Best MATX Mobo for Multimedia ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Preferably with 4 DIMM slots --but not absolutely necessary.
At least 8 GB of memory for 64-bit Vista.
Nice for microATX with SLI although not really necessary.

SPDIF (preferable optical) would be nice.

Gaming possible --but not imperative. Need to use MATX case.

Strong bent for Intel C2Q, preferable 9300 (+) 45 nm CPU, but C2Q66/6700 definately OK .

Price not an object as mATX boards rarely exceed$150 --but OK for right microATX Mobo.

MegalosSkylaki

Hard to Google something like this....

[EXreaction]

Newegg.com - 1x Optical, Micro ATX, 4×240pin, LGA 775, Intel Motherboards, Motherboards, Computer Hardware

I liked this one:
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EG43M-S2H LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

The only thing I didn't like is that the PCI-Express 16x slot is really 4x. But I don't think that will make a difference unless you are getting a ultra high end card.


I don't think you'll find a MicroATX board with SLI.

[MegalosSkylaki]

So can I run a PCIEx16 (or actually x8) Gfx card in the x4 slot and will it run well --but at 8x or more likely at at x4 ??

The strongest card I would use is a geForce 8800GT or GM.

[EXreaction]

I am not sure of what kind of performance hit you'd take with a 4x slot over a 16x slot with an 8800.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Asus P5E-VM ETA 8/11 at Newegg seems like a winner.
Can't see running any computer with intergrated grfx...

Wish there was an easy way to toggle between intergrated and add-on graphics without going into BIOS and rebooting.
G45 chipset has HDMI (without Hdcp??) --but what can be run off intergrated grfx?

MegalosSkylaki

[EXreaction]

I thought most newer chipsets just leave the integrated enabled all of the time?

Personally I'd get one with integrated graphics over one without. Then I can use it if I need to do some debugging of the hardware or when it's time passes I can pull the gpu and set it up as a server.

[MegalosSkylaki]

So are you say that nowadays you can turn on the VDC --or off --and the integrated gfx will take over?
I had to disable the on-board gfx I recall last I put in a VDC..but these were PCI or AGP I recall.
The G45 is touted as a single solution with HDMI..
But without HDCP, I would think it's limited to gaming, or standard DVDs.
Supermicro has an ATX MOBO using this NB..so it's not limited to just mATx.

MegalosSkylaki

[EXreaction]

I think you can just plug in a monitor to the integrated and it'll work along side of your graphics card.