EVGA motherboard purchase, need help deciding

[0xygenthief]

Ok guys, need some help.

I am unable to figure out why my Gigabyte X58-UD5 is giving me an 88 error and refusing to post. At this point it's either the cpu or the motherboard. Since I was attempting to put new WC gear on the motherboard my guess is that I dorked up the MOBO somehow.

So I am at an impasse. I don't have a spare 1366 mobo nor do I have a spare cpu. Looks like I will have to buy a new motherboard to further troubleshoot my issue. The only problem is the cost. If I could get a mini-itx POS 1366 board for less than 100 bucks then I could just get one and continue testing. However, the cheapest board is around 175 and as a result any board I buy will likely be a replacement, even if the problem turns out to be my CPU.

I hate ASUS because of their customer support. MSI seems to be getting better but still not consistently running with the big dawgs. That leaves EVGA as my brand of choice.

The next question is which board to buy? With Intel's next gen 1366 replacement chips coming out at the end of this year it is really hard to justify the cost of an uber high end board, like the classified 3. However, if there are any major issues with the lower end EVGA segment then I really want to know about them. My thought was to buy the X58 SLI 3, which is an upgrade to the X58 SLI LE.

There aren't any good reviews showing the overclockability of this board, likely because it is new. Anyone know of any reason why this wouldn't be a good replacement board? If so, anyone have any alternative recommendations?

[Marne]

just giving you a heads up. i have a x58 SLI LE mobo fresh from RMA sitting in a box collecting dust. i also have a EK full cover block for it but i dont have mounting hardware. dunno where in the rat fuck that shit got too. i hit up gary awhile back about putting together a kit for me. hes been busy so he hasnt gotten back to me.


Eightlug was interested in it but he hasnt said shit about it to be honest.

[ballz0r]

1366 mini-itx? i havent seen one.

isnt there anyone in Virginia that can help you test your gear?

ive replaced boards before only to find it wasnt the problem, not much fun.

since youve got the blocks for your ud5, why not get another? you could then switch the heatsinks back to the dead board for rma (assuming youve lost the old ones) then sell off the replacement when it arrives.

[Marne]

fuck it bro - you have PM :D merry late xmas

[0xygenthief]

Marne, do you still have the tri-sli connector that came with the board?

[0xygenthief]

1366 mini-itx? i havent seen one.

isnt there anyone in Virginia that can help you test your gear?

ive replaced boards before only to find it wasnt the problem, not much fun.

since youve got the blocks for your ud5, why not get another? you could then switch the heatsinks back to the dead board for rma (assuming youve lost the old ones) then sell off the replacement when it arrives.

I actually called the geek squad but they told me they don't mess with watercooled systems. In this area there isn't much else.

I can't RMA since the board is over 2 years old and it comes with only a 1 year warranty. And as for buying another UD5, they don't make them anymore. They revised the board layout and the NB/SB/Mosfets are not laid out the same so my blocks are pretty much worthless.

[Overclocking101]

you can use the trisli bridge from the ud5 on the evga trisli setups are always the same spacing

[0xygenthief]

not necessarily, on the x58 LE Marne is generously giving me, the PCIe lanes are x16/x8/x4/x8. It comes with three connectors, one for regular sli, one for tri-sli on the x16/x8/x4 lanes and one for the x16/x8/x8 lanes. The latter has a two slot spacing instead of single slot spacing.

[jtf2]

i have a tri sli connector from my E760 board.
if you need it lmk:)

[ballz0r]

I actually called the geek squad but they told me they don't mess with watercooled systems.

And they call themselves geeks :crossed:

[Marne]

ill send every accessory for that board that i can find bro

[Sider]

I really like my EVGA X58 LE board but there's a few issues I have with it. It has a S3 sleep issue when it's OC'd. It won't reliably go into sleep mode. Also, I can't seem to break 200 on the bclock. It may be some other settings or my cpu holding me back. I dunno. It just seems weird that I can get my cpu easily to that point but nothing beyond.

It's awful nice of Marne to donate that to you. You're the fucking MAN Marne! Now stop being so nice before you ruin your reputation around here.

[0xygenthief]

200 on bclk is more than I got with my ud5 so I am fine with that limitation, I never use sleep mode since I am always crunching :htfu: so that's a non issue as well.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the board slider, good to hear it's a solid board. Wouldn't expect anything less from EVGA.

[Marne]

fuck my rep. its gotten me nowhere. life has sent so much shit at me ive calmed down. you can even see it in the posts ive made lately. ive had weaksauce ass attempts at flaming ppl or topics. ive lost the gift :(

[0xygenthief]

Well until someone else takes the crown you will still be our mouthpiece! Your tyrades are still far better than any of mine. :D