Help Me Please I Am Building new system!!

[Roy80]

Hi !
sorry about my new post to be like this one!
I am building a new system because i need a major update in hardware!

CPU :the final choice is the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz Wolfdale core

Graphic card: something like a XFX alpha dog 8800GT 512mb still choosing but it will be a 8800GT

Memory:Patriot 2GB PC2-6400 C4 Extreme Performance (2x1GB)

Motherboard: My main problem chooosing???Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP Black pearl Edition
OR Asus P5N32-E SLi :confused: ?????

P.S- I have been out of all upgrades in the past 3 years so I need a major update myself aswell!! the computer will be mainly for Gaming and choosing the best motherboard i need a good advice i dont know if the SLI mode as proven a good performance with 2 graphics cards(future upgrade later when price drops)? I been told that just give more 15% performance on gaming?thats why the Asus P5N32-E SLi !
but I read good reveiws in the magazines of the Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP !!
What is the best chipset for gaming with a 8800GT iP35 or NVIDIA nForce® 680i SLI???
Can I save money and think about he future and have a motherbord compatible with DDR2 and (DDR3 to use in the future when the prices drop:lol:)

:)MANY THANKS For your Help

[k.jacko]

The Gigabyte GA-P35 DS3R supports ddr and ddr3. I have built 4 c2d rigs with this board and overclocked them all to hell and back. Its a great stable overclocking board and has bios updates for the wolfdale cpu's.
But, it is getting on a bit now, there are newer models around.

[GM8]

i have pretty much the same as you are choosing

E8400 , 8800GT 4gig Patriot , my motherboard is the gigabyte DS3 and I highly recommend it .

Go with the I35 chipset if you dont plan on running SLi .

Check out the reviews section , I put a review of the 8800GT on there

[theBishopp]

ATX
XFX N650-IUL9 £55
http://tinyurl.com/366hty (http://tinyurl.com/366hty)
Good no frills board that overclocks well.
Gigabit LAN, 8 channel sound, RAID, 1333FSB.
Benefits from the P5NE-SLi mod (see below).
Prices vary wildly, any more than £60 and the P5NE-Sli is a better bet.

Asus P5N-E SLI 650i £70
http://tinyurl.com/2vrlrc (http://tinyurl.com/2vrlrc)
Overclocks just as fast as the P5B or the Gigabyte DS3, so SLi is effectively free.
Easier too due to asynchronous memory settings.
Also means you don't need scarey ram for top overclocks.
Check the specs - it's got the lot.
You may need a BIOS upgrade for Penryn.

Tip from VFM for extreme overclockers.
The P5N-E SLI's Northbridge has a passive heatsink and the Southbridge is bare. They do run very warm when you're oc'ing and a little extra cooling isn't a bad idea.
The simplest and cheapest fix is to use a *single* Akasa AK210 chipset cooler to cool both the Northbridge and the Southbridge http://tinyurl.com/pj3d8</EM> (http://tinyurl.com/pj3d8)
It costs £3 (Now that's what I call value for money!)
Unscrew the Akasa's fan from its heatsink and screw it onto the mobo's Northbridge. Then take the Akasa's heatsink and stick it on the mobo's Southbridge (it has a thermal pad fitted so it's quick and easy). This heatsink is very low profile so shouldn't interfere with SLI'd graphics cards.


ASUS P5K AiLifestyle Series iP35 £70
http://tinyurl.com/2deczy (http://tinyurl.com/2deczy)
Overclocks as well as the 965 boards and has Crossfire support.
Crossfire is 1x16 plus 1x4 but only uber gamers are likely to notice.
All the other bells and whistles you would expect from the latest mobos and it's ready for Penryn.
Becoming the MM Forum favourite.
WARNING Do not use if you propose to use a RAID array.

25/2/2008 - Reports are circulating about the P5Ks having problems with Wolfdale and 1066 ram.
Do some checking before you commit.

There are also several people that have issues with ASUS motherboards not recognising X-Fi soundcards. This doesn't seem to have a fix yet (I have the same problem with my P5B), and is apparently random as to whether it happens or not. It does seem though, that if you have this problem, and the X-Fi isn't detected in any of your PCI slots, then you won't be able to use an X-Fi...

[wonderlust]

If you are prepared to go with a P35 based board the other bargain board is the MSI -P35 Neo2-Fr.

It is an MSI P35 Diamond (same board 7345 same bios) minus the fireware and SPDif outputs.

It is a Crossfire 16x4x board like most, if not all, P35 boards.
Has 5 internal Sata 2 ports, 2 Esata ports, Heatpipe chipset cooling and overclocks very well.

[solidsteve]

The Gigabyte GA-P35 DS3R supports ddr and ddr3. I have built 4 c2d rigs with this board and overclocked them all to hell and back. Its a great stable overclocking board and has bios updates for the wolfdale cpu's.
But, it is getting on a bit now, there are newer models around.

the GA-P35C-DS3R is the mobo i think your referring to the GA-P35-DS3R only supports DDR2

i would suggests the GA-P35-DS3R, its £70 and it has a p35 chipset so it will run very good with the E8500

SLI is for if your a serious gamer and willing to pay over the odds for a slight boost, 2 graphics cards dose not always mean 2x the boost try 1/3 at most and your there

[PeterStoba]

don't get the black pearl, onboard ram

[Roy80]

I know that is already avaible a Bios update for the Asus P5N32-E SLi ,
the Bios update for Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP someone told me that it was still a experimental Bios update? Any problems with the Bios update on the GA-P35-DS3R?

[Mul.]

If you are prepared to go with a P35 based board the other bargain board is the MSI -P35 Neo2-Fr.

It is an MSI P35 Diamond (same board 7345 same bios) minus the fireware and SPDif outputs.

It is a Crossfire 16x4x board like most, if not all, P35 boards.
Has 5 internal Sata 2 ports, 2 Esata ports, Heatpipe chipset cooling and overclocks very well.

I back Wonderlust's recommendation. Cheaper than the P5K Premium without losing out on features and overclocking capability.

I'd be tempted to sway away from the P5N32-E. Only bother with this (or any nForce board for that matter) if you intend on going SLI with high end cards immediately. They simply aren't as capable as the P35's in terms of future CPU support and overclockability.

[Roy80]

Asus Striker Extreme 680i ???:twisted:

[Mul.]

Again, same issue as the P5N32-E in regards to overclocking (quads anyway) and future CPU support. Like I said, unless you're going SLI right now (not in a month or a year) get a P35/X38 based board.

[Roy80]

Thanks for all your advices but the order has been placed...

:twisted:Asus Striker II Formula nForce 780i:twisted:

[00mike000]

both are great boards

[russdb7wolf]

I have a Asus P5N32-SLI Premiun and im not much impressed with the oc capabillities.There are alot of boards to choose from in this price bracket with more capabillities.Hope this helps.