Best mATX motherboard?

JackyPerformance.com · Post by **JackyPerformance.com** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:02 pm

I'm looking for the most stable mATX motherboard that fits the following order of priority:

1) Intel Core 2 Duo cpu compatible
2) Compatible with Sparkle Geforce 8800gt passive cooled vid card
3) Onboard audio that doesn't conflict with bus or cause high cpu loads
--> if it does 24bit + high def audio, even better
4) good cooling
5) pci x2
6) usb + firewire
7) as quiet as possible

sATA raid option (not required, but nice to have)

Anything extra feature is fine by me, but not required. I was always a fan of the old Turtle Beach audio cards because the sound quality was very good, my speakers never made that annoying "pop" sound when the computer would shut off, & it never caused performance hindering cpu loads. If a motherboard exists with this type of audio performance, it's a contender as well

.

The P35 chipset has gotten a lot of good reviews lately, do any good P35 chipset based mATX boards even exist? What do you all recommend based on my criteria Thank you in advance.

angelkiller · Post by **angelkiller** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:48 pm

Hi,

I think you need a mATX mobo based on Intel's G33 chipset. However, I can't comment on the onboard sound though.

Since you want that Sparkle 8800GT, I would suggest a mobo that has a PCI-E 1x closest to the NB heatsink. Unfortunately, I could not find any mobos that met this requirement. I also couldn't find any specs or good pics of how large the passive heatsink is, so trying to fit one in could be difficult.

Here's a simple list to start looking at. Hope this helps.

rei · Post by **rei** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:54 pm

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/abit_m2hd/

how about this one?

rei · Post by **rei** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:57 pm

Sorry, meant: http://www.legitreviews.com/news/4130/

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:48 pm

Imho only one board wins this category, the Gigabyte G33M-DS2R
All solid caps, ultra durable 2, low heat, good onboard codec, firewire, no fans, sata raid, 6 phase power...and extremely overclockable. I actually have a baby version of this and I love it. One of the best boards ever.

christopher3393 · Post by **christopher3393** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:50 pm

I'll second the Gigabyte recommendation and add a rec. for the Asus P5K-VM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131187
Worth noting that the Asus P5E-VM HDMI should be available in the next few weeks: http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3& ... odelmenu=2

VanWaGuy · Post by **VanWaGuy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:29 pm

Just curious why everyone is recommending boards with onboard graphics, when he wants to use an 8800 card, and be comfortable that there is nothing going to conflict with that.

Wouldn't the P3x be more appropriate than a G3x?

jessekopelman · Post by **jessekopelman** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:40 pm

VanWaGuy wrote:Just curious why everyone is recommending boards with onboard graphics, when he wants to use an 8800 card, and be comfortable that there is nothing going to conflict with that.

Wouldn't the P3x be more appropriate than a G3x?

Good luck finding a ÂµATX without integrated graphics . . .

fireflyfx · Post by **fireflyfx** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:23 am

The Asus P5E-VM HDMI is the first G35 based mobo out. Looks good but cant find that much info on it yet.

MalcolmC · Post by **MalcolmC** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:21 am

I'lll third the Gigabyte G33M-DS2R recommendation - I can't find anything to fault with it.

AuraAllan · Post by **AuraAllan** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:26 am

I'll recommend G33M-DS2R aswell. It lacks DVI but that doesn't matter if your going to use the 8800GT.

Tzupy · Post by **Tzupy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:22 am

Isn't the CPU socket a bit close to the upper edge to allow for a Mini Ninja or Ultra-120?
I mean, how large a CPU cooler can you install on this mobo in a NSK2480 or NSK3480?

AuraAllan · Post by **AuraAllan** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:40 am

Tzupy wrote:Isn't the CPU socket a bit close to the upper edge to allow for a Mini Ninja or Ultra-120?
I mean, how large a CPU cooler can you install on this mobo in a NSK2480 or NSK3480?

I had a XP-120 on mine in a NSK3400 and it nearly touched the PSU compartment (~1mm) but it worked fine.

christopher3393 · Post by **christopher3393** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:38 am

The Thermalright Ultima 90 fits just fine on it and works great. But that is in a Qmicra v2 case.

VanWaGuy · Post by **VanWaGuy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:37 am

Thanks Jesse, In my systems, I have not been that concerned about board size, and I had not noticed that almost every micro-ATX board used the G3x series and not the P3x series chipset, so I went and browsed a little, and that is certainly correct.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:42 am

VanWaGuy wrote:Just curious why everyone is recommending boards with onboard graphics, when he wants to use an 8800 card, and be comfortable that there is nothing going to conflict with that.

Wouldn't the P3x be more appropriate than a G3x?

Really not important in this case, the G33/35 work just as well as P35's. They have full PCI-E 16x and integrated can be disabled anyways. Heck people have gotten 500mhz overclocked bus speeds out of a G33, that itself is a shocker. Of course a P35 is usually going to be a better oc system in general, but G33 is the only way to go for microatx IF you're using a discrete gpu. Nvidia has much better integrated graphics performance.

Best mATX motherboard?

Best mATX motherboard?

Re: Best mATX motherboard?