Need help finding a Good Motherboard/CPU Combo

westleysnipez · Mar 18, 2013

Right now in my PC, I have a Intel DX58SO motherboard and the i7 950 CPU. I want to upgrade other parts of my computer, but am limited because of the mobo I currently have. I do a lot of gaming, 3D Animation, and video rendering on my PC.

I want to be able to Crossfire/SLI to cards with this new mobo, and I need a PCI Express slot in there as well for a capture card I'd need to put in, so a minimum of 3 slots, though I may want/need more later on.

Obviously the mobo should be compatible with a great CPU.

Side question: Which one would be better for the price you pay, the i7 3770K or the i5 3570k?

Specs right now:
DX58SO Mobo
i7 950 @3.07 GHZ
12 GB Kingston KHX 1600C9D3B1K2
Xfired Radeon 4870 HD
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD

I'd like to keep the price below 400.

stickmansam · Mar 18, 2013

I would try pushing the 950 to higher clocks before considering an platform upgrade, they are great OC chips and it's 6 cores + HT which should give an 3770k (4c+ht) a run for its money
A decent cooler will go a long way to allowing a great OC

With $400 I would spend it a 7970, $400 is pretty low for a full platform upgrade and will likely not be able to beat the i7 950 ($400 is like an 3570k with a pretty nice mb or 3770k with a not as good mb) [much cheaper if near a microcentre though]

You could see some great benefits from going to Haswell in June for CPU side

This is an OC guide for the i7-9xx
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?high=&m=7528&mpage=1#7528

An cheaper $30 cooler can get you a pretty good OC (212+ is $20, 212 EVO is $30 and slightly cooler)

rolli59 · Mar 18, 2013

Your money is best spent on better GPU solution, a single HD7950/70 will have those old HD4870 for lunch. Your I7 is still a respectable CPU. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

westleysnipez · Mar 18, 2013

Oh really? I thought with them xfired it would save it from needing an upgrade for a year or so. Only reason I'd change CPU is because a new mobo wouldn't support it.

BTW I meant 400 for the mobo, I was willing to spend another 300-400 on a CPU.

rolli59 · Mar 18, 2013

With 700 to spend then lga2011 comes to mind http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1226932
Two HD4870 perform approximately on level with HD6870 so it would as well leave money for a HD7850. Really though you would get most out of GPU upgrade to lets say HD7970 GHz edition http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600286767%20600356257&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=50

stickmansam · Mar 18, 2013

I would stick with your CPU+MB and just upgrade to a 7970/7970ghz for now, it will be the most noticeable performance increase, about almost doubling GPU power

If you really had a itch to upgrade the CPU+MB I would go with what rolli is suggesting and going to 2011

xsc66 · Mar 19, 2013

If you want an overclocking/gaming mobo and want to keep the price low check out the ASRock LGA1155 is a great choice @ below $135

http://www.gamingequipment.net/asrock-z77-extreme4-best-gaming-motherboard-2012/

stickmansam · Mar 19, 2013

xsc66 :

I would prefer the ASUS v lk which is only $120 and offers pretty much all the same things and even better power delivery section

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Need help finding a Good Motherboard/CPU Combo

westleysnipez

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stickmansam

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rolli59

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westleysnipez

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rolli59

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stickmansam

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xsc66

Honorable

stickmansam

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