Which Asus P45?

[joeh]

Hi Guys,

Well it's payday on the 25th and i'm looking at build a new computer. I have done some research, this isn't your typical what's the difference thread...

This chart shows the main differences between the Asus P5Q range:



Now, I'm definitely not going to ever buy having multiple graphics cards. Not to say i'm not a gamer, I just don't see it being cost effect price/performance and all that. So i'll only ever have one card, albeit a decent one.

However, if i decide that one PCI-e slot is enough, I'm limited to the standalone P5Q. Hang on, Dual Lan would nice, so would the bigger, better motherboard heatsinks?

Is it just graphics cards that go in pci-e slots or is it more future proof? will we be seeing more cards using the pci-e interface (16x)?

If pci-e(16x) is and only for gfx alone, then i'll get the basic P5Q, i don't need more than one lan port (have a 5 port switch right next to my pc) but it certainly would be nice considering one broke on my dfi nf4 so i had the other spare. Dangerous when i had no free pci slots.

[NovaSphere]

Hmm, future proof wouldn't be possible I believe, since with the new Nehalem processors there will be new chipsets aswell...

Personally I'd go for P5Q Pro (since my new build got it also) but also because it simply has all you might need and some extra's, enough spots for extra parts or future expansions. And it's simply a great board ;P

[Powderhound]

The extra PCI-E slots can be used for sound cards and a few other add-in cards, and the P5Q-E and above have better chipset cooling to increase overclockability.

[staffsMike]

I would shoot down the middle there and get the P5Q-E, there's lots there not being mentioned and it has a fantastic feature set and cooling.

[Powderhound]

Yup, I've got that board, and oerclocking it with a Q9450 is child's play!

[Hawker1986]

As everyone else has suggested I would go with the P5Q-E, a good motherboard, lots of features, and a good overclockers.

Hawker