I'm thinking about getting a new MOBO but am unsure if I really need one and if I do, what to choose. My main use is Gaming and my Price Range is $200-$300. I currently have an ASUS Crosshair MOBO. It works fine but is just a little cluttered, mainly in the SLi, SLi-E area. I have an GeForce 8800 GTX and shes a Monster! She takes up 2 slots so the SLi slot under the SLi-E slot is covered and HDD Cables are blocking Airflow even though they are moved out of the way as best as possible, although that may be a problem with my case... I'm saving for a new one, a thermaltake Spedo Advanced.
I have an AMD Athlon 5200 x2 CPU and am sticking with that even though I would like to go an Intel I cant afford that, so I'm sticking with the AMD one. I'm also using 3GB of DDR2 800 RAM.
I guess my real question is would a new MOBO be worth it? Would a new one be less cluttered? I know there would be more upgrade options with a new MOBO. The Specs for the CROSSHAIR are as follows.

Specifications
CPU AMD Socket AM2+ / AM2 Processors
Support AMD® Socket AM2+/ AM2 Phenom FX(2000MT/s)/Phenom(2000MT/s)/ Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64/ Sempron
AMD Cool 'n' Quiet™ Technology
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing
AMD Live!™ Ready
Chipset NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP

System Bus 2000/1600
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR 800/667/533 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture
*When installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, WindowsR 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe x16 slot with NVIDIA® SLI™ technology support, at full x16, x16 speed
1 x PCIe x4
3 x PCI 2.2

Scalable Link Interface (SLI™) Support two identical NVIDIA SLI-Ready graphics cards
ASUS two-slot thermal design
ASUS PEG Link
Storage NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66/33
6 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports
Support RAID 0,1,0+1,5,JBOD
Silicon Image® 3132 SATA controller
2 xExternal SATA n back I/O (SATA On-the-Go)
Support RAID 0,1,JBOD

LAN Dual Gigabit LAN controllers support NVIDIA DualNet® technology NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP built-in dual Gigabit MAC with external Marvell PHY
Support Teaming Technology
Audio SupremeFX Audio Card
featuring ADI 1988B 8 -Channel CODEC
Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports
ASUS Noise Filter
Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
ASUS Array Mic
USB 10 USB 2.0 ports ports
Overclocking Features Extreme Tweaker
Intelligent overclocking tools
- ASUS PEG Link
- AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
- ASUS AI Booster Utility
- ASUS AI NOS (Non-delay Overclocking System)
- AI Clock Skew
- ASUS O.C. Profile: overclocking configuration-sharing tool
Overclocking Protection
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Adjustable FSB/DDR2 ratio. Fixed PCI/PCIe frequencies
Special Features ASUS MyLogo 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
EL I/O
ASUS Music Alarm
Onboard LED
Q-Connector
LCD Poster
ASUS Q-Connector
Onboard Switches: Power / Reset / Cls CMOS (at rear)
ASUS Q-Fan Plus

Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
2 x External SATA
1 x S/PDIF Out
1 x IEEE 1394a
2 x LAN(RJ45) port
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
1 x onboard LED switch
1 x LCD Poster

Internal I/O Connectors 3 x USB connectors supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
6 x SATA connectors
1 x IEEE 1394a connector
1 x CPU Fan connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
24 Power connector
1 x EL I/O Shield Connector
1 x thermal sensor connector
Front panel audio connector
Chassis Intrusion connector
System Panel

BIOS 8 Mb Flash ROM
DMI 2.0
PnP
WfM
SM BIOS
Award BIOS

Manageability WOL by PME,WOR by PME,Chasis Intrusion,PXE
Accessories User's manual
Cable Ties
SLI bridge
ASUS Optional Fan
Thermal sensor cables
USB2.0 module
IEEE1394a module
x I/O Shield
x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
x Floppy disk drive cable
x SATA cable
SATA power cable
I/O Shield
USB2.0 port module
3 in 1 Q-connector (system panel; Retail version only)
IEEE 1394 port module
Optional Fan
Array Mic

Support Disc Drivers
ASUS PC Probe 2
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
ASUS Update
ASUS AI Booster
NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID

Form Factor ATX Form Factor
12inch x9.6inch ( 30.5cm x24.5cm )

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.
Dan

The only restriction I see is if you desire full SLi at 2 x PCI_E x 16

The slot below your 8800 is basically never used unless you have a PCI_E x 1 device.

If you were to go SLi you would use both blue slots however on your board the lower slot is only PCI_E x 4.

On a higher end board both slots would be PCI_E x 16 plus on newer boards there are three or four such slots for multiple SLi configurations.

So anyway unless you are looking to go SLi, in other words add another 8800 card then your board is just fine as is.

Thanks for the Reply. I'm not planning on getting another 8800 for SLi, it seems to cope fine on its own. Just another Question, the diamaters of the MOBO, are they pretty much standard. Would a new MOBO be much bigger? and allow the PCi Slots to be more spread out? Thanks. If I Choose to stay with my current MOBO that just more $$$ to spend on a new case!

That is a standard ATX motherboard.

Newegg.com - ASUS CROSSHAIR AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

On further review both PCI_E x 16 slots are there (the blue ones).

The white one you are blocking with your 8800 fan case is the PCI_E x 4 which you would never have any use for.

Anyway that is a full size board. If you need more room go for a larger case. Full towers are nice if you have the room.

Originally Posted by nabed4t

Would a new MOBO be much bigger?

ATX form factor motherboards follow a standard when it comes to component placement and board size. Sometimes the different PCI-e slots are arranged differently to allow for a second card or a heat sink but the board its self must follow a standard configuration and the slots will be just as jamed together as your current board. When it comes to room for your card(s) the case size is what will allow you more flexibility especially those that are longer. The drive mounting racks might be further from the front see of the MB if that makes sense.

If you are looking for more room you should look at a bigger case however it still must say that it fits the ATX form factor so that your board can be correctly positioned it in.


Opps jephree I guess that I was typing this at the same time that you where typing yours.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I went into the City and had a look at some more MOBO and your both right the layout on them is pretty much identical so I'll stick with the MOBO I've got and go a bigger case, I chose the Thermaltake Spedo Advance for it cooling properties. Now I've got the task of swapping the Hardware over to the new case. I know basic stuff about how to do it, I've got an anti static wrist strap but I'm just wondering whats the best order to do it in, any tips from someone who's gone through this before would be great. Thanks again.
Dan

Good guide here:

How to Build Your Own Computer

I've read it advised that the CPU heat sink should go on before you put the MB in unless it is really big. Basically when it comes to that follow the instructions that come with the CPU or heat sink. Either way both must go in before anything else. I would put the drives in next so that the cards are out of the way and won't be damaged by them. However if you have a huge graphics card that might have to go in before the hard drive that will be behind it if one must be behind it. The other cards will be next. It would be easier to connect the wires from the front of the case before putting in the drives. I would put the PSU in before anything else. In case you are wondering the door goes last.

Haha! Good one Townsbg. Glad you cleared that one up for me.
Jephree the link is under maintainence at the moment I'll check it later and let you know how I go. Thanks again guys.
Dan

No problem. As of now the site's back up. It is bedtime.

PS: I didn't know if you know this but you need to watch use of the thermal compound that goes between the CPU and heat sink. Too much and the heat sink might not stay on the CPU and then you're in trouble. Too little and the heat isn't dissipated.