May 2005 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 3

Intel Motherboard: ASUS P5AD2-E Deluxe

Current Cost: $194
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

This month we are upgrading to an i925XE-based motherboard, which is currently the highest-performing, compatible Intel desktop chipset available. The Intel 925XE chipset supports PCI Express, 533/800/1066 MHz FSB, dual-channel DDR2 memory, and SATA, all bundled together in a single package. While there is a wide selection of i925XE motherboards available, the ASUS P5AD2-E Deluxe sticks out as our absolute favorite. Featuring the i925XE Northbridge and ICH6R Southbridge, the P5AD2-E Deluxe has everything features-wise we could hope for in a motherboard, not to mention its high-end performance.

The ASUS P5AD2-E Deluxe builds on the success of the P5AD2 Deluxe and updates it with the inclusion of the higher-end i925XE chipset. In addition to top-rated performance, the P5AD2-E Deluxe also has a wealth of onboard features. These include Wireless LAN, Gigabit LAN, 8-channel high definition audio, IEEE & USB 2.0, SATA RAID, dual-channel DDR2, one PCI Express x16 slot, two PCI Express x1 slots, and three standard PCI slots, not to mention NCQ hard drive support through the ICH6R. Priced at $198, this board comes in at a dollar cheaper than the i925X-based P5AD2 Deluxe motherboard we included last month, so it was a no-brainer upgrading to the P5AD2-E Deluxe this month.

AMD Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR

Current Cost: $179
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

The nForce 4 SLI chipset from NVIDIA is arguably the most powerful and feature rich chipset currently available for AMD motherboards. The nForce 4 SLI chipset has support for the latest and greatest technologies including SATA2/NCQ, PCI Express, Gigabit LAN, dual-channel DDR, NVIDIA Firewall, and Socket 939 processors, but the single most compelling feature is its ability to handle dual PCI Express graphics cards.

SLI (Scalable Link Interface) video is the proper term for this exciting technology, which allows for two matched GeForce 6 series PCI Express video cards to run in tandem for up to twice the 3D performance. Users of the old 3dfx Voodoo 2 line of cards will remember the simple upgrade path this offers, whereby you could buy a single GeForce 6800GT now, and then move to SLI performance by adding a second board later on. Not everyone may need the power that SLI offers, but it never hurts to be ready just in case.

This month we are moving to the DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR motherboard, as it offers a combination of features, quality, price and overclockability that surpasses even the ASUS board we used last month. The DFI has one of the most interesting color schemes and layouts out of all nForce 4 boards we've seen, not to mention a board so good it also makes an appearance in our Extreme Buyer's Guide. This motherboard has support for SATA2, dual Gigabit Ethernet, dual-channel DDR, and 8-channel audio, as well as the usual assortment of peripheral ports.

The most compelling feature of this board is its support for dual PCI Express 16x video cards. Even though our budget does not allow us to include two video cards (please see the Extreme Guide for such a configuration), having the extra slot available means that we have a quick and easy upgrade path should the need arise. Price at only $179, you can't go wrong with the DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR especially considering the numerous extras DFI includes just for enthusiasts. Goodies such as rounded IDE cables, a FrontX panel, a PC Transpo carrying strap, and component and cable UV sensitivity are just a few of the items that truly set this board apart from the competition.