Best OC mobo for Q9550/SLI/DDR2/Cost

[ToddGeck]

Hey guys, was hoping to get some help with the final choices of my components. If anyone could help me out I'd appreciate it alot.
I'm hoping to OC to 3.7-4ghz.

Currently looking at these boards, but if you have a better suggestion I'll definitely think it over.

Asus P5N-T Deluxe 3-Way SLI nVidia nForce 780i SLI Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 667/800/1066 Mhz 3x PCI-Express 2.0 8-Channel HD Audio SATA/eSATA GigaLAN 2x IEEE1394a Support Core 2 Quad Processor & 1333Mhz
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Asus P5N72-T Premium Socket 775 nVidia nForce 780i SLI Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 1200(O.C.) / 1066 / 800 / 667 MHz 3x PCI-Express 2.0 x16 Dual SupremeFX II Audio Card 6x SATA 3.0Gb/s Support 1600Mhz FSB
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EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 3-Way SLI Socket 775 nVidia nForce 780i Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 533/667/800/1200Mhz Support 1066/1333 FSB 7.1-Ch HD Audio 3x PCI-Express x16 Graphic Slots
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EVGA 132-YW-E178-A1 3-Way SLI Socket 775 nVidia nForce 780i Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 533/667/800/1200Mhz Support 1066/1333 FSB Dual GigaLAN, 7.1-Ch HD Audio 3x PCI-Express x16 Graphic Slots, IEEE1394a
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EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 2-Way SLI Socket 775 nVidia nForce 750i Ultra Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 800/1066Mhz Support 1066/1333Mhz FSB 7.1-Ch HD Audio 2x PCI-Express x16 Graphic Slots IEEE1394a
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This is what I have so far, also looking for cpu cooler recommendations...

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Quad-Core Socket LGA775, 2.83 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB, 12MB L2 Cache, 45nm
VID: BFG GeForce GTX 280 OC Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 Chipset (615Mhz) Shader Clock (1350Mhz) 1GB GDDR3 (2214Mhz) Dual Dual-Link Display PCI-Express 2.0
RAM: OCZ (OCZ2RPR10664GK) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Reaper HPC Edition 4GB(2x2048) Dual Channel Kit 5-5-5-18 (yes i know, its just 667)
CASE: Ultra M923 ATX Black Full Tower Case http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicat [...] u=ULT40125
HDD: 2X Seagate Barracuda (ST3500320AS) 7200.11 SATA NCQ 3.0Gb/s 500GB 32MB Cache in RAID
PSU:OCZ 1000watt

 

[Hardass]

Welcome to OC Forums. You should have no problem at all getting a 3.7 OC using the Evga 780i and a True 120 HSF. The Evga 780i FTW model does OC a bit better with Quads but for what you are looking to get, why spend the extra dollars. Good luck with your hardware.
This is using H2o cooling but even with Air you see 3.7 is no problem.

 

[ToddGeck]

Welcome to OC Forums. You should have no problem at all getting a 3.7 OC using the Evga 780i and a True 120 HSF. The Evga 780i FTW model does OC a bit better with Quads but for what you are looking to get, why spend the extra dollars. Good luck with your hardware.
This is using H2o cooling but even with Air you see 3.7 is no problem.

That's nice man, prime was run for a 24 hour cycle I'm guessing? How does it run going past 4ghz for you on water, unstable? After looking at that, it's tempting me to spend that extra bit for 4. lol.

 

[Hardass]

I only run prime a couple hours. That cpu ran 4.1 24/7 with 1.465v. You should not need the FTW to achieve 4.0 especially if it is a EO.

 

[ToddGeck]

I only run prime a couple hours. That cpu ran 4.1 24/7 with 1.465v. You should not need the FTW to achieve 4.0 especially if it is a EO.

I ordered it friday on newegg, huge promotion going on. I'm fairly sure it's a C1 as the link to the intel page from their sale page was SLAWQ not SLB8V. I guess it wouldn't hurt to cross my fingers until it arrives

So after reading you, I'm guessing at this point any of those mobos could pull off a 4 or close to it. I'm looking closely at the Asus P5N72-T Premium ($269.99) seeing that it's built for a higher fsb bus and memory clock as it is. Should be less of a strain in the long run I was thinking. Then again the next step down for evga is the EVGA 123-YW-E175 ( $199.99) which would leave me more room for a decent cooler and a ton of case fans that would probably be overkill I heard the asus boards are unreliable as well, I think I'll take your advice and do the evga. Still gonna think about it though until the cpu arrives

Forgot to say thanks for the welcome and thanks for helping me out here.

 

[outhouse]

stay with evga over asus with a 7 series chipset.

i just did the 780i FTW from the egg [its in the mail] even my 680i did 4g on air with a zalman no less.

 

[ToddGeck]

I've read the evga 750i boards are no good for those speeds. Kept looking at it for cost, sigh.

Comes down to these two:
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 3-Way SLI Socket 775 nVidia nForce 780i Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 533/667/800/1200Mhz Support 1066/1333 FSB 7.1-Ch HD Audio 3x PCI-Express x16 http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=017158&cid=MB.157 $263.99

EVGA 132-YW-E178-A1 3-Way SLI Socket 775 nVidia nForce 780i Chipset Dual-Channel DDR2 533/667/800/1200Mhz Support 1066/1333 FSB Dual GigaLAN, 7.1-Ch HD Audio 3x PCI-Express x16
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019343&cid=MB.157 $299.99

I'm still looking around the web for overclocks on these and such, only got until the 31st to get in on that rebate and I get off work right on the 31st at 7am lol. No matter what I'm going with air cooling and I'd imagine it will be pretty hot by the time I hit 4.1

 

[ToddGeck]

Got the 780i FTW. Been having a hell of a time trying to overclock it though.

Was hitting 3.6 stable for a while, then complete system freeze. Did intel burn test for 10 runs, no errors. Letting the mobo choose the timings for the ram, which is forcing it higher, like 5,6,6,20 instead of 5,5,5,18.

Was trying:

Multi= 8x
FSB 1800 = 3600 mhz
Cpu Core= 1.375
Cpu FSB= 1.4
Mem= 2.050
NForce SPP= 1.45
NForce MCP= 1.55
HT NF SPP/MCP 1.35
Speedstep= disabled
Cpu thermal= disabled
c1e halt= disabled
virtual tech= enabled
FSB linked
Mem Ratio synced

I can't seem to find what is causing all of this bad stability, maybe I'm gonna have to go over my ram timings and iron that out. This mobo sure seems awesome though