New build around i7-2600k, advice needed on MB

[jfish26101]

Hello everyone. I am looking to put together a new build starting with an Intel Core i7-2600k that I plan to OC. I have very little experience with this type of thing but have someone that will help me put it together, I'm just looking for more opinions to form a consensus.

The motherboards I have been looking at are:
ASUS P8Z68-V Pro
ASUS SABERTOOTH P67
ASUS P8Z68-V
ASUS P8P67 PRO

A comparison of the 4 MBs can be found below:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519%2050001315%2040000280&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=280|13-131-771^13-131-771-TS%2C13-131-702^13-131-702-TS%2C13-131-729^13-131-729-TS%2C13-131-730^13-131

I think I have settled on the G.Skill 8GB DDR3 1600 and eventually plan to double it to 16GB down the road.

Just so you have reference, I am debating between the Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 and the Radeon HD 6870 for my GPU and plan to eventually add a second card. I am leaning towards the GTX 560.

Any thoughts or advice on the MB, GPU, or RAM would be much appreciated. If you have other products you would suggest, feel free to throw those out as well.

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate your advice and expertise.

Edit: I have also been thinking of getting one of the following SSDs to put my OS on so the Z68 series may be a better choice but I have been having a hard time deciding.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=636|20-227-542^20-227-542-TS%2C20-167-044^20-167-044-TS%2C20-148-441^20-148-441-TS%2C20-233-188^20-233-188-TS

 

[jaquith]

First don't bother with SSD Caching and instead for a little more get a 120GB SSD {OS, Apps, and Working Data} and HDD {Storage Data}.

What OC? 4.x ... 5.x GHz? The reason the higher the OC the less likely {any} of those MOBOs. The (2) Pro's are good in the mid 4.5GHz.

 

[jfish26101]

Well I have a 1 TB external HD and have be looking at internal HDs around 1-2 TB so really was only looking to put my OS on the SSD so I didn't think there was a need to spring for a 120GB (about double the cost).

On the OC, I'm not sure honestly, I haven't done anything quite like this before. I don't want to risk frying my parts so probably wasn't going to max it out but look for a safe level of performance.

If the MBs to get it up over 4.8GHz+ are much more than those, I probably wont want to spring for that either. I'm looking to keep the build around $1,000-$1,500 total and last time I added everything up I was right around $1,400 if I went with the most expensive parts I was considering (including OS, monitor, new mouse/keyboard, etc.).

Thanks for the post, hopefully that helps give you a better idea of what I was thinking.

 

[jaquith]

I've been running 120GB {OS, Apps, and Working Data} + RAID 1 1TB + NAS (office) /Windows Server (home) for well over a year and knowing the pros & cons of SSD Caching I wouldn't change a thing. You listed a $146 60GB CT064M4SSD2 ; +24 120GB -> OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX120G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227590 The performanc for your OS and Apps will increase x2~x4 not using 'caching.'

120GB SSD side-by-side -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008120%204017%20600038484&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=636|20-227-551^20-227-551-TS%2C20-227-395^20-227-395-TS%2C20-227-590^20-227-590-TS%2C20-227-593^20-227-593-TS%2C20-139-419^20-139-419-TS

The ASUS P8Z68-V PRO is fine for 4.5GHz~5.0GHz with low vCore. The 'trick' so you don't 'fry' your CPU is to keep the vCore 1.30v~1.35v, and the ASUS can accomplish this but with any OC there's no guarantees. The i7-2600K is great and robust CPU. Just select a good HSH -

HD 6870 vs GTX 560 all depends upon what games you want to play and how the GPU's clock/shaders are set to run. Typically the AMD/ATI runs a little hotter but the performance the GTX 560 has the edge. Costs are similar. The closest comparison to the GTX 560 is the HD 6850.

HD 6870 vs GTX 560; Single Card -> http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6950-1gb-vs-geforce-gtx-560-ti-review/8

 

[jfish26101]

I have read some posts/reviews that say Z68 series is better technology and was thinking it may be upgradable longer. Is there any difference in the chipset compatibility? Or any other compatibility that would possibly lead to conflicts down the road?

Is "HSH" heatsink? What does that stand for? I have been thinking of going with COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus for my cooling but have looked at that less than the other parts.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&Tpk=212%20plus

On the SSD, I listed 4 or 5 just for comparison sake but I really have no idea about the differences in specs. I've been leaning towards the Intel 40GB or the Corsair 60GB both of which are $99.99. Frankly, a lot of people have told me not to even bother with a SSD, a good HD (coupled with my external HD) would be more than enough but it sounds like the SSDs perform very well. Maybe if the prices fall before I start ordering parts I could spring for the 120GB but I just don't know about paying ~$200. Besides the capacity, what makes these 4 SSDs better than the 4 I linked earlier?

As far as the GPU goes, I will probably go with the GTX 560 but am leaving that decision open until I see what the rest of the computer looks like. My main reason for building the computer is SWTOR but I know this is well more than I need to run that. I want to try to build a computer that will last 4-5+ years and be able to support future upgrades if need be. Thanks for the link to the benchmark test, I've seen a few (not that one) and the GTX 560 always seems to edge the Radeon HD 6870 out.

 

[jaquith]

The Z68 is good for accelerating MPEG-2/4 encoding using a limited number of Apps the support Quick Sync. That's about it. The USB and SATA are actually slower on the Z68, gaming the P67 vs Z68 is either equal or the P67 with a slight lead. My conclusion MPEG-2/4 encoding Z68 MOBO -- otherwise flip a coin.

/Just select a good HSH -/ typo and I didn't finish the statement.
HSF {Heat Sink Fan} the CM 212+ is adequate at best, and nothing I would use for a 4.5GHz+ OC. Good HSF - Thermaltake Frio, Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B, Corsir H100, etc.

HDD vs SSD is ALL about IOPS -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOPS#Examples there's no comparison. A 'basic' build with a handful of Apps and very little Data is going to need 60~70GB and the number grows over time. So a 120GB is the minimum I recommend, on my Gaming rig I have a C300 256GB and I've had to delete games. IMO - I would never bother with SSD Caching; ANY SSD only will run circles around ANY SSD Cashing + HDD and if $24 is too much or you or your fiends don't understand this then look at any benchmark comparisons.

A full SSD is a whole different world and is VERY ADDICTIVE, I would feel like I'm pulling my hair out on HDD only and 1/2 my speed was pulled away from me. ** edit: I moved ALL of my default Documents, Video, Music, etc and the Default locations are to my RAID 1 HDD and it's transparent to all Apps -> http://hubpages.com/hub/Windows-7_-_Moving_My_Documents

GPU as I said "performance the GTX 560 has the edge" & "closest comparison to the GTX 560 is the HD 6850". Star Wars The Old Republic either GPU is fine for a single HD monitor. Good thread -> http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=348561 I play a lot of PhysX and 3D Vision games so my preference is nVidia. IF ALL you play is SWTOR then heed that link, and maybe AMD/ATI is the better choice long-term e.g. CF vs SLI + PhysX.

 

[jfish26101]

Hrmm...I guess I just don't understand how you are getting the 2-4 times faster. The read times on the 120GB+ SSDs you linked are only 25-50-75 higher, how does that equate to 2-4 times faster? I also don't understand where you are geting the $24 difference, the cheapest option that you linked is $179 ($80 more than the SSD I've been leaning towards). Regardless, I will look into it a bit more.

On the cooling unit, the case has fans too though. Or do those go when you buy a separate cooling unit? I've never bought a computer piece by piece so don't know. I've read reviews on that unit and they are positive across the board but maybe OC'ing a i7-2600k to 4.8GHz+ is a bit more than they are doing with it. I'll look into a few more options.

I'll have to read up more on the Z68 vs. P67 for sure because it really seems the PC community is split on it. For ever article I read that prefers the P67, there is another that says the Z68 is clearly better...same for benchmark tests...same for discussions on forums like this. I have time to sort it out though. Thanks for your input.

Anyone else have differing opinions?

 

[jaquith]

Don't compare sequential R/W to determine 'speed' of a drive; you need to look at IOPS, latency -- and R/W under a variety of tests and benchmarks. The operation of your PC isn't about coping files, it's about accessing/latency your data that's thrown all over the place and retrieved/reading or saved/writing or non-indexed/random.
Comparative latency - 12ms vs 0.1ms or 120X slower HDD or 1200% faster SSD depending upon how you look at it, and minimum 80X+ slower HDD or 800% faster SSD in IOPS.
HDD ~75-100 IOPS
SSD Vanilla 8,000 IOPS to OCZ Vertex 3 ~60,000 IOPS

The cooler the temps and lower the vCore the better off you're going to be, so you can either take my advice or do what you want.

As I stated above, P67/Z68 ... otherwise flip a coin.

 

[roscolo]

I would give the Asrock Z68 Gen3 Boards a look:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157263

and the Extreme7 should be out in a week or two.

I'm doing a new build and will likely be going with one of these 3 boards. Jaquith sold me on getting an SSD and I got the Crucial M4 128GB SSD from Newegg for $183:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

If you watch the egg you know the deals usually repeat themselves every so often.

 

[jfish26101]

Yeah I'm still not sure on the Z68 vs. the P67. I would like to get a SSD but don't want to pay the money. I have 2-3 months so maybe the prices will come down.

jaquith, don't be insulted, just trying to make sure I do the right thing.

 

[jaquith]

I don't get insulted; I just unflag. The SSD's last year 120 GB SATA2 $300~$350+ 270/160, today $170 120GB 285/275 with x2 IOPS. Last year there were no 550/500 and now it's common place. The problem is there's no 'SATA4/SATA5' so this hurts both cost and advancements...however, yes the costs will go down. IMO/guessing 120GB by years end $100~$110.

Here's what happens when folks don't listen:
Post - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/293079-30-asus-maximus-extreme-asus-maximus-extreme
I told them - problems with: MOBO, GPU(s) as spec'd, PSU, etc.
Vid1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5epgiEpjCg
Vid2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo9B1cnQ-34