need MOBO help for my first DIY system...

[snaggle2th]

First of all, Hello:) I'm new to the forum so I'll explain my situation a little...

I was getting ready to buy a new system... did a little research and have decided instead to build my own. I am fairly experienced in computers but this will be my first build. I want the customization you can only get from a custom built PC.

I'm not sure if this is the right forum site for what I'm doing, so if it's not please let me know.

I have researched many of the components,hardware, etc... and have a pretty good idea of what I want.

My problem is(at least my first problem... more to come I'm sure--lol) is choosing the motherboard... there are SO MANY!
I don't really know much about many of the MOBO's out there. All my PC's in the past have been Intel.

My PC gets pretty heavy usage so I want a VERY reliable board.

I would appreciate very much some recommendations on a good motherboard. Listed below are some of the options I am looking for and what the PC will be used for.

* ATX P4 support
* onboard SATA(at least 2)
* EIDE slots
* 5+ pci slots(prefer more than 5)
* 8x AGP slot
* 3+ Gig RAM
* RAID not necessary


PC is used for...

* heavy gaming
* programming
* cd/dvd burning
* uploading/downloading
* web authoring

PC will have...

* Lian-Li full-tower case
* 3-5 HDD's
* CD-rom, 2-CD-RW's, DVD-RW

Sorry this post is so long, just wanted to be clear on my situation and what I'm looking for. I am not building my own system to save money or to be cheap(I dont want to waste money but if it costs a little more to get what I want/need thats ok).

Any help/suggestions very much appreciated, thanks.

[Cowboybooter]

Welcome to XPC snaggle2th! :)

Yes, you came to the right place!

Bob

[a Bill]

Looks like you're describing a motherboard with an Intel chipset. Either the 865 or 875 chipsets will do what you want. If overclocking is not important then go for an Intel motherboard (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductList.jsp?ThirdCategoryCode=013338). They only overclock 4% but they are extremely stable. I'm using a D865PERL mobo myself and it meets all your criteria.

If you're opting for overclocking then look elsewhere, like Asus or Abit.

[NDC]

First of all, welcome to XPC! :)


Do you do a lot of multi-tasking?

[snaggle2th]

Thanks for the info 'a bill'. I have looked at the Intel boards and they look good to me. I dont really know much about overclocking but it's something I think I may like to do... but if I must give up stability for overclocking, then no. I didnt know that intel would only overclock 4%.

One thing I'd like to know more about on the Intel boards is the hyperthreading. In the board description it says hyperthreading is supported. Do I need something else to have hyperthreading?(Is it actually the processor that has hyperthreading or what?) I need to look a little more into it -- not really sure exactly what hyperthreading even is.


Hello NDC,
Do you do a lot of multi-tasking?
Yes, very much multitasking.

I do like the Intel boards but I am going to take a look at the Asus and Abit boards -- maybe read some reviews and see what I think.

Thanks for the help and any more input would be appreciated :)

[a Bill]

Hyperthreading is dependant on the CPU, that's why the mobo's only say "supported". You enable hyperthreading in the BIOS and all of the boards sporting the Intel 865 and 875 chipsets should support HT.

Hyperthreading is the CPUs ability to work on two tasks at the same time. It makes the CPU appear to the OS as two CPUs.

[snaggle2th]

Thanks for the info 'a bill':). I gotta sit down a do a little research
to figure out just exactly which way I wanna go with this... after I get back from my golf vacation that is -- Woohoo!

[Omardeth]

you seem to have alot of things you want in a board . 3-5 harddrives ? wow thats alot . 4optical drives ? with all that you are going to need some add on ide controler cards thats for sure .

also you say you want serial ata . i am wondering why . there isn't really a large anuff proformance boost to go to them at the moment . so will say " well later you can add them when they proform better " well my thinking on this is by the time they proform better you will be off to your next pc so why pay for it now ? serial ata doesn't really give you a proformance boost till you hit the 10-15k rpm drives . and for the cost of a 36gb raptor harddrive you could get a 200gb ata 133 drive .

if cost isn't a factor then by all means go for the gusto . but for me i wouldn't go down the road of serial ata just yet .

have you looked into an amd system . the cost is lower than intel with the same or greater proformance , depending on the cpu you pick . it is something you might want to look into .

i could be wrong , i am sure someone will correct me if i am , but i think hypertext in hype just like mmx was . nothing really takes advantage of it . is it really worth the cost difference ?

[ThRoNkA]

Intel boards are ROCK SOLID. They don't overclock well but with the speeds we are at, who needs overclocking.

The Intel Workstation boards series are really good, but pricey. How much were you willing to pay?

[maddoggUK]

Hi snaggle...I have built a few comp's in my time and I have always gone for a complete alround match...by this I mean get evry thing by the same manufacturer...E.g the mobo...graphics card..if not built on...sound card...etc then u know that they are all going to work in conjunction with 1 another...as for the over clocking this shouldn't be neccesary!
cheers! mad!

[slowEJ6]

try out an AMD-64 setup.......let me know how it is.

im thinking of building a pc out of it for myself in a few months.....with a shuttle xpc case :D