Noob advise on Motherboards

[Showoff]

Moved from the intro thread...

I do like the look of the DFI ICFX3200 (RD600) (recommended by FragTec and others), but my only previous experience of clocking is winding up a wrist watch am I really going to make the most of the more expensive board?

I not bothered about spending the extra, but don't want to waste the cash on something I won't make the most of. Is it easy to get the benefits from the DFI over the ASUS or Abit?

I'd like some advise on which mobo to go with.

I currently have a standard shop bought PC (well bought through work actually) it's a Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo T (about 1.5 years old) and being new to all this I don't have much of an idea what's in it. I bought a Sapphire X1950XTX PCI-E GC thinking I'd improve the graphics (kept getting shot on Call of Duty 2 when the screen froze) only to find out that it only has a AGP x8 slot!

I wasn't entirely stupid I did check the spec sheet for my PC on Fujitsu's web site where it did say PCI-E x16 under VGA, but didn't pay much attention to the "actual configuration may vary" at the top...

I do know my system has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.4GHz and 1GB RAM but that's it.

I was thinking of getting the Abit AW9D-MAX or Asus P5W DH Deluxe mobo after reading reviews etc and installing all the bits I have onto this with a view of getting a new case and upgrading everything else later (I like the look of water cooling :dribble:. However I have been advised to look at other boards as well (see quote above) so which should I go for?

I'm also assuming that a new mobo will fit into my standard ATX case and everything will plug straight in and work, but I also assumed that that the X1950XTX would fit straight in and look where that got me.

You'd think managing sales accounts selling IT to multinational financial banks I'd know more about this, but that's what Pre Sales teams are for. LOL!

I have google searched trying to find information, but as soon as the articles go into technical jargon or acronym overload I'm lost and lose interest. I have picked up that I may need to upgrade the PSU running the X1950XTX and if I start clocking will need to improve the cooling, but that's as far as I've got.

Sorry for the rambling post any help or advise greatly received.

Thanks.

 

[llwyd]

What's your budget like mate? would also be a good idea to find out what memory is in there because if it's decent (unlikley) it might be worth stretching to a conroe CPU

 

[BUFF]

what he said ^.

What are your needs (easy to get sidetracked by desire rather than need) & budget.

You also want to check that your existing PSU will be able to handle your upgraded components - it's usually 1 area where the big oems spec. just enough & no more.

 

[FarFarAway]

I agree totally on the PSU, upgrade or you won't have a PC to upgrade

Like Llwyd said: what do you want to spend and what do you want it for? Gaming, power use?

Give us a tad more info and we'll be glad to help

 

[Showoff]

I'm off out tonight but I'll check out the memory out tomorrow and let you know.

I haven't really thought about a budget as I only got the graphics card as the current one wasn't up to the job running the game I'm playing, I'm now looking at a new motherboard as the current one won't take the graphics card, sound like a slippery slope.

I'll being using the system to mostly to just play games, surf the web and a bit of work but I'm the sort of person that always wants the best, but I don't like wasting money on things I won't use.

I guess for the motherboard £170 should be enough but I'll get one through work so I'll be paying supplier cost and not retail. having said that if a £120 board will do the job even better, but if there is one that is 10 times better and cost £180 I won't be able to resist it.

The problem is I don't want to get a board that just does the job for now and then get hooked overclocking and wish I'd spend a bit more.

I did have a nice surprise this morning a note from Link the couriers arrived yesterday to say I had a parcel, wasn't expecting anything so went down to the depot today to collect it and guess what...? Work have sent me another Sapphire X1950XTX even though I only order one! I'll hang on to it and see if anyone says anything, someone say CrossFire...? :rotfl:

I guess the long term goal is to build an ar5e kicking game system with plenty of scope to expand.

Thanks.

 

[Mr. Smith]

Get the new DFI RD600 mobo

 

[markkleb]

I think you need to apply the brakes here and sit down and figure exactly what you want to do with the comp.

I LOVE DFI!! but you need to know what you are doing to get them to work well.(but once you figure them out Yee HAAA!!)

The X1950XTX is a GREAT card and will easily play the game you want by itself but you are going to need a Very Good PS.

 

[FarFarAway]

The RD600 is a bit of an pain to get stable tbh, but if you're willing to spend time and effort doing it then it is a good mobo

 

[Showoff]

Can someone please help explain the difference between mobo socket numbers and anything else I need to understand so I know the one's I'm looking at will work with the CPU I have as I plan to install this in the new mobo for now, but want a mobo that I can upgrade the CPU and memory to the best at a later date.

My plan is to upgrade the following:

Case = to this

Mobo = TBC

PSU = TBC

The rest of my OEM PC (Fujitsu Siemens 3.4GHz Scaleo T ) I plan to keep and install into the new mobo:

CPU = 3.4GHz P4

Memory = 2 x 512MB (Samsung 443 K4H560838F)

HDD & Drives etc...

Already purchased:

Graphics Card = 2 x Sapphire X1950XTX's :dribble:

I basically what a new mobo that will work with what I have so far, but also be able to take new bits as I upgrade and as my knowledge on this subject it very limited, but I'm willing to learn I don't know what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance.

 

[llwyd]

Well I would suggest the P5B Deluxe as it is probably the easiest board to get high clocks with straight out the box with minimal experience, the money left over from your budgeted 170 coupled maybe with the money from selling the 2nd x1950XTX would pay for a nice set of DDR2 memory. That would then allow you to upgrade to C2D processors at a later date.

As for the PSU just head over to our reviews section Here and see what takes your fancy.

And you're looking for Skt775 motherboards - although not all are compatible with the C2D CPUs so I would stick with the more up to date boards and run them by people here (that is if you don't go for a P5B-d)

 

[Showoff]

I'm thinking of getting the Bad Axe 2 Motherboard (BOXD975XBX2KR) and will speak to Kingston about what memory is best to get with this.

You suggest selling the 2nd X1950XTX is it not worth installing them both, what are the benefits of crossfire or to be more specific what do I need to be running to see a need for this? I don't need to sell the 2nd X1950XTX to fund the board and memory, but if it is way OTT then I might as well.

Thanks.

 

[Mr. Smith]

I'll try advise, based on my opinions!

If you are new to OC'ing avoid the new DFI, it was my 3rd mobo and I'm swapping it for a Commando (which is basically a new and fancy P5B-D).

The DFI is a fussy mobo - I'd say it's like an F1 car, not just anybody can drive it, you need experience.

My last mobo was the AW9-D MAX - this is more of your Bentley - sheer quality, rock solid, but not a record breaker. It is my favourite mobo so far, I miss it!

As for the p5b-d/commando they are Evo8's, pretty cheap but all you have to do is jump in and they fly!

The BX2 is supposed to be rock solid, it would be an excellent choice.

CrossFire - the benefits are you have 2 gfx cards rendering the images you see, so the image you see will look much nicer - you can have eye cand on maximum. The major benefit comes when running high res (a larger LCD 24"+) as two cards handle this better than one. If you have a big monitor then go for CF. p5b-d/commando does not support CF - the pci-e lanes are x16, x4 - for CF you need x8, x8. CF will run but the card in the x4 lane will suffer.

The MAX does CF, not sure about the BX2.

Re keeping one vs. selling one it's not a buyer/sellers market right now. dx10 cards are out meaning dx9 cards are losing value (you have dx9 cards btw) - so you think - sell them now while they are still worth something and buy a dx10 card, right? Well, yes and no. You see, nvidia are the only current manufacturer of dx10 cards: the 8800 series. In April ATI will introduce their dx10 cards the r600's. This will cause 8800's to drop in price. Great, so I'll buy an r600, right? Well, yes and no lol. At pretty much the same time nvidia plan on dropping the 8900's (45nm process - smaller-faster-better) which could/should pwn the r600, possibly causing the r600 to drop a bit in price... Decisions, decisions...

 

[Doddsy]

Plus with the 1950xtx you can't just use 2 to run crossfire, you need a master card and a slave card. I'd guess you've got 2 slave's so you wouldn't be able to run it anyway.

 

[Showoff]

Thanks for the response Mr Smith, that makes perfect sense and I like the car analogy .

I think I'll order the BX2 tomorrow as it does look very good and also supports CF if I do decide to go down that route, the screen I should be getting will be about 24" but no bigger so if Doddsy is correct and I do have 2 slaves and can't therefore run CF with what I have then I'll just ebay the other card, shame though as I thought it was a gift from the Gods! :worship:

Can anyone else confirm that if I have 2 of these I can't crossfire?