Motherboard Vote

[adsmith82]

The EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR is a 680i SLI board. It has problems with quad-core overclocking so they made a new version with a 1 in the model name in place of the R. This handicapped board is only $140 though after rebate from ZipZoomFly.

The MSI P6N SLI Platinum is a 650i SLI solution. Based on reviews, I have found it to be an excellent choice with its heatpipe chipset cooling and other features.

The board is going to be paired with an e4300 which will be overclocked... not competitively, but so that we can get the most performance that we can safely. In the future it would be nice to know that quad-core overclock is not handicapped, but for now it is not an issue. Also the 680i has 46 pci-x lanes (3 graphics slots at 16, 16, and 8) while the 650i has 18 lanes (2 graphics slost at 8 and 8). We are starting with 1 graphics card but may SLI in the not-so-near future. Is dual 16x really better than dual 8x?

That being said... cast your vote!

 

[DerComissar]

Haven't used either board but I think that MSI P6N SLI Platinum would be a good mobo. The reviews do seem positive.
I set up an Asus P5NE-SLI (650i) board recently for a friend and the 8x8 lane graphics in sli provide plenty of bandwidth, you still have 16 lanes when using only one card.
The MSI has quality solid capacitors and the heatpipe cooling looks great

 

[hennessy1]

dont get TR version of thier boards.

 

[tank171]

I have the MSI board, and it is flawless. No problems or concerns. And it runs well too.

 

[TheJTrain]

I'm also looking at the NF63-TR - I want to go SLI & eventually quad-core, but I never ever plan to overclock, and I'd love to save the $60 over the NF68-A1. So were there documented issues with the NF63-TR and quad-core processors (not overclocking, but issues just running them at stock speeds), that EVGA had to "fix" with the T1s and A1s? Or were the T1s and A1s just released to provide better support for overclocking the quad-cores?

 

[Conky]

I've always liked MSI stuff. :thumbsup:

 

[Skott]

The difference between dual 16x and 8x PCIe are not huge and are only realized when using resolutions over and beyond 1600x1200. Basically when running 24" monitors or larger. So keep that in mind when choosing.