New PC motherboard question

T

Talion

New Member
So here's the new setup I'm considering:

Intel Core 2 Duo 6420

2GB Kingston RAM 667Mhz PC5300 (That's DDR2)

nVidia 8600GT 256MB PCI Express Graphics Card

250GB SATA 7200 RPM HDD

+it's got a dual layer DVD 18x ReWriter and a 5.1 Channel Sound Card

Now that all seems ok. My main concern is the motherboard. It's budget, alright. In fact, I remember fitting something similar to some of my old school's computers when I was building them with a friend of mine, almost two years ago. This is likely a newer model, but still. I even recognise the fake copied Naboo starfighter on the packaging. It's an:

Asrock Conroe 1333-D667.

Now, I can go slightly higher for a 1333-DIV motherboard for a few extra pounds, but any further than that and I'm going off budget.

I really need to know: How important is the motherboard to performance and is this one adequate?
 
A motherboard is important to performance in that if it has a good design, the components can respond to one another faster, reducing time waiting. The main reason for upgrading a motherboard is not speed, however, but instead the range of compatibilities on the board with other devices. For example, you can't fit an AMD 6000+ on that motherboard. Don't upgrade your motherboard if you're only concern is performance, because a better CPU would make the computer 10x faster than a better mobo. The Asrock Conroe 1333-D667 is not a bad motherboard, it would do fine for most computer setups, like the one you have described above. Just make sure it is compatible with the other devices.
 
Is this going to be a gaming rig of some kind? Because if so, I would avoid the 8600-series cards like the plague. You can do a lot better for just a little bit more if you step up to the revised 8800 GT's, and much better if you wait till around November 15 and get the revised GTS's.

Also, if you're going down that route and think you might go SLI, make sure the motherboard has the 680i or 590 chipset to support dual x16 PCI-e SLI.
 
Will the GPU fit, though?

Hey,

I myself have this cheapo motherboard, and currently it has an X800 series installed. I was thinking of upgrading to an 8600GT, but having looked at the layout of the board, i'm not sure it will fit mate.

The onboard VGA heatsink and the northbridge heatsink are positioned either side of the sole PCIe slot, so I don't see how even a single slot PCIe GFX card would fit nicely, given that they all have a fan or heatsink on one side.

I hope I am wrong, as otherwise I am stuck with an oldschool X800 for now (vomit at SM 3.0). Just thought I'd warn you incase I'm right, mate. There is no way that you could get an 8800 series card in there, as suggested above, not in my opinion anyway. The only plus is that my mobo cost me only 26 squid.

Let me no how you get on, please :)
 
Dave, I'm actually thinking of getting a 7900GS, as I'm told that the high end of the old range is better than the middle of the new range. i.e 7900>8600

And Houldey, I'm just checking out whether or not the 8000 range will fit in an asrock, specifically the 8600 and 8800, I'll try and get back to you.
 
OK, cheers man. I will upgrade if it fits, for sure. Yea i think the 7900s seem to be as good as the 8600s at least, withut the problems of DX10.
 
Right, totally forgot about this, and it's been absolutely ages. Listen, Houldey, the nVidia 8600GT should definitely fit in the Asrock Conroe 1333-D667. However, with your setup I don't know if it will fit. To be honest, unhelpful as it sounds, you're in the best position to tell if there's enough room or not.

Sorry I took so long, and good luck with it.
 
Hey,

What do you mean with MY setup? I have just the board with regular ram and a regular intel dual core heatsink. Also, it's hard to tell if it will fit, because exact dimensions of each part of the gfx card(s) is not provided. You need to try it really. Bit expensive though, and annoying.

Cheers anyway.
 
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