Motherboard for Gaming and Design (Rendering)

anshul1208

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Sep 8, 2012
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Hello Fellows,

I am looking out for a motherboard that fits my two needs.

1. Gaming (getting a good FPS rate + capable to handle 3D graphics).

2. Use design tools like SolidWorks, Ansys and other stuff which has a lot of rendering involved.

I guess we need two separate GPU's for both these applications but i need to select a motherboard which would allow me to use both GPU's individually or together.

Please suggest people.......
 

poweruser_24

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Feb 24, 2012
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You don't necessarily need two separate GPU's. You can use consumer GPU's for rendering, and sometimes there is not alot of difference in speed. The main difference between consumer and professional GPU's is that the drivers for professional GPU's tend to be alot more stable, and do not change very often. Also some 3d/cad package makers do not provide support when using a consumer GPU. Although there is usually a fair amount of help available on the forums for various packages.

So first of all, research the packages to find out whether you can get away with using a consumer GPU only. If so, then get one. If you want to have both consumer and professional GPU, then get two computers. It will be far easier in the long run.

Professional GPU's and their drivers are not normally optimized for games, and you will usually get slower frame rates from them, sometimes unplayable, even though the same GPU may have been used in the development of the game.

And all that said, it doesn't really matter which motherboard you get as long as it is stable and supports the features you need. Framerates depend more on the GPU and to some extent the CPU rather than the mainboard. The mainboards can sometimes make 1-2FPS difference, but this may more depend on the chipset than anything.

 
Welcome to Tom's Forum! :)

Depends on if it's Professional Workstation or Consumer based. You need to post a budget. Since you posted 'Gaming' then see the 'Consumer' CPU/MOBO/RAM.

Consumer based:
Intel i7-3930K
ASUS P9X79 WS - http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_2011/P9X79_WS/#specifications
32GB or 64GB DDR3-1600

Professional based:
Intel Xeon E5-2687W
ASUS P9X79 WS
32GB or 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC

Also Professional with DP E5's:
(x2) Intel Xeon E5-2687W
Supermicro MBD-X9DRI-LN4F+-O - http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/xeon/c600/x9dri-ln4f_.cfm
up to 768GB RDIMM ECC/128GB UDIMM 24xDIMM ECC
 

anshul1208

Honorable
Sep 8, 2012
7
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10,510
Hey thanks poweruser_24 and jaquith. I really appreciate the suggestions.

Poweruser_24 that is for sure I would be building only one monster machine..:)

I would be prefer more with consumer based performance. The Supermicro is out of my budget right now. Do have any idea If I can swtich GPU on Asus motherboard from Ge force to Quadro FX ?

2ndly, what do you suggest for rams for this mobo(Asus)
 
4x8GB (32GB) kits:
$170 Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3 1600 (10-10-10-27 @ 1.50v) Model 994055 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226317
$190 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3 1600 (9-9-9-25 @ 1.50v) Model F3-1600C9Q-32GXM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231569
$200 Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3 1600 (9-9-9-24 @ 1.50v) Model 994069 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226338
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$225 Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3 1866 (11-11-11-27 @ 1.35v) Model 994072 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226329

I prefer the Mushkin for the money and with 8GB/stick densities, and I personally like 1.35v kits or I would get the cheaper Mushkin Model 994055.
 

anshul1208

Honorable
Sep 8, 2012
7
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10,510
great......I liked the Mushkin 994072 model. Guess I got what I was looking for.

Now this Memory stick will go with ASUS P9X79 WS and Intel i7-3930K?

Would i need 1000 W PSU for it or 750 W is more than enough?

Looking for cost cutting side by side...

Thanks for your help though..... appreciate it.
 

poweruser_24

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Feb 24, 2012
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PSU requirements will depend on what you put in. If yu have both a quaddro and a consumer card,like a 680GTX, you could get away with a 750 as long as you dont hav an array of 20hdds's. Mainly as the cards would not be used at the same time.

If you have SLI 680's, then you will probably want to err towards the 1000W, as there would probably be a little pressure on a 750w (it may take it if it was a gold rated PSU but best not to strain it).

For multi GPU set ups, whether SLI, Xfire or consumer/pro GPU, you will need multiple PCI express slots, usually multiple x16 sized slots. The WS board jaquith recommended has this.

edit:
and in order to switch between consumer/pro GPU's, you may be able to set applications to use a specific GPU, or more specifically, you would set the consumer GPU to be the primary (or boot) device, and the 3d/render apps to specifically use the pro card (some may just use it as a preferred device). In order to save switching cables, you want to have them both plugged into your monitor, and use the monitor's input source to switch between them. You may find you have to change the primary device in the bios for it all to work. Not too sure on that one.