Please Recommend a MoBo

Hello TH community,

I was recently given a Dell XPS 8300 as a Xmas/Bday gift from my girl and sister. My Current set up is -

- i7-2600 3.4GHz
- 1TB HD
- 6GB DDR3
- EVGA GTX 570
- Corsair 600watt PSU

I was hoping to get a new case and mobo with my tax return money possible and needed help with a mobo. I dont even really know what to look for as Im relatively new to upgrading PC's and such.

I was possible looking for potential SLI of the 570 or maybe even just upgrade to a better GPU once Kepler comes out through the EVGA trade up program.

What features and I looking for when it come to a mobo and any suggestions from the community? My range is $300-350

I recommend you leave the dell alone, especially if it's still under warranty. It's a very good setup. If you want to continue upgrading, I would sell the dell intact and build your own. But I would take your dell anyday for basic gaming. but if you do replace the dell board anyway, be sure to get another windows coa. Your dell won't run windows when you change to a non dell motherboard.

I agree that the setup you have there is fine for a couple of years to come. No sense wasting money on a "upgrade" that'll essentially buy you nothing in terms of performance.

@jaquith "Unless you purchase either a SB 'K' or the forthcoming Ivy Bridge there's little point of swapping-out your MOBO. " ----is this bc i cant OC?

Basically yes, there's little point getting an OC'ing MOBO that you'll never OC.

I'm the type that will OC anything that be be OC'ed - why not?! However, I'm sure not going to 24/7 something foolish e.g. i7-2600K/i5-2500K @1.50+ or higher vCore.

@o1die how do i tell if windows has been loaded off a server on my pc?

So basically for me to upgrade to anything other than a better single gpu, i will need a case, mobo, psu, and windows software?

i guess i'll just hold off on the mobo and may consider trading up on gpu throu evga