Need help picking out a CPU and Motherboard

[BrooksyX]

So basically I just got a raise at work and I worked a bunch of over time the last week and a half so I might be interested in getting a sweet sandy bridge set up but not sure if its worth it.

Right now I have 12gb of dd3 1333 ram which I plan on keeping and using with my build. Also I have msi 870-g45 motherboard that I just sent in for rma. The rest of my system is also listed in the specs. I just won a 1035t x6 thuban on ebay for $100 shipped but havent paid for it yet cause I am flat broke till payday and when financial aid goes through.

So anyways what I was thinking was instead buy a i2500k and a lower end motherboard to go with it. Spending a little over $300 and selling my motherboard when it returns from RMA. I would also just not pay for the 1035t and take the non payment strike (no big deal).

Here is what I was thinking about getting:

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Tu...

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TZ68A+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ...

Also get this so I can use my xigmatek dark knight: XIGMATEK ACK-I5363 Intel Core i7/Core i5 1155 comp...

So what do you guys think? Should I fork out a little more get a motherboard that supports 8x/8x crossfire instead of 16x/4x and get a second 6870 and a beefier psu down the road?

 

[bostonbuddy]

down the road it will prob be a better idea to get a 7xxx or 6xx series card then another 6870

 

[BrooksyX]

down the road it will prob be a better idea to get a 7xxx or 6xx series card then another 6870

Why is that?

Also would I just be bettor off not spending the money and just buying the 1035t and my motherboard when it comes back?

 

[bostonbuddy]

you'll be single card and most likely a lot more powerful then cf 6870's

 

[Widjaja]

^^ This is based on personal preference.

Back in the day CF was not supported very well.
But nowadays it is much better.

I personally prefer a single GPU over multiple GPU as well for less potential hassle, less noise and less heat.

In your case, I would go for a Bulldozer compatible motherboard so if Bulldozer is all it's cracked up to be then you can upgrade.

 

[BrooksyX]

anyone else have any thoughts

 

[happita]

I think that combo is fantastic. Plus later on down the road if time and firmware updates allow, you can drop an Ivy Bridge CPU if the Biostar can support it. But more than anything, I'd wait it out just a little more until BD comes out for some price drops. It won't be too much longer till it happens. Have your money for safekeeping until the time is necessary to get a new setup. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[blkhogan]

Do it bro. Have fun with the extra bones coming your way. You work to make it... you make it to spend it. Right? DO IT!

 

[Lazzer408]

Why not a 2600k? HT+More Cache.

My 2600k@4.8+6870 get about 31,300 in 3d06. Oh, I won't run a crossfire or SLI rig again EVER. Way to many problems and by the time drivers and patches come out to make it work right I could have bought a faster single card. I've had CF 1950s, 3870s, 4870s, 5870s. I'm done with it. Just too expencive for small gains in -some- games. Completely ruins others. I found myself turning it off all the time.

I hate that Intel crippled the 2000 series with less cache then the gen Q before. Damn marketing teams.

 

[BrooksyX]

What about this motherboard and an i5 2400 instead? I feel like that would be a nice combo for my 6870. Should still be able to reach 4.0ghz with ease

MSI PH67S-C43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s A...

Why not a 2600k? HT+More Cache.

My 2600k@4.8+6870 get about 31,300 in 3d06. Oh, I won't run a crossfire or SLI rig again EVER. Way to many problems and by the time drivers and patches come out to make it work right I could have bought a faster single card. I've had CF 1950s, 3870s, 4870s, 5870s. I'm done with it. Just too expencive for small gains in -some- games. Completely ruins others. I found myself turning it off all the time.

I hate that Intel crippled the 2000 series with less cache then the gen Q before. Damn marketing teams.

I think a 2600k is a little out for my price range...

 

[Lazzer408]

What about this motherboard and an i5 2400 instead? I feel like that would be a nice combo for my 6870. Should still be able to reach 4.0ghz with ease

MSI PH67S-C43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s A...



I think a 2600k is a little out for my price range...

I figured if you had enough for a 2500k then it's worth it to get the 2600k. If your going to get a 2400 your better off with a used Q9550 rig imo. Just because it's newer doesn't make it better.

I like my MSI board I just got for my 2600k. Great BIOS.

 

[BrooksyX]

I figured if you had enough for a 2500k then it's worth it to get the 2600k. If your going to get a 2400 your better off with a used Q9550 rig imo. Just because it's newer doesn't make it better.

I like my MSI board I just got for my 2600k. Great BIOS.

Well what about that motherboard with an i5 2500k

 

[trt740]

Well what about that motherboard with an i5 2500k

This is the one you want BIOSTAR TP67XE (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s ... and get a 2500k it is a monster mine does 4.9ghz 24/7 on air at reasonable voltage. In the lower end price range this board is great 10 phase power and a overclocking monster Paul turned me on to it. http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=510

 

[BrooksyX]

I do like that motherboard as well but seems like overkill since I probably wont do crossfire.

 

[Lazzer408]

Well what about that motherboard with an i5 2500k

Your best bet is reading reviews and/or reading newegg comments.

 

[happita]

I do like that motherboard as well but seems like overkill since I probably wont do crossfire.

It's really not overkill TBH. If you take other similar motherboards from more well-known names like ASUS and Gigabyte and you'd be paying twice what you would vs. a Biostar.
Stick with what you picked out, it's a killer combination

I figured if you had enough for a 2500k then it's worth it to get the 2600k. If your going to get a 2400 your better off with a used Q9550 rig imo. Just because it's newer doesn't make it better.

Actually, the 2400 destroys the old C2Q in basically every test with flying colors.


It would actually make more sense if he did go with the 2500k. Only $30 more for an extra 200Mhz + unlocked multiplier vs. the 2400.

 

[Lazzer408]

Actually, the 2400 destroys the old C2Q in basically every test with flying colors.

Apps needing alot of cache will hand a 2400 it's ass when running on a Q9. Even with my 2600k I'm already noticing some things running slower. Like Windows 7 for one. lol and CAD apps.

 

[trt740]

Apps needing alot of cache will hand a 2400 it's ass when running on a Q9. Even with my 2600k I'm already noticing some things running slower. Like Windows 7 for one. lol and CAD apps.

Not when overclocked, nothing else comes close. My 1090T at 4.2ghz was crushed by a 2500k at 4.6ghz, heck it beat down my old i7920 at 4.3ghz, and when I say beats it down I mean knocks it's dick in the dirt. These 2500K and 2600K chips once they break 4.3ghz are on a different level. Read this review and decide if a 2500k is worth the unlocked multiplier. http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/intel_corei7_2600k_and_corei5_2500k/. My windows load time dropped in half. If you guys know me I have owned about every socket and chip out and these are different. Pay attention to the overclocking section and performance. FYI I prefer AMD but this is a different animal we have here.

 

[BrooksyX]

So I am thinking of getting an i5 2500k and this motherboard:

BIOSTAR TP67XE (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s ...

I am also gonna get a pair of these ram sinks in red black to make my ram match the board and see if i can get them to bump up to a least 1600 with a little extra voltage:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-B-DDR-D...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f0ada886e#ht_3553wt_1110
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Heatsin...ltDomain_0&hash=item4841a12598#ht_3730wt_1110

What do you guys think?

 

[Lazzer408]

Not when overclocked, nothing else comes close. My 1090T at 4.2ghz was crushed by a 2500k at 4.6ghz, heck it beat down my old i7920 at 4.3ghz, and when I say beats it down I mean knocks it's dick in the dirt. These 2500K and 2600K chips once they break 4.3ghz are on a different level. Read this review and decide if a 2500k is worth the unlocked multiplier. http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/intel_corei7_2600k_and_corei5_2500k/. My windows load time dropped in half. If you guys know me I have owned about every socket and chip out and these are different. Pay attention to the overclocking section and performance. FYI I prefer AMD but this is a different animal we have here.

A stock 9650 could beat a 1090T. I'm running a 2600k@4.6 atm. OS boot time is bottlenecked by the drive not the cpu. My load time (6600/9650/960/2600k) hasn't changed. Some apps my 9650 was faster.

BrooksyX - Get the 2600k if you can or at least the 2500k. The sinnks are nice but removing the stock ones might void the warranty. Any ram that comes without sinks is high CL junk.

 

[BrooksyX]

A stock 9650 could beat a 1090T. I'm running a 2600k@4.6 atm. OS boot time is bottlenecked by the drive not the cpu. My load time (6600/9650/960/2600k) hasn't changed. Some apps my 9650 was faster.

BrooksyX - Get the 2600k if you can or at least the 2500k.

I think the 2500k for sure. My budget is about $300 maybe I can squeeze $350.

Also do you guys think my psu is okay for an i5 2500k.

Recertified: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS-B 500W A...

It only has a 4pin CPU connector... Obviously I wouldnt try to run crossfire on it though.

 

[Lazzer408]

I think the 2500k for sure. My budget is about $300 maybe I can squeeze $350.

Also do you guys think my psu is okay for an i5 2500k.

Recertified: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS-B 500W A...

It only has a 4pin psu connector... Obviously I wouldnt try to run crossfire on it though.

It's plenty for a 2500k+6870. 4-pin psu connector? You mean the 4-pin CPU power?

 

[trt740]

A stock 9650 could beat a 1090T. I'm running a 2600k@4.6 atm. OS boot time is bottlenecked by the drive not the cpu. My load time (6600/9650/960/2600k) hasn't changed. Some apps my 9650 was faster.

BrooksyX - Get the 2600k if you can or at least the 2500k. The sinnks are nice but removing the stock ones might void the warranty. Any ram that comes without sinks is high CL junk.

I had a QX9650 aswell and i'm not so sure it would beat a 1190T both max overclocked are very very similar ( since that was what the Phenom II was designed to compete with). I had the unlocked version in a Rampage Extreme so I don't agree at 4.3 ghz if memory serves me.

 

[Lazzer408]

I had a QX9650 aswell and i'm not so sure it would beat a 1190T both max overclocked are very very similar ( since that was what the Phenom II was designed to compete with). I had the unlocked version in a Rampage Extreme so I don't agree at 4.3 ghz if memory serves me.

I'm just not an AMD fan. I gave up on them years ago.

 

[trt740]

I'm just not an AMD fan. I gave up on them years ago.

Here is my old thread http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54948&highlight=QX9650 Well you shouldn't have they make very good stuff. I have actually had all the cpus we are talking about so in this I know what I'm talking about.