8 memory ranks is the maximum most desktop chipsets can handle, which if the motherboards needs to support dual rank DIMMs (which is the majority of DIMMs) limits the number of memory slots to 4. Using 2GB DIMMs, larger ones are IMO not financially attractive, you get a maximum of 8GB memory with desktop hardware.

If you want more, desktop hardware is no longer sufficient, you need workstation/server boards. To allow more memory ranks per channel, AMD uses registered memory while Intel uses FB-DIMMs. If you go this direction, forget about Intel, AMD has the better solution here, it is generally faster, uses less power and costs less money.

The Supermicro H8DME-2 is a good board for such a large memory system, With 16 2GB sticks you get a nice 32GB of memory:

http://www.supermicro.nl/Aplus/motherboard/Opteron2000/MCP55/H8DME-2.cfm

GIGABYTE GA-MA785G-UD3H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

Winner of Tech Report Editor’s Award

will run up to 16 gigs of Ram

Only $89.95 at New Egg

Gee, you're only about 8 or 9 months late,  

Intel? Yuck. Try AMD again. Better bang for the buck.

WHATEVER ! Just trying to contribute, why is there are always and I mean always some one to reign down nothing but Negative Crap! no matter what, there is always someone ready to piss in your Cherrio's, It reminds me of Grade school mentality, Nany nany Boo Hoo! LOL! Ok so now I feel much better!

Sorry, just wanted to post the necro card.

I am currently upgrading my systems from win2000 to win8 x64 with the stations using two operating systems. You may find that you have little need for x64 since most software will run very well in x86 32 bit. Nonetheless, I am partial to Supermicro boards which are mainly for Servers but they have come out with workstation models in the last couple of years.

If you are going to use legacy hardware you should use a board that handles both old and new. The best compromise is a 2008 board that is still being produced but you may need a friend who has built systems because the bios may need upgrades based upon what kind of hardware you are using. This flexible board (having bought many of them) is the Supermicro C2SBA+II using DDR2 with G33 & ICH9R Intel Chipsets and it runs about US$125.00 and on sale for less. Stats and Manual are at supermicro.com.

If you can part with some more green their really top 775 Motherboard is their C2SBX+ but it has a limited legacy appeal. It uses DDR3, has 1600 FSB, X48 and ICH9R Intel Chipsets and is Crossfire capable.

I have used Supermicro boards since 1993 and never have had one fail! Both boards are RAID capable as well.

I have to agree with another poster that the Gigabyte Brand has some under US$75.00 entry level non-raid boards that may meet your criteria for needing four Ram slots. With these boards you may be able to build a simple system for under US$350.00 while the ones I mentioned will either require you to cannibalize an existing machine or cost you over US$500.00. Your minimum CPU should be a E5300 2600mhz which with using installed Overclocking firmware at 15% will deliver ~3000mhz. This chip runs about US$75.00 but has been on sale for less.

Good luck

From my experience the Gigabyte boards have cheap CPU mounts.   My first Gigabyte board almost broke its CPU mount because instead of three teeth on each side for connecting the CPU fan there was only one.  One of my systems is using a Gigabyte board now, but if you're not using the stock CPU fan then you may want to replace the CPU mount.