Need help on selecting an Intel-based or nvidia-based motherboard. Budget is no more than US$120 but can go slightly over if quality is good enough to warrant it. All parts are to be ordered and shipped from/to USA. Overclocking is an option but it needs to handle modest overclock (333fsb to 400fsb). The rig will start off at stock speed first but will overclock if 3rd-party heatsink is acquired. Purpose of the rig is for everything: gaming, email, browsing, IM/chat, video encode, image editing, music player.
CPU to be used: Intel Core2Quad Q9450 retail (to be purchased once motherboard is selected)
RAM to be used: Patriot DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.2v 2x1GB kit
HD: from old rig (3 WD 250GB SATA drives: 1 main; 2 RAID-0)
video: from old rig (evga GeForce 8800GTS 640MB)
sound: from old rig (X-Fi XtremeMusic)
DVD: from old rig (NEC ND-3520A)
PSU: Seasonic S12-600
etc: from old rig (Hauppauge PVR-150MCE)
In other words, only the motherboard, CPU, and RAM are new components. The rest are being transferred over from the old rig to this one.
The optional parts are PSU and Heatsink. The old rig was set up for 24/7 running for several years. If it's necessary, I'll pick up a new PSU. But I hope that with the new parts, it won't be necessary for another several months or so.
For the heatsink, originally I was planning on getting a Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme and use a Noctua NF-P12 or NF-S12-1200 fan with it. But I question whether or not the base is completely flat. I can't be bothered to lap it myself if that's the case and I'm open to suggestions and ideas for other alternatives.
Planned assemble date: Late June/early July.
Inputs welcomed and thanks.
CPU to be used: Intel Core2Quad Q9450 retail (to be purchased once motherboard is selected)
RAM to be used: Patriot DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.2v 2x1GB kit
HD: from old rig (3 WD 250GB SATA drives: 1 main; 2 RAID-0)
video: from old rig (evga GeForce 8800GTS 640MB)
sound: from old rig (X-Fi XtremeMusic)
DVD: from old rig (NEC ND-3520A)
PSU: Seasonic S12-600
etc: from old rig (Hauppauge PVR-150MCE)
In other words, only the motherboard, CPU, and RAM are new components. The rest are being transferred over from the old rig to this one.
The optional parts are PSU and Heatsink. The old rig was set up for 24/7 running for several years. If it's necessary, I'll pick up a new PSU. But I hope that with the new parts, it won't be necessary for another several months or so.
For the heatsink, originally I was planning on getting a Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme and use a Noctua NF-P12 or NF-S12-1200 fan with it. But I question whether or not the base is completely flat. I can't be bothered to lap it myself if that's the case and I'm open to suggestions and ideas for other alternatives.
Planned assemble date: Late June/early July.
Inputs welcomed and thanks.