Need help from a pro

[bigcyco1]

Hi everybody i am wanting to buy a new mobo which is best in the 150 to 200 max usd range here is the rest of my rig Processor:Intel i5 2500k
Graphics Card:Gigabyte GTX 560TI
RAM:G.Skill RipjawsX 8GB @1600mhz CL9
HDD\SSD:500GB Hitachi Deskstar 1 Crucial M4
Power Supply:Thermaltake TR2 TRX-650M
Case:Cooler Master HAF 912
Cooling:Cooler Master V6 GT overclocking is a must lol i was thinking maybe one of these would be best but honestly i can't decide i need help other suggestions are welcome i also prefer to buy it from tigerdirect since newegg charges me tax which i rather not pay and think is total bs lol thanks in advance for your help. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128507 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157240 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792 P.S. I was also informed that msi mobo are really good but i don't know that is why i need your help basically i am looking for the most solid mobo that i can overclock and has quite a bit of features

 

[dalauder]

Have you already purchased on the parts? If so, we'll just help with the motherboard. If you haven't purchased anything yet, then you should start a New Build thread a fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

Motherboard:
Asus, Gigabyte, or ASRock. MSI, EVGA and maybe some other ones are fine too, but I'd stick with the first three. Z68 is a must.

How hardcore of an overclocker are you? If you care about the difference between 4.5GHz, and 4.7GHz, then you'll want a board as good as Gigabyte's $150 boards. If you care about the difference between 4.7GHz and 4.9GHz, then spend $200. The ASRock Extreme4 is very good. I'd just buy one of Gigabytes boards though, largely because I like the black color scheme.

 

[bigcyco1]

Have you already purchased on the parts? If so, we'll just help with the motherboard. If you haven't purchased anything yet, then you should start a New Build thread a fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

Motherboard:
Asus, Gigabyte, or ASRock. MSI, EVGA and maybe some other ones are fine too, but I'd stick with the first three. Z68 is a must.

How hardcore of an overclocker are you? If you care about the difference between 4.5GHz, and 4.7GHz, then you'll want a board as good as Gigabyte's $150 boards. If you care about the difference between 4.7GHz and 4.9GHz, then spend $200. The ASRock Extreme4 is very good. I'd just buy one of Gigabytes boards though, largely because I like the black color scheme.

Yes i have already purchased the parts a month ago i am a hardcore overclocker i am hooked on it i will even be upgrading my cooler to watercooling as air aint enough lol

 

[bigcyco1]

I also plan on running this rig at 4.7ghz 24-7 and i like to be able to overclock higher but i am not stupid i know running it higher for 24-7 use will degrade life span so i will settle for 4.7ghz for 24-7 use when i upgrade to a rasa kit i will overclock to 5ghz if possible but only for short periods of time

 

[sharkbyte5150]

Either of these will serve you well for OC'ing that 2500K....

Asus P8Z68-V/Gen3
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3


Just so you know, the RAM specs for the 2500K are DDR3-1066/1333.
You purchased 1600 RAM and on the Asus website it says that due to CPU behavior RAM will run at lesser speed. You'd have been better off getting two of the 8GB DDR3 1333 dual channel Ripjaws kits.

 

[bigcyco1]

o.k. thanks and i didn't know that about the ram thanks for telling me i should have done my research better lol i currently own the z68 extreme 3 gen 3 i am looking for a better mobo it is a solid board but i want better lol

 

[sharkbyte5150]

Before the new series of i3/i5/i7, Intel CPU's didn't have memory controllers so your only limitation was the motherboard's specs but these days every Intel CPU has its own RAM specs, something to watch for. Seems like only the top i7's support 1600.

 

[bigcyco1]

i currently own the z68 extreme 3 gen 3 i am looking for a better mobo it is a solid board but i want better lol

 

[sharkbyte5150]

What does the Extreme3 Gen3 board lack that you want?
The Asus board I recommended is probably the closest thing to that, and the Pro version of it is exactly the same but has 2 more SATA 6Gb/s ports for another 30 bucks. If you want a more powerful Z68 board, you'll have to go past your $200 limit.

A serious board for overclocking is the ASRock Z68 PROFESSIONAL GEN3, or the ASUS P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3, both in the 260 price range.

 

[bigcyco1]

It a solid board i just want more power i like this board http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/Maximus_IV_Extreme/#download but it way out my price rage i could come up with 260 though can you find a link at tigerdirect i was not able to so maybe they don't have it

 

[bigcyco1]

newegg wont work because at 260 price range i sure as hell ain't paying tax know what i mean. :lol: i have no issue with paying the 260 if i half to spend that to get a better overclocking mobo so be it

 

[sharkbyte5150]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7343076&CatId=6978
Maximus IV Extreme B3 RoG Edition $309

OR

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1415967&CatId=7212
ASUS P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3 $249

OR

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7343077&CatId=6978
ASUS P8P67 Deluxe $229

 

[bigcyco1]

that is to much money i rather go the 260 route lol but i should be able to come up with the 309 if i wait and save my next pay check thanks for your help i will go with the 249 board

 

[sharkbyte5150]

No problem, happy hunting!

 

[bigcyco1]

Best answer selected by bigcyco1.

 

[sharkbyte5150]

Best answer selected by bigcyco1.

n
n
nTHANKS!!

 

[bigcyco1]

No problem, happy hunting!

actually i rather not wait i am ordering this one tonight http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7343077&CatId=6978 :lol: thanks again bud.

 

[dalauder]

@sharkbyte--that stuff you said about the RAM wasn't useful/accurate.

You can run RAM at whatever speed the motherboard says. For example, the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 can run RAM at up to 2133MHz.

You will probably get the most stable heavy overclock with boards better than the ASRock Gen3--look to spend $150+. Consider the ASRock Z68 PROFESSIONAL GEN3 for $210 Open box: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157263R

Or the ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 for $202: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157269R

You can aim lower too. Like I said, I'd get this Gigabyte for $170: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128507

EDIT: OP, be careful taking advice from a "Youngster". He may know some stuff, but don't take it as gospel without some source to back it up or someone else to bounce the ideas off of.

 

[sharkbyte5150]

Great choice, very popular for overclockers. Let me know how it works out!

 

[sharkbyte5150]

@ dalauder
Your Newegg links are not useful because he said he's ordering from Tigerdirect.
Also, you are wrong, the Asus website says that certain RAM modules will be underclocked due to CPU behavior.


BigCyco1-
Here is some new information regarding usage of faster RAM with Sandy Bridge CPU's.....
http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/datasheet/core-i5-processor-memory-0811-datasheet.pdf

The board you picked is on the list of boards that have certified that you can run 1600 RAM at full speed with the i5-2500K.

 

[dalauder]

Not the best choice, but it'll do. Z68 is better. If something is wrong with your graphics, the onboard is nice for diagnostics.

 

[sharkbyte5150]

Since onboard video (still reliant on CPU) is the primary advantage Z68 has over P67, and the OP is mostly interested in overclocking, Z68 is unnecessary and will serve him no better.

 

[dalauder]

@ dalauder
Your Newegg links are not useful because he said he's ordering from Tigerdirect.
Also, you are wrong, the Asus website says that certain RAM modules will be underclocked due to CPU behavior.

Okay, here's the Tiger Direct Link for the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4-B3 $189: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2235336&CatId=7212
And for the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 $150: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=353599&CatId=7212

No, I'm not wrong about the memory. What the Asus website says is, "Due to CPU behavior, DDR3 2200/2000/1800 MHz memory module will run at DDR3 2133/1866/1600 MHz frequency as default."

Basically, it means that because RAM speed is a function of the front side bus (FSB) speed the CPU is running hat (hence "CPU behavior"), the memory has to run at some whole number ratio to that speed. In this case, that means the RAM will hit 2133/1866/1600 instead of 2200/2000/1800 because or the ratios the motherboard supports. It doesn't mean it can't run 2000MHz memory--just that the motherboard will run it at the closest lower speed because you'd need a chipset with an adjustable front side bus like Nehalem, K10, or Bulldozer to hit those clock speeds.

 

[dalauder]

Onboard video is basically the only advantage of Z68 over P67 in terms of overclocking, which is all the OP is looking for, not onboard graphics.

Yes, in terms of overclocking. But what if the OP decides to go with SSD caching, a 3TB HDD, 3 displays (handy if your computer connects to your TV), or Quicksync at some point in the future? Then you've got him using an obsolete platform (P67) while not even saving money.

 

[sharkbyte5150]

P8P67 Deluxe has more USB ports, more SATA ports and better LAN chipset than the Gigabyte UD3H board which is practically the same board but slightly inferior to the ASRock Extreme 3 Gen3 board (ASRock has PCI-3, Gig UD3 does not), and he said he wanted better than that, and the only thing the UD4 has over the UD3 is better SATA RAID.

Regarding the RAM info, fine, his 1600 RAM will run fine (was certified so on the P8P67 Deluxe).