Hi everyone

I need help in choosing the best motherboard. My budget is 150$ and a may be a little more. Here is what I have now :

- Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.4GHz 1066MHz 8MB
LGA775 EM64T CPU.

- 4 GB US Modular Dual Channel 2048MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory

- PCI Express Geforce 7100 GS


I want to pick the best MOTHERBOARD available which would go with the above Components.

Thanks You

Do you plan on doing any gaming? If so, the 7100GS is going to struggle at low settings in any recent games. But for the motherboard, you aren't going to get much overclocking out of the ram, so something simple would be good. A P965 or P35 or 650i chipset board would be good choices. Something like the Gigabyte P965-DS3 or P35-DS3L/R would be fine. Also take a look at the MSI 650i SLI-FI or EVGA 650i Ultra.

ga p965 ds3 rev 1.3

Im not a GAMER but i do lot of Graphics work like Photoshop Flash Dreamweaver etc. Actually a LOT OF PHOTOSHOP

GA-P35-S3L or GA-P35-DS3R (the first one is cheaper but allows only 4 SATA devices).

Does it have Ultra Durable 2, ultra cooling ?

Like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128048

GA-P35-DS3R looks interesting to me. Just $129 and has Ultra cooling and durable 2.

And do you suggest me to buy a good SMPS as im using Core2 Quad.
What do you suggest?

Gigabyte P35 DQ6

nice rig Slyfox. by the way desiben ill recommend you to get a better video card, since you deal with graphics.

can you tell me which one should i go for ? what graphics card?

thanks

If not gaming .but a lot of photoshop , then if u can get a good Quadro card, they are the best for non gaming apps

Could you please specify a card.

I bought the GA-P35-DS3R motherboard yesterday. Thanks for your helps.

as winly recommmends me to go for a new and better graphics card. I was planning to choose a better one for the best perfomance. I cant mint so much on it max would be $120 and may be a little more.

Can you please specify which Graphics card should i go for.. exactly which model. As ive mentioned in my earlier post I use my system for PHOTOSHOP, FLASH, Dreamweaver and a little video work too.

But mainly photoshop and flash.

Please advice

Someone please help me out here.. i bought a GA-P35-DS3R after your advice.. but ive clearly mentioned about my RAM too in the very first post. Which says its DDR2 533MHz memory. Do you guys think it will work on this board?

Please help. If not I need to cancel my order.

dd2 533mhz will work bro.

video card nvidia 8600 GT or 8600 GTS

Thanks a heap.. that saves me a breath..

ok will get the 8600 gt or s

and for the memory support fo 533mhz on GA-P35-DS3R do you have any links?

I have a similar query to desiben; I am planning to get a Q6600 on a GA-P35 DS4 board but am also unsure about running PC8500/533mhz RAM, in particular, with the extra voltage requirements.As the motherboard manual states support for 1066/533Mhz RAM at 1.8v. The RAM I'd like to purchase is Team XTREAM 8500/533Mhz x 2GB which requires 2.3V - 2.4V. My query is this; Is 1.8v the default voltage when choosing to up the RAM voltage settings? If so will the board handle the extra voltages required by these modules. In the BIOS overvoltage settings for RAM, the upper limit of overvoltage (before entering the "Red Zone" ) is .45v taking voltage to 2.25v. Is it safe to use this RAM at voltages above this on this board? If not can I run them OK at a reduced voltage (2.25v than 2.3v) as stated by the RAM manufacturer?

Anyone tried or had a similar problem as this?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated