ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe

[rounder]

Hello all,
I have gotten stuck at the first step of the PC upgrade process; the motherboard.
The ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe appears to be my preferred choice, but I am a bit confused about the "Stack Cooling" feature. Is this liquid cooling?

Thanks in advance, for any insight you can give,
rounder

[Rocketmech]

"ASUS' "Stack Cool 2" is a method of cooling that I have yet to see on any other competitor's motherboard. What ASUS has done with Stack Cool 2 is covered the entire motherboard's PCB with an additional layer of metal which aids in dissipation of heat. "

[rounder]

Thanks, Rocketmech. I am convinced that liquid cooling is not a part of this board.

Have yuo ever had a problem with OEM hardware, I mean, warranty differences or a lack of sufficient manuals, etc.? Would you recommend OEM over paying a little more to find a retail package, equipped with all documentation and accessories?

[Rocketmech]

I can't say I've ever bought an OEM motherboard , its always been retail . OEM is fine for most hardware . Just don't short change yourself . And I always consider the warranty in any purchase .

[mobo57]

I have a couple of these mobos. They great IMO. Very stable and a ton of nice features, especially if you are going to use it as a media center. The build in wireless is fantastic. Used one as an access point for a while. Very good range and a good signal.
The board has a lot of extra cooling on it besides the stack, and it needs it as it does get rather warm, especially around the chip sets and the area around the cpu. Don't be surprised when you see rather high chip set/mother board temps in the software monitor. It still gives me a jolt to see the chip set at or above my cpu temps. If you are into it, before you install the board, remove the heat pipes and take off the gunk underneath and put on some good Arctic Ceramic. It will drop your temps 3 to 5c. I set up a fan directed at the lower right side of the mobo, as this is where the mobo temps are measured and it does get very warm down there.

[rounder]

Thanks for the input Rocket mech and mobo57,

mobo...your input will be remembered when I attempt first bootup. I appreciate the insight.

Rocketmech...what about other OEM hardware...aka...HDD's?

Thanks,
rounder

[Rocketmech]

OEM all the way for hard drives . They usually have a better warranty and no software or cable is usually needed anyways . For opticals its either way . The warranties are usually 1 yr regardless , and if you need software , look for one that includes Nero .

[rounder]

The prices on HDD's, TigerDirect...Newegg, are fantastic. They also happen to ALL be OEM. I never really thought about it much, but read an article that came up in a search, where I asked about OEM, on"About", that stated OEM's was a bigger concern on HDD's than other hardware, due to warranties and manuals.

The last HDD I purchased was OEM and warranty or documentation never has been a concern. With that said, and your vote of confidence for OEM, I'm going for the great price and, hopefully Newegg wins out. I like those guys.

Thanks again, Rocketmech,
rounder

[mobo57]

The only thing I don't buy OEM is memory and mobo's, can't think ithat I've ever seen them either. Everything else I save the $$. Even Windoze. Only had two HDs fail me that I can remember. One because I touched it during a Santa Ana (REAL dry wind, VERY low humidity), static shock took the mobo, hd, cpu and memory out. The other time had a leak in my water cooling, dripped on the hd. Lots of smoke!! Got some old WD 80's that are probably over 6 years old going strong.

[rounder]

Here's where I'm at and still up for last minute input:

Newegg:
ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 CPU
Corsair XMS2 PC6400

Seagate 320 GB HDD
Lite-on DVD-RW w/LightScribe
Samsung 226BW Monitor
??? PNY 8800 GTS Vid Card ???

I have a 430 watt Antec PSU, but am unsure about the power needs of this hardware. Will it exceed what my PSU can provide? I did give a quick look at "PC Power and Cooling" for PSU's, but haven't determined where I'm at there, yet.

Any advice on the best PSU for this application?

rounder

[Train]

I note you list a PNY 8800 GTS Vid Card

I suggest a 600 watt ps.

That card needs almost 200 watts by itself.

Power supply
XION is a darn good one. and you may like the price better than the other makes.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...08791&name=XION


Fact is, you may like mwave's price better.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/DeepSear...PLY&PID=PS-XION

Been using that Brand for a number of years now. The ps is heavy and has saved my bacon a couple times.

[mobo57]

I'd go for a 750w psu. Costs a few dollars more, but if you add additional drives or cards later, you won't have to upgrade again.

[rounder]

I have rethought the PNY 8800, while considering what it would actually be used for. My son would love it, but he's only home from college for the summer and some weekends during the school year. I am not a gamer, so it would be comparable to a 426 HEMI idling in the garage...

With that said, I'd like to ask...Which one of these 8600's would you pick?

PNY 8600's (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%2050001471%201069609641%204017%201068 309611&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16814133198%2CN82E16814133186% 2CN82E16814133199)

Think I would still need to up the PSU?

[rounder]

Also, what about compatibility of this hardware with Win Xp or Vista? Will everything support either OS? I'm currently running XP, but when I up to Vista, should I be able to make that upgrade without any concerns?

[mobo57]

I'd go with the GTS. Better card all around over the GT. Don't bother with the 7900. Also go with XP if you have it. Right now Vista is too raw, immature drivers and is slower than XP. If you have to purchase it, then grudgingly I'd go with Vista.
Still suggest a bigger psu, at least 500w, preferably at least 600w. 450w is at the low end and can cause you problems.

[Train]

I suggest waiting until Vista SP1 is out and even then checking out what people have to say about it.

Gad, how I wish my lapper did not have vista on it.

[rounder]

Well, I haven't, yet, ordered a vidcard, thought I would wait until after getting the system up, but I have received the mobo, ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe, the CPU, Intel C2Duo E6600, the memory, 2 gigs Corsair XMTS, the HDD"S, two Seagate Barracuda 320 GB, and some peripherals.

BEFORE I open the mobo, I have to admit to an oversight on my part. I spent so much time checking the specs on the mobos available, that I failed to focus on the reviews offered on the ASUS mobo. After ordering I checked the reviews and found fewer Pros than Cons. The Cons had to do with incompatibilty issues and that scared me! Now, do I just go for it or heed my fears and return it for something with better reveiws? Here is a link to the biginning of the Newegg reviews for the ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe:

ASUS P5W DH-Deluxe (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813131025)

This whole week has been tied up with training the folks at work, 13 hours a day and a 2 hour commute, that I have had time for little else. This weekend, though, and scheduled vaca for next week, is slotted to building my "new" PC. It's already Jonesin' me to know that I have two boxes of PC parts sitting here and can't get started.

I want to do this with as few hassels as possible, so I am looking for input that tells me, "I have built a similar system with these parts and NOT encountered problems, as well as, "I have bult a similar system and experineced the problems described in the reviews." Something that I can weigh out and make a judgement call on.

I am prepared to return the mobo and wait the time, necessary, to build with trouble free components. Time is of the essence...

Anyone been there, already?

Thanks, in advance, for any input you may have to offer,

rounder

[mobo57]

rounder, I have had 3 different 975 motherboards, the Intel BadAxe, P5W and a Abit AW9D-Max. Have to tell you honestly, all have had their quirks. Bottom line is as long as you do a basic setup, you should have no problems. Fair warning on the P5W. Check the BIOS chip and make sure it is at least 8XX or higher. The early BIOS had fits with the C2D and memory. Regarding memory, the mobo will initially boot with your vmem at 1.7 or 1.8. This may be too low to boot. If you get it all together and it does not want to do anything when you hit the power, remove one of the dimms.
My opinion on this board is that it is a top quality board with a TON of features. It is a solid performer. BUT, it can/does take a bit to get everything running exactly right. If you are looking for just a plug and play and forget it, this may not be the board for you. But if you can use some or all of the features and a very extensive set of hardware/firmware/software options, this board is great. The BIOS recovery on a bad overclock is also a nice feature.
Compared to the other boards, the P5W ranks higher due to the all of the extras and the layout of the hardware. My AW9D does overclock higher, but only a bit, and with both vid cards in I only have one PCI slot left open. The BadAxe is a good performer, but the BIOS and hardware features are not quite as extensive.
Maybe I should do a full-on review and comparison for sysopt!?!?!?

[rounder]

Sooooooo frustrating. I spent so much time searching for the best mobo before ordering and still ended up with something that I do not feel I will be content with. I have read, unfortunately, many reviews after the fact that leads me to believe this is not the board I want to be the foundation for a clean, fast, high powered rebuild.

mobo 57, I really appreciate your replies and, considering the fact that this post is about a mobo, I am inclined to believe that you may have more insight than most(??).

Newegg offers a 30-day Standard Return Policy, that I have yet to request an RMA for, but I hope will be painless. I didn't open the box, because I had already determined I'd made a mistake in ordering it.

It was the Intel 975 chipset that led me to this board, that and the ASUS name. I was sold on using an Intel board, believing the compatibility would be inevitably better by staying in "the family", until reading some CPU magazine articles that gave accolades to, not only ASUS, but this board, in particular.

I am planning to attempt to get an RMA from Newegg for this board and order another at the same time.

Does anyone think going with an Intel board is a smarter move or is there an ASUS board that would fit-the-bill? Definition of "fit-the-bill"...Support my hardware (listed earlier in this post, but scratch the 8800 GTS vidcard) and be a plug-and-play type board, yet offer a chipset that will be attractive to the up and coming software and hardware of the future.

I apologize for that sound you may have heard,,,whi.i.i.i.i.i.i.i.i.ning. :D

rounder

[osros]

I am also building the same exact system as you, and like you I have picked the same components except the video card Im ATI all the way. I read the same reviews as you did for the Asus and they did shy be away from that board even though when it works it will be great. I am at the moment leaning torward an Intel board due to that fact they are more stable and the board Im looking at has almost all great reviews.

Im still thinking hard on the MB and open to other suggestions. I saved the last three pieces for last the MB, Memory & CPU. I want to make sure I get all that at the same time. Im all gamer so I want a MB that will do its best at gaming and also has options for upgrading cpu in the future.

[rounder]

Yeah, I went with an Intel board...Intel D975XBX2. I can fill you in on tips to make that board deliver a smooth startup. Check my profile and message me if you go that way.

Good luck,
rounder

I checked the status of emaling myself and Vdr states I don't accept email, yet my CP is set to receive email. Go figure...I'll watch this post and send more infor later.

[osros]

Yeah, I went with an Intel board...Intel D975XBX2. I can fill you in on tips to make that board deliver a smooth startup. Check my profile and message me if you go that way.

Good luck,
rounder

I checked the status of emaling myself and Vdr states I don't accept email, yet my CP is set to receive email. Go figure...I'll watch this post and send more infor later.

Thanks Rounder,

Please let me know how you like it and the whole system overall. That is the same Intel MB I got on my list to get. Are you going to overclock? Im just looking to push it to 3.0ghz and I will be happy.

[rounder]

Osros,

I have contacted admin and believe they will rectify the problem. Check my profile periodically to see if my email address shows.

rounder

PS. This was the most awesome build and results I could have ever hoped for. Smoooooooooooth!

[rounder]

Osros,

They have the email function Turned Off. You will have to click on my name and send a private message. I can't do that on yours, you must have a different setting than me.