Future proofing gaming

[AsRock]

Hi all,

Just trying to get some more thoughts for a friend of mine. He's after a mobo with 2x PCI-e x16 slots + he's on about getting a DDR3 mobo too. And he all so need to be able to overclock as well so he's able squeeze that little extra out of it in a few years time if needed.


I my self don't think DDR3 is worth it personally even more so when it comes to gaming but maybe it would be in a few years time ?. All though he should get better overclocking results with DDR3 than DDR2 right ?.

And is it worth going DDR3 in the 1st place?.

If you know of a review for a mobo you recommend please post a link. Thanks.

Budget for the motherboard is $300

EDIT: needs to be crossfire as it's going have a 4870 x2 and maybe another next year.

 

[erocker]

Nvidia cards or ATi? I assume an Intel socket since they are the only ones that support DDR3 at the moment.

 

[AsRock]

Nvidia cards or ATi? I assume an Intel socket since they are the only ones that support DDR3 at the moment.

Opps edited 1st post.

And yes INTEL chipset is a requirement.

 

[From_Nowhere]

Intel X48 chipset. Supports CrossFire, and some models support DDR3.

Here is a good board from newegg for $229.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157129

 

[panchoman]

get an x48 board with ddr3 and you should be good to go

 

[Thermopylae_480]

My experience has been that early adoption of memory standards isn't typically worth it. It is usually better to wait until it is more refined. Jumping on board with a new memory standard isn't like getting the hottest new processor or video card, new memory standards usually start realizing their full potential about a year or more after release when cheaper modules with higher clocks and tighter timings become available.

 

[farlex85]

Yeah I don't think ddr3 is really worth it right now. It will be a better choice when nehalem comes round, w/ it's direct ddr3 controller will eliminate the bottleneck the fsb suffers. You could get one of the boards that offer both, in case he wants to move up to ddr3 w/o going to nehalem, but my choice would be a solid x38 w/ ddr2.

 

[AsRock]

get an x48 board with ddr3 and you should be good to go

Yeah. x38 x48 are both good but with him wanting DDR3 really cuts down on the good overclocking x48 mobo's.

MSI X48c Platinum LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard DDR2\DDR3

Were the reviews at ?.. Maybe it's too new

ASUS P5E Deluxe LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard DDR2

And this one going by ASUS site only Corsair ram @ 1200HTz is the only one compatible.

Thing is i have overclocked my CPU to 4.2 and can say that in games there's been no difference.

My experience has been that early adoption of memory standards isn't typically worth it. It is usually better to wait until it is more refined. Jumping on board with a new memory standard isn't like getting the hottest new processor or video card, new memory standards usually start realizing their full potential about a year or more after release when cheaper modules with higher clocks and tighter timings become available.

Pretty much what i am thinking as the chances of this guy upgrading again is going be years like another v card next year. CPU's might even be at EOL by mid\end next year and as for DDR3 be much cheaper thats why he's thinking of the MSI mobo below but not found any trusted reviews on it yet. I'm picky and even more picky when it comes to helping friends.


@erocker Hows that Rampage going for you any issue's ?.