C2D Mobo and RAM Help

[bruins004]

Hey guys,

I have been looking around and dont know what a good mobo and RAM combination would be for an E6400.
For the mobo I am looking for some OCing (I dont OC too much), for it to have 4 memory slots supporting DDR2 800 RAM, and to have SLI.

As for the RAM, I was going to look at some of the OCZ Gold or Platinum modules, but have heard that with some mobos (I believe Asus mobos), that they didnt work properly. I am looking for 2 x 1GB kits of DDR2-800.

I would like to spend around $150 for the mobo and $200 for the memory. Please try to stay close to that.

 

[Sasqui]

SLI, huh? You could look at the NForce4, or 5xx series, but I've heard they both suck for overclocking. (I know someone with the NF4 and an X6800, can't get it over 3.2 Ghz.)

Motherboard (650i based)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131142

Getting 2GB of memory for around $200 will involve some concessions.

If you are willing to stretch a little... here's a great set of Corsair for $234 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034

I don't know how picky the 650i is about memory...

 

[bruins004]

Thanks for the quick reply,

Yea that is my main concern, the mobo being picky about the RAM.
In my Socket 939 rig, my mobos have never been picky with my OCZ Plat. Ram.

I dont mind going an extra $30 for the RAM AR.
Now I am kinda split between the one you mentioned and these:

OCZ Platinum Rev. 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139

OCZ Gold
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227124

Also, I forgot to mention that in SLI mode I want the mobo to run 2 x16 lanes (so x32 full lanes).

Thanks again

EDIT: Is there a new chipset coming out for the C2D

 

[Sasqui]

Thanks for the quick reply,

Yea that is my main concern, the mobo being picky about the RAM.
In my Socket 939 rig, my mobos have never been picky with my OCZ Plat. Ram.

I dont mind going an extra $30 for the RAM AR.
Now I am kinda split between the one you mentioned and these:

OCZ Platinum Rev. 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139

OCZ Gold
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227124

Also, I forgot to mention that in SLI mode I want the mobo to run 2 x16 lanes (so x32 full lanes).

Thanks again

EDIT: Is there a new chipset coming out for the C2D

The 680i is the latest and greatest from NVidia supporting SLI... haven't seen whats coming next. and the 680i would be the one with 2x16 PCIx, but cheapest board I saw was $234. I guess the 650i is the budget answer.

The ram is a crapshoot. The Rev2 has better timings for sure... you might want to look at MFG pages and see if you find it on compatibility listings.

 

[bruins004]

Hmm,
Yea thats all I have seen as well.
I didnt really want to go that high for a mobo.

Also, would there be any loss of benefit for going with DDR2-667 RAM instead of the DDR2-800?

 

[Sasqui]

Hmm,
Yea thats all I have seen as well.
I didnt really want to go that high for a mobo.

Also, would there be any loss of benefit for going with DDR2-667 RAM instead of the DDR2-800?

That's why I hate nVidia They have a captive audience and exploit that fact. Just my own take... to each his own.

With the overclockability of the Core2, I would only reccomend DDR-800, it gives you much more in the way of options between the CPU multiplier and Memory divider.

If you are planning on going SLI with two 7800 cards, it's probably not worth it. The same person I mentioned above has two 7800 GTX'x in SLI (from a Dell) in that NF4 rig and the bottleneck is still the cards.

 

[WarEagleAU]

The 650i looks to be the best bet. Until you can upgrade it to the 680i later

 

[bruins004]

I am going to put this in my rig #2 and get a new video card.
I am waiting on that till March. though so I can see how the R600 matches the 8800GTX.

My other rig, the one with the 7800GT is going to stay the same except I am going to put the 3700+ and the 2GB of RAM into it.

I am just pricing stuff now, but am going to prob. wait until the E6450 comes out (Adds 2MB of L2 cache extra ).
Are there release dates on those besides what they said, Q2?

EDIT: Is there that much of a difference when you have 2 8800GTX cards in 2 8x PCI-E lanes over 2 16x PCI-E lanes?