Best motherboard for my 2500k build

[MasterZeef]

Hello everyone,

I had a fire in my house a few months ago that burned a lot of my stuff including my desktop. I have been using my laptop to get by until I got some money from my insurance company to start buying some of my damaged property back. I have somewhat been out of the loop on computer parts since my last build so I am having trouble deciding on what I want to order. I will be trying out eyefinity gaming with this computer, and mostly be using it for that. I've been looking at an i5 2500k, which I plan on overclocking, because as far as I have seen, that should be sufficient for gaming. At this point I am getting a 7950, I haven't decided which model, and plan on upgrading into crossfire in the somewhat near future. I am mainly having trouble finding a motherboard that would be good for the job, as they don't seem to have as many reviews or concrete benchmarks as other parts.

So if you guys could refer me to a specific model of 7950 and a motherboard for 2500k + Crossfire that would be great because I can't seem to figure it out for the life of me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[loresr97]

If you haven't bought the 2500k get the 3570k, Asus z77 mobos are good and overclockable (120$).

 

[g-unit1111]

The 2500k has been discontinued so if you don't have it already you will be purchasing the i5-3570k. Gigabyte makes some excellent Z77 boards that have a great BIOS and lots of expandability in the $120 - $200 range. I have the GA-Z77X-UD3H and its a great board.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the asus z77-v LK is another alternative to the ud3h. asus bios makes things easy.

 

[MasterZeef]

Well Newegg still has the 2500k listed with a price and everything and I have read that the 3570k generates a significantly amount more heat than the 2500k does. However, I did see that you can reach 4.5Ghz on the 3570k with stock voltage due to a new bios, which seems to yield about the same performance of a 5Ghz 2500k. I've been hovering around the Corsair H100, I'm assuming it would be able to cool the 3570k fine as well?

 

[phenom90]

so do you live in the u.s.? then sure you can get from here...

http://www.microcenter.com/product/354589/Core_i5_2500K_33GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131806

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150616

 

[phenom90]

well if you want to make crossfire setup.. then maybe this will do..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271R

 

[TheBigTroll]

dont bother with cheap watercooling. go with a good heatsink like the noctua or do a custom loop.

and ive reached 4.5ghz at 1.15v nicely but my friend had to use 1.23v to reach 4.2ghz. just dont go crazy with volts