775 mobos there are out there, every thing from MicroATX to high end.

To answer your question to more to what your after, rather than what you wont use could you answer a few questions Omi?

1) PCI Express slots: 1 or 2?
i) IF 2- which would you use for sure: Nvidia SLI or ATI Crossfire?
2) What graphics card are you using currently? (brand & model name)
3) How many PCI slots do you use currently?

As regards SATA ports, 4 or 6 is common- depending on with chipset you purchase, so no worries there Wink

Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Birmingham

To be honest the gfx card one i got from a mate when my old one was giving me grief running newer stuff. Knowledge of it is sketchy just know it works nut here goes.
Nvidea 7600 GT 256 MB ram. I prefer Nvidea as for 2 graffics slots havent seen the need yet.

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:28 pm

well from your answer there.

Sounds like your after a single PCI Express board with a few PCI slots to boot.
All todays 775 socket boards can handle a dual core pentium with absolutely no problem at all, so really you've got a sh*t load to choose from, as well as the fact that you only need a single PCI Express too, widens the choice even more.

I'd recommended, based on those answered questions, either a i975 mobo or a good P31/P35 mobo would do good by you. When buying either one id recommend trusting established and well known brands- i.e. ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte too name a few.

Then again you've also got to think about how much you've got to spend on one aswell, but finding the motherboard types ive mentioned and their prices is a piece of cake, there readily available everywhere.

As regards your case and PSU, answering some more questions'll help me find the ones your after Smile

Joined: Nov 12, 2007 Posts: 349

Intel have now decided to refer to the new gaming-centric mobo platform as X40 this is the X48 Chipset and will be released in march!!

Spoke to a geezer at OCuk and apparently we aint got long to wait for the arrival of the 9800 nvidias woot a week or two!!

Still undecided on a mobo yet but anyone who buys an X40 str8 off the bat then I doff my hat to your brazen wallet toobing

Joined: Nov 12, 2007 Posts: 349

Nvidia 780i series of mobo has already been rendered obsolete do not buy - eventho they are new - nvidia have release an update the 790i series....anyone who has just bought a 780 mobo please cry now

Joined: Dec 17, 2006 Posts: 201 Location: Scunthorpe UK

Hi,
The problem is if you wait because you want the latest and greatest then you will always be waiting as the technoligy just keeps getting better and new releases are continually being released!
Exactly the same thing here , I bought the p35 chipset mobo when it was first released , great mobo no real issues with it, but within weeks the p38 chips were released!
I guess you just got to look for what fits your needs and stick with it!
Gaz!

Joined: Nov 12, 2007 Posts: 349

I think your right - see my first post but there are chipset developments you can not ignore for a certain level of future proofing so the thing to look for at the moment is the cheapest PCI express 2.0 - there is no point in spending any more money on it than that because when nehelam comes out the benchmarkings on it will make anyone after good performance reach for their wallets!

My strategy is cheapo PCIe 2.0 for relese of 9800 graphics card and then spend the money on a nehelam mobo when they are out. The good thing is you can spend yer money now on penryn or wolfsdale chips and they will fit the new architecture so the only wastage is in the mobo and when you look at the latest mobos out there 200.00 is not a wise investment just yet!

Yeah your right the intel drumbeat is new chipsets and CPU's every 6 months my current interest I think will be a cheap 790i Nvidia mobo end of feb fuck the X40 chipset that will be gone soon as Nehelam is a major change for the intel chipset not just a few changes or tweaks its a whole new chipset config.