Need motherboard advice ASRock or ASUS

Ok, I was planning on getting a Foxconn 3 PCI-E slot motherboard to run 3 GTX 295 cards with an i7 overclocked to at least 3.5Ghz for folding.

However, I have had a change of circumstance. My 4th GTX 295 card (co-op) doesn't like to play well with other cards for folding UNLESS it is in a XP system. It seems to behave fine with the other GTX 295 cards (dual-PCBs) in XP Pro.

So, it looks like I need to get a 4 PCI-E slot motherboard that can run 4 double sized cards at one time. On the plus side, I'm doing this on a tech bench, so the extra slot space on the end isn't a problem.

I've found 4 motherboards that look like they can do it physically, but can they do it otherwise?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131594 P55 $230 ASUS
This is a P55 board. I can get an i7 860 LGA 1156 chip from Microcenter for about $230. I don't know how well this overclocks though. Plus side is I already have 4 GB of dual channel ram, and get get 4 GB more to meet my folding needs.


There are 3 models of ASRocks that appear to be mostly the same, I'm really not sure what is the difference between them other than the most expensive one has dual LAN ports.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157155 x58 $210 ASRock

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157184 x58 $230 AsRock

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157150 x58 $275 ASRock Dual LAN?

Plus side I can get an i7 920 for $199 from Microcenter. I don't know how well these boards overclock though. I also need to buy 6GB of triple channel RAM to go with it.

Please help me Overclockers.com forums...you're my only hope...(ok, bad Star Wars reference aside, I need to order this in the next few days...)

ASUS or ASRock...

ASUS - makes good stuff.
ASRock - budget Stuff.

Bad side is ASUS is going away. So get your stuff quickly.

But thats my .02.

Oh, are you rich? $230 for a mobo and you still need ram?

Our sport is not cheap.

WarriorII said:

Bad side is ASUS is going away. So get your stuff quickly.

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That is not good, why so?

Yeah, I'm interested in hear why ASUS is going away myself.

However, the consensus is that I should go with the ASUS, even though I have to go LGA 1156?

I'm ok with a budget build as long as it does what it is supposed to.

This system, 95% of the time or more is strictly going to run folding and host files over my network.

And WII, I got my wife's permission to use some of the tax refund on upgrading my computers. I just bought an EVGA Classified 762 for my main computer. $450 (after rebate) is definately an "OUCH" no matter how you look at it.

If I recall correctly, ASUStek is going to spin-off/sell/transfer their mobo unit to ASRock ( which I believe is their budget subsidary/brand ). That's what I remember reading, although I can't seem to find the article via Google News...so grain of salt required until I can back it up.

this board work for you?space for double spaced cards might be an issue
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131358

jazon1 said:

this board work for you?space for double spaced cards might be an issue
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131358

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Nope, I can only get 3 double-spaced cards in that one. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Well, I went ahead with the ASUS board. Now I just need to stop by Microcenter and pick up the CPU. Too bad the 860s don't drop down to $199 occasionally like the 920s do.

WarriorII said:

Bad side is ASUS is going away. So get your stuff quickly.
(

Click to expand...

Man that Scares me. out of the last 4 boards I've purchased if ASUS goes away would mean 3 of the companies disappeared (Epox, ABIT, ASUS, only DFI remains).

I like my ASROCK x58 extreme though some seem to be having issues. i don't know if the issues are more than asus or any other board manufacturer. You are using 4 pcie slots, so this wont cut it for you...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163&cm_re=x58-_-13-157-163-_-Product

I can't really afford to build a new pc right now... so i am just going to stay @ 3.8, unless i figure out a way to get higher without raising temps and core voltages too high...

torin3 said:

Too bad the 860s don't drop down to $199 occasionally like the 920s do.

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Correction, it is available today for $199. Looks like I'll be dropping by tonight.