Who is a motherboard EXPERT for high performance, oc'ing MOTHERBOARDS!!!

**Legolas** · 08-24-08, 04:36 PM

Question:

Who has knowledge, or better yet, experience working with high-end/performance motherboards. Can anyone suggest a great motherboard for the following hardware:

Intel Q9450 quad core, 45nm processor, 1333 FSB, LGA 775 Socket
Supports DDR3 Ram (Probably DDR3 16000, 7-7-7-20 timings) (at least 8 gigs in dual channel mode)
SLI with 2 or 3 PCI-e 2.0 slots
Extremely user friendly bios with practical OC options/settings
X48 chipset
Optimal design (processor, ram, and pci e lanes close to x48 chipset for maximum performance) with good heat transfer capability (A LOT OF COPPER!!!).

I have never used watercooled products but this may be the time to start!

Please post your opinions as I am stuck between a few motherboards... I was looking at the ASUS P53E (with Splashtop, instant access to internet before entering OS), the Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 (same as X48 but with support for DDR3 ram), and the MSI X48 platinum...

Any ideas or suggestions (Cough, Cough, this question may require the attention of a certain BIG DOG!!!)

Please help!!!!

Thanks,

Lego

**SapiensErus** · 08-24-08, 05:15 PM

Asus.

I have had 6 Asus gaming Mobos (and built a few more for others) pver the last 8 years. I have OCed on them a'plenty. Most OCers I know are using Asus.

Asus has great quality and driver support. their high-end mobos are loaded with features too, including special AI-Oveerclocking, EZ-Overclocking, EZ-Flash, etc. I heard a lot of people had problems with the "Striker" mobos. But any of the high end Asus mobos will kick ass for OCing.

**flame** · 08-24-08, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Legolas

Please post your opinions as I am stuck between a few motherboards... I was looking at the ASUS P53E (with Splashtop, instant access to internet before entering OS), the Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 (same as X48 but with support for DDR3 ram), and the MSI X48 platinum...

Bigdog built my rig and I have the p5e3 deluxe. It has some really cool features, bigdog loved it said it was good build. I am not overclocking or sli or anything but I like it. I played with the instant internet access, its pretty cool.

**w4jchosen** · 08-24-08, 06:55 PM

I've got an Asus motherboard and love the features it has for OC'ing. Very simple even for me to undertand

**GaTesLgD** · 08-24-08, 07:08 PM

I have a EVGA 780i mobo and it does everything I want.I really like the reset switch for the cmos on back of mobo "no more opening case to take batterie out!"

**Legolas** · 08-24-08, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by GaTesLgD

I have a EVGA 780i mobo and it does everything I want.I really like the reset switch for the cmos on back of mobo "no more opening case to take batterie out!"

Nice... I'm sure that is a hell of a feature to have!!! The last time I built a rig, around 2004, I hated opening the case and disconnecting the main battery on my motherboard!!!

My question at this point is:

Do you think the ASUS P53E handle any front side bus I throw at it

Can any of these mobo's

I may be upgrading extremely quickly and ease of upgrade also matters a ton!!! Are there any features that make the ASUS better than the Gigabyte

...bigdog...
Can you answer this question

I know that you are an expert at these matters and I really need YOUR opinion... Holla at me if you have the time or if you want me to bring these questions to a different forum!!!!

Otherwise, thanks for the comments fellas... It looks like ASUS has won my decision for now!!!

**jason_jinx** · 08-25-08, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by Legolas

Question:

Who has knowledge, or better yet, experience working with high-end/performance motherboards. Can anyone suggest a great motherboard for the following hardware:

Intel Q9450 quad core, 45nm processor, 1333 FSB, LGA 775 Socket
Supports DDR3 Ram (Probably DDR3 16000, 7-7-7-20 timings) (at least 8 gigs in dual channel mode)
SLI with 2 or 3 PCI-e 2.0 slots
Extremely user friendly bios with practical OC options/settings
X48 chipset
Optimal design (processor, ram, and pci e lanes close to x48 chipset for maximum performance) with good heat transfer capability (A LOT OF COPPER!!!).

I have never used watercooled products but this may be the time to start!

Please post your opinions as I am stuck between a few motherboards... I was looking at the ASUS P53E (with Splashtop, instant access to internet before entering OS), the Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 (same as X48 but with support for DDR3 ram), and the MSI X48 platinum...

Any ideas or suggestions (Cough, Cough, this question may require the attention of a certain BIG DOG!!!)

Please help!!!!

Thanks,

Lego

You cannot go SLI with the x38/x48 intel chipset.
You need a Nforce board.

You want Nvidia no matter what?
that will give us a start

**...bigdog...** · 08-25-08, 12:54 PM

If you really want to show off....then perhaps try the asus maximus. But.....if you're talking ridicuously high end clock speeds and FSB's.......then you need to look at the test systems places like HardOCP, anandtech, and tom's hardware use to test processors and RAM in your socket/class.

Usually, the highest theoretical clock settings are found in Abit and Gigabytes....but that doesn't mean they work. They're just there.

Asus is my favorite manufacturer. After that......Abit.

**JeffZilla** · 08-25-08, 01:07 PM

go with the EVGA 790i ultimate MB

**Legolas** · 08-26-08, 07:04 PM

You cannot go SLI with the x38/x48 intel chipset.
You need a Nforce board.

You want Nvidia no matter what?
that will give us a start

Jason,
I believe that you can go SLI with the x48 chipset; or does it only support crossfire

One review said: "P45 feeds 16 lanes to the primary slot or dual x8 if you’re using CrossFire while the X48 can manage 16 lanes to both slots. " http://www.trustedreviews.com/mother...-II-Formula/p1 :3 Which, by the way, doesn't say much for the Asus Maximus II Formula...

I don't care if it is Nvidia, or ATI, I just need some kick ass options that have a ton of bandwidth for business purposes!!! Any suggestions

As you can see, I have much more research to do and my wife is yelling at me to eat dinner... I'll get back to work as soon as I can...