DFI is a pure enthusiast motherboard manufacturer, with every single setting you can possibly think of available for tweaking in the BIOS. From your budget constraints, I would get the DFI. Especially if you are going to overclock the quad, as quads are not as easy to overclock as the duos.

Also, I have one of these new exposed heatpipe or direct contact heatsinks and it is the bomb so I would get one. I have the Xigmatek 1283. There is a new king though so I would check it out.

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

Thank you speedbump I am glad people are aware of the brand DFI. I am hoping for someone who has used the brand, and maybe even with FSX to offer good or bad feedback. Also, that is a really good website you have there. That is getting bookmarked!!! Thank you Sir.

Any suggestions on the rest of the set up feel free. Oh and also I forgot to say would you choose the DFI from the 4 I have suggested?

Many thanks in advance.

*sigh* Perhaps you should educate yourself? Aero is an accelerated interface provided by DWM. Turning off DWM (thus all of the 'candy coated crap') reverts the interface to an UNACCELERATED 2D interface. What is faster? 3D acceleration by a GPU or 2D software rendering? Hell, even on the Intel 950, with Aero on is faster than the unaccelerated 'classic' interface.

I don't think you've read up enough about the interface on MSDN... GDI/GDI+ acceleration (e.g. provided by your video card) was removed with Vista (which is why IE under Vista is actually a tad slower to render content). In order for Aero to be present, hardware acceleration must be present (i.e. a video card that has Pixel Shader 2.0, etc.). Thus, faster.



Vista is not a server OS, so I take it you've never touched something like a DL380 G5...

Anyway back to topic...............

Would anyone else wish to pick the best motherboard for my set up or fill in the blanks for the rest of my PC?

ASUS Rampage Formula X48: http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3691
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6: http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=4233
Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6: http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3722
DFI Lanparty UT X48-T2R: http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3811

Many thanks again.

Also DFI is the only motherboard manufacturer that I know of that had the guts to release a motherboard for Intel CPUs with the ill fated CrossFire Xpress 3200 chipset.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/dfi-lanparty-ut-icfx3200.html

I have a DFI LanParty in my computer at home and think it's great. No problems with it in over two years. I like the product. I still don't agree that it's the correct board for your set up, but it's your money and your choice.

Good luck and enjoy your new rig.

speedbump: I dont know much about the chipset you are talking about. Thank you very much for bringing it up I have bookmarked the link and will hopefully be able to read the entire article as its 16 pages. In a nutshell could you please explain what you mean by ill fated. I am beginning to feel like maybe this board is not as good as people are saying then?

Destructis: Thank you Sir, I have been looking for a DFI user and not came across one. Why do you not think its the correct set up? And is it the same DFI Motherboard as listed here DFI Lanparty UT X48-T2R Intel X48 Crossfire DDR2 Motherboard: http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3811 Also which board would you recommend Sir?

Thanks again for all your help and advice it is very much appreciated.

Speedbump: "Also DFI is the only motherboard manufacturer that I know of that had the guts to release a motherboard for Intel CPUs with the ill fated CrossFire Xpress 3200 chipset.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/dfi-lanparty-ut-icfx3200.html"

I am afraid this is incorrect as this is not the same motherboard as I am planning to get. The DFI motherboard (if) I get would be the DFI Lanparty UT X48-T2R Intel X48 Crossfire : http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3811

I realize that is not the same chipset motherboard. I am just saying DFI is a pure enthusiast board for people that have the cash as it's not a cheap board. If you read the review, the amount of settings in the BIOS boggle the mind. The settings for the memory were pretty much unbelievable from a couple of reviews. I suspect the X48 chipset board will not disappoint you. It will deflate your wallet though.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=2567&cid=6&pg=1

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/05/12/dfi-lanparty-lt-x48-t2r/1

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1408/dfi_lanparty_lt_x48_t2r_motherboard/index.html

Thanks speedbump taking a look at the links just now. Yes the bios setting are meant to be very intense. I intend to overclock the Q9450 to about 3.4ghz, at the moment my opinion is going towards the ASUS Rampage Formula unless someone can change my opinion? Also speedbump what is your opinion on the Asus Rampage Formula?

Thanks again.