The "Less then 70quid" challenge

[shaithis]

Currently trying to build a PC for a friend and have a dilemma on the choice of motherboard, as in, I have come up blank.

It must be:

- Core2Duo capable
- Have decent overclocking (E4300 @ 3GHz range)
- Have an Intel chipset
- Support Firewire
- Have more then 3 slots (PCI-E and PCI combined)

I looked at the Gigabyte boards but the cheaper ones only have 1 x PCI-E + 2 x PCI, or they have no firewire.....

The ASRock boards do not have vcore control so overclocking becomes limited and the MSI NEO board I found has no firewire...

Am I missing a board or 2 out there or is there a 70 quid board that can do all that? ^^

TIA

[Gibbo]

Deleted - no C2D support


DOH!

[Gibbo]

http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/products....asp?id=219819
Asus P5LD2 SE/C LGA775 Motherboard (Intel i945P Chipset) - Now Core2Duo Compatible
£58.74
PLUS
http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products....asp?id=224064
£12.87

= £71.61

That's as close as I can get.

[Gibbo]

OR

http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/products....asp?id=221804
Gigabyte GA-8I945GZME-RH Motherboard - Core 2 Duo S775 i945GZ MATX SATA Gigabit LAN
£38.08!!!!!!! - sadly out of stock there

Plus

PLUS
http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products....asp?id=224064
£12.87

= £50.95!!!

[wja96]

OR

http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/products....asp?id=221804
Gigabyte GA-8I945GZME-RH Motherboard - Core 2 Duo S775 i945GZ MATX SATA Gigabit LAN
£38.08!!!!!!! - sadly out of stock there

Plus

PLUS
http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products....asp?id=224064
£12.87

= £50.95!!!

I don't think that one will overclock, will it?

[shaithis]

Glad to see it wasn't just me having issues

Thanks for the help, although its starting to look like a purchase of compromises and I will leave that upto the purchaser to decide

Firewire card takes a slot away, so need to add +1 PCI slot

And now I am wondering if the 945 boards will overclock the E4300 chip to 3GHz anyway, seems the lower bootstrap on these will cause the memory controller to be pushed too far when overclocked......Hmmm.

Looks like the compromise will have to be on price or overclockability.

[this_is_gav]

I doubt the P945s will hit 333MHz

I think you're left with this:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=484508
It's not an overclocking board either, but it's bound to have more mileage than the P945s.

Short of that, the next best you'll be getting is £2 over budget + P&P, the normal DS3.

[aidanjt]

Glad to see it wasn't just me having issues

Thanks for the help, although its starting to look like a purchase of compromises and I will leave that upto the purchaser to decide

Firewire card takes a slot away, so need to add +1 PCI slot

And now I am wondering if the 945 boards will overclock the E4300 chip to 3GHz anyway, seems the lower bootstrap on these will cause the memory controller to be pushed too far when overclocked......Hmmm.

Looks like the compromise will have to be on price or overclockability.

If you want to overclock, don't even consider skimping out on the motherboard, they're cheap for a reason.

[GSte]

I doubt the P945s will hit 333MHz

I think you're left with this:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=484508
It's not an overclocking board either, but it's bound to have more mileage than the P945s.

Short of that, the next best you'll be getting is £2 over budget + P&P, the normal DS3.

Yeah, spend an extra £1.66:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=437659

[shaithis]

No firewire on the DS3

Would have been a perfect board for him otherwise....

Starting to think that the P5B-E is going to be the best all-rounder and is still less then 10 quid over budget.

What's the low-down on P5B - Deluxe WiFi vs -E?

Also, has anyone seen the DS3P anywhere yet? Interested to see pricing but none of my searches shows anyone stocking it........

[IAmATeaf]

I'd be inclined to tell your friend that he needs a few squids more and get the MSI M965-Plat, has everything onboard that you want but then you're encroaching on the territory in terms of other boards. Think this would save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

[SuicidaL]

and the MSI NEO board I found has no firewire...

don't the msi boards come with a backplate mouted firewire ports to use if you want? my k9n did although i didn't fit it as no need for it.

[shaithis]

Well, he just made me feel dirty and picked up a B grade Asus P5W DH Deluxe Wifi from OcUK......deemed it worthwhile.

Just over 20quid over budget but if theres nothing wrong/missing with it, then I guess he got himself a good board that will last.

[MadduckUK]

its B grade cause someone sent it back D.O.A? nah im sure ittl be fine..

[Madafwo]

Abit IB9 - 2 PCI slots and 1 full length PCI-E slot if thats good enough for you.

Lovely board and I am sure it can happily run an E4300 at 3 Ghz. Mines currently at 2.8 and I am going to see what it can do over the weekend. Some people are saying Abit boards aren't what they used to be but with the number of Core 2 boards people are buying it's not surprising there are a few horror stories.

That's if the P5W doesn't work out mind.

[Wildcard[UK]]

shaithis try this:

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...0509,405660000

Product description is vague but look at the mfr# on that link. It's the DS3P. £91.37 with VAT if my maths is right and then delivery on top.