Windows 7 - ATI and Intel Compatible Motherboards

Hey Hey Peeps,

I am starting to think about building another rig, but i want to use ATI Graphics Cards (The new 5970 series) and possibly X-Fire.

I know it might seem a weird question but my current setup is Nvidia with the 790i Ultra Chipset so that is all i really know, and as ATI seem to be getting a bit better i thought it was about time i started using theirs.

If anyone could point me in the right direction would be so much helpful and most appreciated. I would prefer Asus, but if there are any other choices then i am keeping an open mind and will try.

A bit of other info, if helpful at all.

Needs to be a socket 775 and DDR3.
This will be used for gaming, OC-ing, browsing and word processing
Budget would probably be in the region of £200 - £400
This will be all going in a Coolermaster HAF932 (ATI Edition)

Not sure if i am missing anything.

Thanks a bunch in advance

If your sticking with Socket 775, your choices will be a bit limited with DDR3 capability.

For socket 775/ DDR3/ and crossfire support, you best option will likely be a X48 or X38 Chipset.

Sadly, your choices are going to be rather limited for DDr3 & Socket 775.

Maybe something Like:

ASUS
Newegg.com - ASUS P5E3 PRO LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

DFI
Newegg.com - DFI LANPARTY LT X48-T3RS LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

DFI are excellent boards. but a word of warning. If you plan on OCing, they are not at all beginer friendly.
They do however, have excellent bios, with a incredible amount of options. So unless you want to get really intimate with the bios, DFI may not be a great choice.
It really comes down to how much experience you have, or how much you want to learn all the ins and outs.

With socket 775, it might possibly be a better route to stay with DDR2, (IF you already have good DDR2 memory) simply due to the limited choices of DDR3/775 boards.

Thanks Wishmaster for your reply,

well, i took a look at those boards, don't think i will get the DFI party, i love challenges and that but not one that will take 2 weeks to even start.

The Asus board, however, does look nice and perhaps i will look more into the x48 chipset. did'nt particularly want intel, but beggers can't be choosers as they say and as i said, i will keep an open mind and give it a shot.

If it is that limited for DDR3 and Intel, what about AMD and DDR3.

Never used AMD CPU's properly, apart from a friends lappy but i think it was also the rest of the setup that did'nt help and the fact it was running **COUGH**Vista**COUGH** did'nt help either!

So yeah, will i be better off going down that route, or will i end up having to fork out for i7 in the end.

Again, many thanks in advance

Theres 775 DDR3 boards out there, just takes a bit of looking around.



If it were me, I would hang on to that 9650 you have in your sig.

Going to a AMD platform will mean changing CPUs, and a CPU downgrade.
Even with the AM3s.


I think if I were in your shoes, I would just add another Nvidia card and SLI for now rather than replacing the MOBO.
You have a nice setup and its still got a good deal of life left in it.

Later down the road, build a new rig with a i7 with ATI cards in mind.
Others may disagree, but thats what I would do.

But if you decided to move over to ATI X-Fire with current hardware, I would look into the x48 chipset, mostly because as it has PCI 2.0 x16 x16 Crossfire lanes.

To be perfectly honest, your right. I was really only wanting to the performance difference.

I will wait i think, i will be getting the second 275 soon. Maybe i should put my money into a good w/c setup, like i keep saying.

Thanks a lot wishmaster, seems my unexpected wish came true. lmao!