Help Choose a Motherboard

[jgdiablo]

Folks, perhaps you can help me choose a motherboard:
1. I want to be able to run RAID 0 for the OS and RAID 5 for DATA, thus 6 SATA ports is desireable.
2. I don't plan on OC'ing, but may in the future. Stability is key.
3. I plan to go with an E6420.
4. I don't plan to SLI day one, but may in the future.

Thoughts?

 

[brencat]

Anandtech recently reviewed the MSI P6N SLI Platinum as well as the Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus. The Asus review was ~ 4/2 and the MSI maybe a week earlier. Check those out. Based on 650i Nvidia chipset and prices seem quite reasonable...in the $160 - $180 range. Both are on my watch list too btw, though I am also very excited by the DFI P965-S board just released. Don't bother with the DFI though if you're not into overclocking

 

[jgdiablo]

I've been eyeing those two boards as well. The only other option I was thinking of is the eVGA 680i LT.

 

[brencat]

Careful with the LT version. If I'm not mistaken, EVGA neutered the bios a bit on these to protect its higher margin/higher priced 680i offering. For example, a simple vDIMM limit of 2.1v could put a serious dent in your OC headroom. They talk about this very issue in the 650i ultra review and even make reference to the 680 LT in the same article...dated 4/10 I think.

 

[Heidfirst]

the nVidia RAID isn't as fast as the Intel either.