Which is the best 875 motherboard for overclocking??

[maverik-sg1]

Guys,

I think I have just blown up my 3rd Lanparty Pro875B RevB1 motherboard (checked all components except CPU).

Overall I have been impressed with it's performance (allowing a 4.3Ghz overclock on 3.2e C0 Stepping. But in the quest for more speed I got me a 3.2 Extreme Edition and that blew the board in just over 2 weeks.

Luckily DFI RMA'd the board and here we are now with a 3.4 Prescott D0 stepping, which happily clocked to 4.5Ghz - that's been running for less than a week and the MOBO has gone again, I must be drawing more current than the board can handle and I don't think any sort of mods are going to help me get over this one.

So I find myself in need of new board - not wanting to go down the DFI root again I am seeking advice.

Knowing what you guys know, if you could choose any socket 478 motherboard for overclocking (with no mods) whoch one would it be.

I am thinking either IC7-MAX3 or Asus P4C800-E, but would welcome your assistance.

Cheers

Mav

 

[Thickbrit]

hmmm, max3 or p4c ?.Not a lot between em.Max has better power handling capabilities(i know you run big v-core),p4c have been known to blow power regulator mosfets due to overheating.I have run an EE at 1.9v on a max with no problems,only for benching though.Max is noisier,has a few more flaws,n/b fan will pack up in a few weeks,onboard sound is crap,vtt issues prevent any more than 2.8v v-dimm(needs a mod),no unlocked multi bios,prommies need careful installation on a max,temperature and volt monitoring is not all it should be either.P4c has a few probs too,2.85v v-dimm(aint enough,mod or booster),tiny regulator mosfets get cooking hot,big v-droop(needs mod).Both boards will need mods to get the best from them,but "out the box",asus is better.However,a fully modded max is probably the stronger.Personally i'm a max man,overcoming all the issues and performing all the mods(probably the most moddable mobo ever) has been a lot of fun and taught me a tremendous amount.Max3 is a genuine diamond in the rough,p4c's are more polished,but a bit tame and boring(to me at least).Just my opinion,not looking for a war.

 

[maverik-sg1]

I have gone for the ASUS, not because I think it is the best, but the mod for Vdroop seems easy enough and you can't argue with RAM boosters for upping the DIMM Voltage - hopefully a heatsink set-up with direct fan cooling on the mofsets should protect from any serious issues there.

I agree the MAX is a bigger wolf, in wolf's clothing. But you need to cut traces etc in the board and you really don't have a warratny leg to stand on if it all goes the way of the pear.

The droop mod on the ASUS can be hidden quite easily and remove the boosters, RMA should not be an issue - I really hope my overclocking exlpoits do not blow this one up too. I think DFI have had enough of me returning their products!!

 

[Brwmogazos]

I have gone for the ASUS, not because I think it is the best, but the mod for Vdroop seems easy enough and you can't argue with RAM boosters for upping the DIMM Voltage - hopefully a heatsink set-up with direct fan cooling on the mofsets should protect from any serious issues there.

I agree the MAX is a bigger wolf, in wolf's clothing. But you need to cut traces etc in the board and you really don't have a warratny leg to stand on if it all goes the way of the pear.

The droop mod on the ASUS can be hidden quite easily and remove the boosters, RMA should not be an issue - I really hope my overclocking exlpoits do not blow this one up too. I think DFI have had enough of me returning their products!!

off course and its easy to RMA

how on earth did i rma 3 boards at the end of the day?

No need for booster matey...the vddr is an easy mod and you can up your psus +3v easily if you can do volt mods.... so no need for extra money for the booster.

Yes all the mods can be removed without any marks left...even the droop mod where you dont solder over a leg

i am now using the max 3 though...

out of the box the max 3 is better imo...no such droop issues etc.

The asus is the easiest to mod and make an excellent mod.

the max 3 needs loads of mods, capacitors etc but in mem bandwith and high fsbs with tight timings etc it will wipe the floor from anything else in the market...everyones not hipro5 though

 

[maverik-sg1]

For RMA I just filled in the forms man!! Lucky I guess

Man is that overclock you show on your signature real??

5.2Ghz with SL7E6 3.4 Prescott?

How did you achieve such a great overclock? What was your best overclock with just DIMM mod and VDroop mod?

I got my ASUS board, the same CPU, 2x512MB OCZ PC4400 Gold 2.5-4-4-4-8, OCZ powerstream 520w PSU and a machII, best overclock with Same set-up and DFI board was 268FSB - 4.525Ghz.

Any tips you can give would be great - looks like the GT is the cooler to have??