*** Best Core 2 Duo Mobo, Cpu & ram Combo ***

Discussion about Intel CPU Motherboards
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BiGg RiE
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*** Best Core 2 Duo Mobo, Cpu & ram Combo ***

Post by BiGg RiE »

Hi all, I'm building a new rig and need your help.

I need the best comparison or any other suggestions for the base components of this rig I had all but decided to go with AMD x2 am2 but I fugured since Core 2 Duo is faster I'd consider it.

The following are the previously decided base components to be used:

cpu: x2 4200+
mobo: asus crosshair nVidia sli 590
ram, ocz or g,skills ddr800 performance ram 2GB kit

If I were to build a comparable Intel Rig what would I use?

My budget is 1,000 for more info you can check out the topic i posted in the AMD mobo forum here: ~~> http://forums.legitreviews.com/viewtopi ... 795c9f98f2

Thanx in advance for all input.

BiGg RiE
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
JasonE4
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Post by JasonE4 »

A very good, fairly cheap motherboard is the BIOSTAR TForce965PT. You can get it for about $100.
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BiGg RiE
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Post by BiGg RiE »

JasonE4 wrote:A very good, fairly cheap motherboard is the BIOSTAR TForce965PT. You can get it for about $100.
Is it comparable to the crosshair in reference to overclockability and features?

I'm not looking so much for cheap as I am features and overclockability, I'd much rather pay a premium for features versus having to replace the mobo in 6 months cause of lacking performance or bottle neck issues.

Thanx for the sug I'll check it out.
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
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IRQ Conflict
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Post by IRQ Conflict »

Features = Asus
OC = BX2

8)
-Rampage- Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula CPU: Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz Cooling: OCZ Vendetta 2 Ram: 4GB OCZ Reaper HPC PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 @ 540Mhz Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Storage: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB/4x 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 Raid 0 Power Supply: PC P&C Silencer 750 Quad Case: Antec P180B Monitor: Syncmaster 245T OS: Vista 64bit
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BiGg RiE
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Post by BiGg RiE »

IRQ Conflict wrote:Features = Asus
OC = BX2

8)
OK, so could you recomend an Asus mobo that's comparable to the BX2 or the Am2 crosshair?

Also, any links to reviews would be appreciated I can't find any on the BX2
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
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Post by IRQ Conflict »

Crosshair?

Google is your friend. tm

Good and bad in both camps I'm afraid. I prefer to visit user forums to base my decisions on as opposed to canned reviews. Here is a good link to get you started on the decision making process: Link
-Rampage- Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula CPU: Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz Cooling: OCZ Vendetta 2 Ram: 4GB OCZ Reaper HPC PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 @ 540Mhz Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Storage: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB/4x 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 Raid 0 Power Supply: PC P&C Silencer 750 Quad Case: Antec P180B Monitor: Syncmaster 245T OS: Vista 64bit
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Post by BiGg RiE »

thanx i'll check it out
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
Kalko
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Post by Kalko »

I suggest
Abit nforce 680 motherboard (IN9 32MAX)
E4300 @9X300 (or higher)
2x2Gb DDR2 800 Geil

Totals under 900$
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BiGg RiE
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Post by BiGg RiE »

thanx to all those who contributed, but in the end I went with AMD am2 for my new desktop rig any suggestions on a great core 2 duo laptop for gaming under $2,000?

ANy thoughts on the macbooks? I need a mac for graphic Design but I've heard they aren't very good with games using the boot camp software for a dual boot system. Can anyone verify or deny this?
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
pas44141
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Post by pas44141 »

a macbook will be no good with gaming at all. $2000 is alot to spend on a laptop. I've no experience with such high performance laptops but alienware are supposedly built for gaming (although they're price:performance ratio isnt the best). Elseware theres the Dell XPS (i've lived with their laptops albeit lower specifications and they've been very reliable) and the new Asus range are also made for gaming.

Obviously you'll be looking for good processor speed and 1GB ram+. Nvidia supposedly do better 'on the move' graphics cards with the Go 7900 GTX being popular. It'd seem with alienware and others an SLI option is also avaliable.
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Post by BiGg RiE »

One more question which one out of the following choices would be the best pick for a gaming rig with overclocking and tweaking in mind as well as multitasking i.e. running a virus scan while playing Need For Speed: Carbon: combined with an e6300 and i need full 16x X 16x dual PciE support for sli.

ECS P965T-A P965
MSI P965 Neo-F P965 Intel DP965LT P965
Asus P5N-SLI nForce 570 SLI Chipset
Asus P5N32-SLI Premium/WiFi-AP nForce 590 SLI
EVGA nForce 680i SLI
MSI P6N SLI-FI nForce 650i SLI
Asus P5N-E nForce 650i SLI
Asus P5N32-E nForce 680i SLI
Asus Striker Extreme nForce 680i SLI

Thanks
System:
Lian-Li PC-A70A(blk)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R rev1.0
i7 930 @3.5Ghz
18GB = (3x4GB Gskill)+(3x2GB Gskill) @ 1600Mhz 8-8-8-20-2n
2 x XFX 5770 1GB in x-Fire
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
500GB OS Drive WD 7200RPM 16MB Cache
Cooler Master 750Watt / Thermal Take 250Watt mini (5.25Bay)
37" 1080p LCD / 22" LCD / 19" LCD
Logitech G15
Sicuro 5.1 Surround Sound System
Novint Falcon w/Pistol Grip
Wolf King Trooper

"You must have very big rat, u need Hottori Hanzo's steel."
pas44141
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Post by pas44141 »

Asus boards are (apparently) less stable for overclocking than something like the BX2, although that lacks the sli you want. Of the given I understand the EVGA nForce 680i SLI is reliable and v.popular with the sli you want and plenty of other features although its supposedly less stable for extreme overclocking.

I've an Asus P5W DH Deluxe and its been no problems with an e6600 at 3.2ghz.
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