Which SLI motherboard with DDR2 do you recommend?

[Sh3ngLong]

Hey guys, my QX9650 just arrived today, but I have no motherboard to go with it. I'm looking for an SLI motherboard that does great overclocking and supports DDR2. I haven't been keeping up with the motherboard reviews since early last year, so I'm not sure which one to get. Any recommendations?

TIA!

[PuMA]

I quess striker II would be a good choice

[Sh3ngLong]

Thanks, PuMa. I'll check out the reviews on that motherboard.

[muka3d]

If you're looking to spend no more than $200, I'd highly recommend the 680i SLI or the 680i LT SLI. They are now last-generation (with 780i and 790i fresh on the market), but they are solid boards with excellent overclocking potential. For example, you can pick up an EVGA 680i LT SLI motherboard for $150 easily.

The ASUS Striker II isn't a terrible choice either... the Striker II Formula is based on NVIDIA's 780i chipset, and the Striker II Extreme is based on the 790i. However, do take a look at NVIDIA-made motherboards too (branded as EVGA, XFX, etc...) that are based on the 780i/790i. ASUS' quality hasn't been stellar lately in my experience (especially with the Striker Extreme 680i), while NVIDIA has been rock-solid. 780i/790i based boards will cost you close to $300. Keep in mind that 790i-based boards (including Striker II Extreme) are DD3 boards.

Take a look at these links:
EVGA 680i: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188012
EVGA 780i: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024
EVGA 790i: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188025 <-DDR3

[Sh3ngLong]

Thanks, muka3d. I'll check out the reviews of the EVGA 790i motherboard. If I do get that board, I might just get 2x1GB DDR3 sticks for now and upgrade to 2x2GB sticks later once DDR3's get cheaper and have better timings.