Building a system, need recommendation

[xocoatl]

Hi!

Since this is for my wife, I can't cheap out or I'll be in for it. I am looking for a good Asus MB, but I'm unsure as to which chipset using DDR2 I should be looking at these days. I myself have a X38, Asus P5E MB, but for her that would be overkill!

No SLI or Crossfire, She'd be moving from a Dell Dimesion 1000R (1Ghz PIII) Mini-tower PC, and if she desperately needs it, there is always the X2 GPU models.

Currently on the parts list aside from a 22" LCD, are a Blue Ray Optical drive (SATA), 500GB or so SATA HDD, Good gaming Video Card (Need a recommendation on that as well), 3.0Ghz Dual Core CPU, 4GB RAM, and Vista (She currently uses XP PRO SP3). The case to be used will be the COOLER MASTER RC-690 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Real Power Pro 550W Power Supply.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

<Add'l lines edited...so not to offend readers...>

Thanks in advance.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: xocoatl
I'd like some mature and well thought out responses, as we are both over 40 years old and don't have time for smart arses.

This statement is offensive, to me at least. I've always found the replies on AT to be very appropriate.

 

[xocoatl]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: xocoatl
I'd like some mature and well thought out responses, as we are both over 40 years old and don't have time for smart arses.

This statement is offensive, to me at least. I've always found the replies on AT to be very appropriate.

21stHermit,

Never intended to offend...perhaps I've been a HS teacher for too long?!

Edited original statement...point noted. Thanxs.

 

[pet3rrr]

I'd go with a P45 mobo if you aren't looking for a CF or SLI solution. A good ASUS one would be one of the P5Q models. There are about 4 of them I believe, so pick whichever fits your budget.

 

[Quiksilver]

P35, P45, X38, X48 , 680i, 780i; all have DDR2 variant boards. (Also sames your not wanting to skip out I left out the low-end chipsets)

If your not looking for SLI I'd prolly steer clear of the 680i/780i chipsets just due to the boards are still having issues...

P35:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131182

P45:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131297

X38:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131219

X48:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131317

Those are pretty much examples, a budget limit would have been nice to have (Probably that thing you were forgetting)

Edit:

Oh, do you think you can like change the way you wrote out the spec's you listed; it's a bit easier to read as list.

Also you may want to change your hard drive choice to:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218

...it's the best bang for you buck drive you can get for under $100.

 

[disports]

probably would be fine with like a p5q pro or something to save even more monies instead of deluxe

 

[aba4430]

I just built 3 units using the P5Q Deluxe boards. Excellent board with plenty of cables and a fan (that should not be used unless you are using WC for the CPU etc.) - so includes some gingerbread that you may not use. Basically, the three units I built are similar to your wants, i.e.
1. Q6600 (E8400/8500 is a good choice)
2. 4 GB DDR2 800 memory - would have gone gone a notch or two higher if had to do it again. However, no OC etc. at this time, so I am fine.
3. 500 Samsung SATA
4. 22X Toshiba/Samsung Lightscribe drives
5. PNY 8800 GT (Look at a few 3850/3870/4850/4870 cards as well for more choices)
6. Sony 3.5" internal card reader
7. Sonata Plus 550 with an extra 92 mm Antec fan in front of HD.
8. Edimax wireless G card
9. P5Q Deluxe board
I started with 3 P5Q Pro's, but two of them were dead and went with the Deluxe boards. The P5Q E's, or a highly regarded Biostar board (see link below) should also be excellent alternatives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...d=0&PageSize=10&page=1
The Biostar is presently available as a combo with 4 GB OCZ reaper memory (800) at an excellent price ($30 discount), plus there is some rebate on the memory. It does not include 1384 ports, but you can get PCI cards if necessary. I summary though, I am very satisfied with the Deluxe boards.

 

[coolpurplefan]

My research shows the Samsung SH-S203B and Optiarc AD-7200S drives are good DVD burners the Pioneer DVR-215 is even better although it's sold out nearly everywhere.

 

[monovillage]

Rig i built for my wife (we're both over 50 and gamers) P5Q pro (just to keep crossfire chance alive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131299
HD4850 They'd just dropped to about $160 (as much as i payed for my 8800GT 5 months back) This one looks good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102770
I also added a cheap card reader for digital camera
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820223073
and used her old hard drive to make an e-sata external (mostly grandkid photos it seems)
went with a bigger then needed power supply in case of the eventual crossfire

 

[SpeedEng66]

there's no need to go overkill (not try to be a smartA$$ my main pc is p3 1.1ghz)

there's a lot of great older mobo's/chipset (that are dirt cheap)
unless she's a gamer and/or wants the best, you can save quite a few $

 

[badnewcastle]

I can give another vouch for ASUS P5Q (variant), they all seem pretty solid and I know my P5Q-E rock solid.

Other then that, I suggest staying away from an nvidia chipset. Gigabyte, DFI, ASUS and MSI all have reasonable options available in P35/45 variants.