Please help with a Motherboard and videocard selection

[chiapet]

Hi All,

Long time lurker first time poster. I have done a lot of research to try and build my own computer but am stuck on the motherboard selection and how it affects my video card selection ... and vica-versa.

My budget is $1200 and I am building it so I can play Vanguard with my husband when it comes out.

I know it will be a Core2Duo E6600 (2.4 ghz) and it will have 2 gigs of DDR2-800 RAM. With that in mind I have run into a sort of road block when it comes to video cards. I want a motherboard that will allow me to take full advantage of the duo core CPU and full advantage of the dual channel RAM, but I don't quite think it's worth it to use 2 video cards. Am I missing out by not going the SLI/crossfire route? I am thinking I want a pretty high end single card.

Sorry, I am rambling... anyways, which motherboard/videocard should I use to have optimal preformance with my CPU and RAM choices?

 

[wolfram]

Hello and Welcome to Techspot!!

If you want a single, high end video card, you can get this great motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

If wish to use SLI, and get the best mobo, get this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131071

And this would be a good, high end single video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065

Tell me if these prices are too expensive for you. I can find cheaper parts for you.

Regards :wave:

 

[chiapet]

Hi Wolf,

Thankies for the reply. Actually those components put me well under my budget. I was going to spend $1200 on the motherboard, CPU, RAM and videocard. I think I have decided to stick with a single videocard. Can you suggest a good ASUS motherboard and is it better to use Nvidia or Radeon for the videocard? Or is that a personal preferance kinda thing?

 

[smore9648]

Hi Wolf,

Thankies for the reply. Actually those components put me well under my budget. I was going to spend $1200 on the motherboard, CPU, RAM and videocard. I think I have decided to stick with a single videocard. Can you suggest a good ASUS motherboard and is it better to use Nvidia or Radeon for the videocard? Or is that a personal preferance kinda thing?

Anything from ASUS is great. The video card choice is a preference.

 

[smore9648]

Look at these sites as well.

www.mwave.com

www.compusa.com

www.tigerdirect.com

www.dalco.com

 

[wolfram]

Hi Wolf,

Thankies for the reply. Actually those components put me well under my budget. I was going to spend $1200 on the motherboard, CPU, RAM and videocard. I think I have decided to stick with a single videocard. Can you suggest a good ASUS motherboard and is it better to use Nvidia or Radeon for the videocard? Or is that a personal preferance kinda thing?

I normally use ATI, but Nvidia is good too. I'd choose ATI, but Nvidia may be cheaper, and their cards tend to consume less power.

This would be a great, Asus mobo, with one PCI-E X16 slot. The only bad thing about it, is that it has only 3 PCI slots.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070

Regards :wave: