Motherboard, CPU, Heatsink Combo???

[BranKeye]

Hello,

I'm looking to get an i5 2500k, along with a good motherboard and heatsink. The mobo would need 2 PCI-E16, 2 PCI, E1 doesn't matter to me. I don't know much about motherboards or heatsinks, so every suggestion is a great one.

By the way, it will be for gaming, I currently have one GTX570, just in case you wanted it in context to my other components.

 

[Frizzo]

how much cash ya got?

 

[BranKeye]

Well, about 200-300, 400 tops for motherboard. For heatsink, I don't really know, I think a 4GHz overclock is respectable for the i5 2500k?

For the mobo I was thinking this, http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59168&vpn=GA-P67A-UD7-B3&manufacture=Gigabyte

 

[Frizzo]

the best motherboard for a 2500k is the asus maximus, period. whether you get the z68 or p67 version is up to you.

 

[BranKeye]

I notice it's EATX. Now, would that fit in my current case? http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=19066&vpn=NCIX-XION2-BK%2FGN&manufacture=AZZA%20Technology

 

[Frizzo]

i'm not clicking on foreign links with this computer sorry. it's a canadian computer store? anyway, it is a larger than normal motherboard....most normal sized motherboards are like 12x9.6 the maximus is 12x10.6 . so if you're unsure, it's probably too small.

 

[BranKeye]

I might just upgrade to the cheapest full tower then, as long as I can get a really good deal on the Maximus. But this, Gigabyte P67A-UD7-B3 ATX LGA1155 P67, is a great board as well, I assume?

 

[Frizzo]

do whatever man, the asus is a better board. buy the gigabyte if you want, it is prettier isn't it.

 

[MrBlonde]

My recommendation for any "which mobo should I buy?" is figure out your target price, and find out which Asus or Gigabyte models are available. I prefer Asus's UEFI to Gigabytes BIOS controls over EFI settings, so I bought an ATX size Asus P8P67 as soon as the fixed versions came on the market. Picking an Asus or Gigabyte at about the same price, should be about which one you prefer, based on looks, specs, and/or layout.
EATX is a bigger version of ATX, so I'd check your case before buying an EATX mobo.
Most 2500K CPUs will OC to 4 Ghz or higher, or so was claimed when I bought mine. I even had the CPU at 4Ghz with the stock cooler, then set it back to stock until I found a better cooler. Eventually I got a Corsair A70. I set it up with 2 fans connected to a spare Zalman fan speed dial to keep the noise down. I think any compatible heatsink with one or two 120mm fans works about the same. Watch out what kind of heatsink the RAM has. In my setup the "pull" fan covers the 1st RAM slot, and a large heatsink on certain RAM kits might interfere with the fan on the second RAM slot. Asus recommends using the 2nd and 4th slots with 2 sticks of RAM. I'm using Corsair RAM with the basic heat spreaders, but not heatsinks and I don't have this issue.

 

[davcon]

Hello,

I'm looking to get an i5 2500k, along with a good motherboard and heatsink. The mobo would need 2 PCI-E16, 2 PCI, E1 doesn't matter to me. I don't know much about motherboards or heatsinks, so every suggestion is a great one.

By the way, it will be for gaming, I currently have one GTX570, just in case you wanted it in context to my other components.

NCIX Bundle Deal Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Processor & Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64476&vpn=i52500K%26Z68XP%2DUD3P&manufacture=Bundle%20Deals&promoid=1190
Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance Lowprofile 8GB
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=61961&vpn=CML8GX3M2A1600C9&manufacture=Corsair&promoid=1190
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41337&vpn=RR%2DB10%2D212P%2DG1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER&promoid=1190

 

[BranKeye]

Best answer selected by BranKeye.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr