Mobo Recommendations
My home system is really struggling with its mere 2GB of RAM. DDR2 has come down in price, so it's tempting to double it up for $50, but I hate to invest in a dead platform. So, I'm looking for recommendations for a new motherboard on a modern chipset.
I'm okay with not reusing any of my current main components. I'll sell them at the DD&TP and donate whatever I get out of them back to IC for beer money, since Prime gave me most of the parts
While I'm looking to replace the mobo/CPU/RAM, what I really need help on is picking a good mobo. Conflicting reviews of manufacturers and dubious specs abound. My only requirement for the board is 2 x16 slots for Crossfire. But then, I need the board, CPU, and 4gb of DDR3-1600 (or better) to fit in a budget of $400. What's the best I can get for the money?
I'm reluctant to get a C2Q, since they're old news and not much cheaper than a quad-core i5/i7. I'm okay with a cheapo Athlon II if necessary to fit the budget; the one I have at work is working out splendidly. My work system trounces my home system right now, and it's tragic.
I'm okay with not reusing any of my current main components. I'll sell them at the DD&TP and donate whatever I get out of them back to IC for beer money, since Prime gave me most of the parts
While I'm looking to replace the mobo/CPU/RAM, what I really need help on is picking a good mobo. Conflicting reviews of manufacturers and dubious specs abound. My only requirement for the board is 2 x16 slots for Crossfire. But then, I need the board, CPU, and 4gb of DDR3-1600 (or better) to fit in a budget of $400. What's the best I can get for the money?
I'm reluctant to get a C2Q, since they're old news and not much cheaper than a quad-core i5/i7. I'm okay with a cheapo Athlon II if necessary to fit the budget; the one I have at work is working out splendidly. My work system trounces my home system right now, and it's tragic.
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Comments
8GB of your favorite DDR3 (1333 or 1600)
AMD 1075T or 1090T
Radeon HD5830 on up.
I'm going to hang on to my 5770s and CF them, so thankfully I don't need to get a GPU right now.
Can't recommend the GD70 enough, though.
I might know someone with a CPU that would let it go cheap, he works for this former memory company.
Comments anyone??
The Gigabyte P67A-UD4 has some pretty glowing reviews for overclocking ability and overall quality ($190). Then the cheapest quad Sandy Bridge on Newegg is an i5-2300 for $185. The puts me a little over budget once RAM is figured in, but it's tempting.
Edit: Apparently the Gigabyte board's PCI-E slots are x8. Buncha dicks.
Also, it looks like I'd need a K series processor, so that'd be more like $225.
Intel i7-2600K
Gigabyte Mobo I'm drooling over
I'm trying really hard to wait till the process shrink later this year.
Thoughts on this affordable MSI board? Not sure if the boards going for $100 more are offering anything worth the premium.
My guess is that it is a cost issue - it can be done but the motherboard would be way more expensive.
Don't expect a Mercedes if you buy a Dodge.
I think "if you buy a FORD" is what you meant to say.....:bigggrin:
Ahhhh........excuse me but what car manufacturer did not file for bankrupt protection or had to be bailed out by the government?? :o
Everyone got bailouts including Domino's Pizza by means of the USDA and their Dairy Management program.
inb4 conspiracy theories...it does look sketchy to me too