I'm eyeing this MB

[Cain]

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/425...w/index13.html

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=3962#ov

http://www.gigabyte.com/microsite/25...tures.html#z68

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=G1.Sniper2

[Rand{CLR}]

You really are considering future proofing. I could get both a 2500k and a mid-range board for what this thing costs.

-Rand

[Duke{CLR}]

I love the looks of that one and it has some nice features the only thing negative I read on the reviews at Newegg was something about the PCI X1 slot. Also if you plan on using their auto OCing software you can run into issues. It was causing BSODs in BC2 on the PC I built for a friend months back. Thank god Donzi was here to point that out to me.

You MUST post pics of that bad boy when you get to it.

[Cain]

Duke, have you done an install with this specific MB??

[FrOgM]

that one MB with the amo clip is crazy lol just make sure you have room to add a good after market cooler on it lol
very cool

[Duke{CLR}]

Duke, have you done an install with this specific MB??

No, I used this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128493

I'm also looking at this one for Minis rig. It looks like a good bang for buck option.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128494

[Cain]

You really are considering future proofing. I could get both a 2500k and a mid-range board for what this thing costs.

-Rand

True , but it has some cool built-ins that if purchased separately would push the price above this board.

Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2) with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity™ and EAX® AHD 5.0™ Technologies

Being able to hear where your enemy is located before you see them can put you at a distinct advantage in most gaming situations. That is why GIGABYTE has rigged the G1.Sniper 2 motherboard with the industry's most advanced audio solutions all onboard; giving you the highest caliber audio experience. GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 2 is the world's only gaming motherboard to feature Creative's top-of-the-line Soundblaster Digital Audio Processor (20K2) onboard with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0 technologies, allowing you to experience sound in your gaming world exactly as you would in real life.

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Onboard Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform

GIGABYTE is the only motherboard manufacturer to seriously address online gaming network lag issues by implementing the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform directly onboard the G1-Killer series motherboards. Utilizing a unique combination of dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) and exclusive Game Networking DNA™ technology, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform was designed to give the best online gaming experience possible.

Killer™ E2100 Dedicated NPU
Dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) with 1Gb of dedicated DDR2 memory helps offload network traffic from the CPU, freeing it up to do other important computing tasks.

Game Networking DNA™
Bigfoot Network's exclusive Game Networking DNA™ software offloads gaming data directly to the NPU by bypassing the Windows Network Stack, delivering tremendous speed benefits which allow you to move quicker, shoot faster and win bigger.

Up to 10X Faster
Whether you're playing MMOs or first-person shooters, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 game networking platform delivers up to 10X faster networking performance for a whole new level of online gaming performance.

=-------

Front Access Control Panel

As part of its box kit, the G1.Sniper 2 motherboard features a convenient Front Access Control Panel that allows quick and easy access to 2 USB 3.0 ports and Power eSATA. The Front Access Control Panel also features a Quick Boost button that allows gamers to instantaneously overclock their system with a single press of a button. Imagine being in the thick of battle and being able to get a super charged on-the-fly performance boost without the need for a system reboot.

[Dead...Again]

In my system, the positional audio produced by my X-Fi card is far superior to the standard onboard audio. You won't be disappointed.

[Cain]

[Duke{CLR}]

In my system, the positional audio produced by my X-Fi card is far superior to the standard onboard audio. You won't be disappointed.

I have had an extremely hard time getting anything but USB headsets to work properly and I was told this was a problem with Windows 7. Let me know if you are able to plug in headsets and have it automatically switch to them and mute the speakers. This is the case with the Realtek onboard audio as well as an older SB X-Fi. If this internal SB thing works then I would be all over it.

[Apache Warrior]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131666
I have this Asus Rampage III 1366 and it came with XFI 2 and the sound is phenomenal. You should enjoy it Cain.
Apache

[Dead...Again]

I have had an extremely hard time getting anything but USB headsets to work properly and I was told this was a problem with Windows 7. Let me know if you are able to plug in headsets and have it automatically switch to them and mute the speakers. This is the case with the Realtek onboard audio as well as an older SB X-Fi. If this internal SB thing works then I would be all over it.

I think those were driver issues. I have tried two different X-Fi's, an older PCI X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatality and a new PCIe X-Fi Titanium HD. The headset port works OK on both. Actually, on the older one, there was a checkbox to select whether to leave the speakers enabled when headphones are connected (which i prefer). In both cases, headphones work fine. I have noticed with the new one that the mic doesn't work that well when connected to the front panel header, but works great when connected to the mic connector on the card.

[Duke{CLR}]

It may be my crappy lack or lack of knowledge but I have had troubles with this with 3 different PCs, if I can find one that will allow me to plug in a nice headset without using USB I will be really stoked.

[Dead...Again]

With X-Fi, the main thing is setting everything up correctly inside its Control panel. There is a tab for Headphone detection that allows you to select what to do when a headphone is connected.

[Rand{CLR}]

A built in audigy? Nice.

-Rand