Up'ing from a i7 950 to a 6800k. Boards? Ram?

[Atnevon]

Hey folks,

So I'm looking to up from my i7 950 to a 6800k possibly. In looking I know I want a decent board to handle that, a GTX 980 that replaced an RMA's 780ti (looking to get an extra for SLi TOPS), and upgrading from the 840 EVO to a M.2. I do a mix of gaming, Video Edits, Photoshop (Which I've done the Mercury engine driver patch...no problems there).

I'm curious now a board and RAM ideas to start. I'm not an enthusiast overclocker as long-run stability and multi-year use are for sure my endgame. I'll likely just push what that chip will need before a voltage bump and leave it there. Likely air-cooled as its still a quieter solution (I like sound). So all-in-all I'm looking for a board and ram to match my need of supporting the 6800K with a little push room, and a price thats not bank-breaking as well. (I know something like quad-SLi, overclocking stability to high-earth, and RAM speed MAX-SPEED-FORCE 9000+ is just not something whatsoever I care for).

 

[slozomby]

asus x99-a II
then pick something off the QVL ram list that matches how much ram you want in the system.

 

[Atnevon]

I just so happen to see a combo of 2133 and 3000 speed ram. In reality, other than overclocking room, will I notice any real world difference? (I remember when your ram speed mattered in overclocking back on the old Core2 Quad days...I had a Q6600). Didn't that change when they introduced the i7s if I remember correctly when RAM speed actually contributed to more real world speeds?

 

[slozomby]

you wont see a noticable difference at near stock clock speeds. its also not a massive difference in price, personally I spend a little more on the higher rated ram.

 

[Atnevon]

Thats what I was thinking still as well. Looking to start with 64gb so I'm set for a few years. Any particular reason you've recommended the X99-A II over much else? (I do enjoy the debug LED a lot. Had one since my first 680 borad and I'm a big fan of em)

 

[Kanan]

Get at least 2800mhz ddr4, it's faster and only costs a few bucks more. G.skill is always a reliable brand.

 

[slozomby]

personally I've had really good luck with mid/upper tier asus motherboards for longevity. the x99-a II is right about where it stops really adding useful features unless you need ipmi controls or dual sockets.

 

[P4-630]

Get at least 2800mhz ddr4, it's faster and only costs a few bucks more. G.skill is always a reliable brand.

If it's on the motherboard QVL list, to be sure you can run the sticks at it's rated speed.
I wouldn't take a gamble buying memory that's not on the QVL list.

 

[slozomby]

If it's on the motherboard QVL list, to be sure you can run the sticks at it's rated speed.
I wouldn't take a gamble buying memory that's not on the QVL list.

I think every one of gskills 3400 and lower kits is on the QVL list.

i'd second the recommendation of gskill as the brand.

 

[peche]

MSI x99 boards!
Ram? G.skill have great combos and prices, also have others with great sick speeds!
Cooler? i'll grab a 240mm AIO cooler such as Tt water extreme, or swiftech h220X

Regards,

 

[Atnevon]

a 240mm AIO cooler such as Tt water extreme, or swiftech h220X

How are these on noise versus a single mounted good quality air cooler? The reviews are hard to match ina real-life scenerio and would it be worth if not overclocking for fun versus a good air cooler?

 

[Kanan]

If you don't want to overclock to the edge it's not worth it to get a (big) water cooler. A good air cooler is easily enough then, and more reliable also. No pump failures no pump noise.

I recommend a noctua nh-d15s for you. Strong and very reliable air cooler.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

What are you doing with your EVGA X58 ?

 

[slozomby]

pump noise on my corsair h110i is non existent. the 2 140mm fans can make a racket when they spin up high. same with any air cooler. if it gets hot and the fans spin up it'll get loud. also depends on the fans they give you. the coolermaster 212 does a good job but the stock fans are kinda noisy compared others.

as for being worth it. it rather depends. if you plan on firing off day long rendering projects then it might be worthwhile. for gaming and whatnot at near stock speeds then a good air cooler should suffice.

case airflow will also impact the capabilities

 

[Kanan]

I don't think a big water cooler is worth it for normal casual overclocking - a big good air cooler is easily enough for that and more reliable.

Long time reliable usage - that's not exactly what a water cooler is famed for. Air coolers are better at that.

 

[Atnevon]

What are you doing with your EVGA X58 ?

Its served me well since late 2011. It replaced a 680i board RMA's back to EVGA, and since it was a 775 I decided to replace it with the x58 and bit the bullet and upgraded some new ram and up'ed to the 950. Still on it, but the 8800 GTX was spiritually replaced with the 780 Ti, and now a 980 in its place.

So I'm at an intersection point for sure. I realize the GTX 1080s are beasts but the 950 really holds it back. I have a 1440 and a 1200 height screen to drive. I'm more testing the waters and seeing what all I could or could not be ready for.

I do know my Macbook at work sounds like a jet engine the second I have more than a few Chrome tabs open and a few smaller PSDs as well. That a work deal so no say in that. LOL. But thats that at work, at home: Glorious PC Gaming Master Race (/waftsHairInWind)

 

[peche]

How are these on noise versus a single mounted good quality air cooler? The reviews are hard to match ina real-life scenerio and would it be worth if not overclocking for fun versus a good air cooler?

if you dont plan to OC hyper 212EVO could be your best option, even for some performance, but i dont like air coolers, i like that much AIO's looks better and dont take that big package over your board ....also the noisy and cooling will be affected by case cooling or airflow, and also fan models,


Regards,

 

[stinger608]

Are you planning on selling the X58 motherboard?

I am actually looking for a x58 motherboard if you are planning on selling it.

If your in the U.S. and have a price in mind, shoot me a PM.

 

[Tomgang]

It is not my choise to tell you what to do. But have you overclocket your current cpu and se if that can give you the needed power you want or even been thinking on getting a 6 core I7/Xeon cpu for your X58 setup?

Just a heads up before you go out and burn money on new stuff and a little oc or a cheap 6 core X58 cpu cut do it for you maybe.

 

[Atnevon]

Are you planning on selling the X58 motherboard

PM me and we can talk

getting a 6 core I7/Xeon cpu

I heard modding to get the Xeon to work is a pretty lengthy process. Do you know of something thats easy to pop-in, maybe a firmware update, and go? I'd certainly be open if for the dollar it makes a decent set of years to add.

 

[peche]

add an i7-990X, as far as i know there is no Bios update or hard process to add this dudeon the board you have...
full specs here: Ark intel i7: 990X .

you could give a try to your current processor, with better cooling and OC, it will brind interesting numbers for sure,
also if you plan to upgrade mno matter what, take on mind that you X58 Sys have a great resale value!



Regards,

 

[slozomby]

It is not my choise to tell you what to do. But have you overclocket your current cpu and se if that can give you the needed power you want or even been thinking on getting a 6 core I7/Xeon cpu for your X58 setup?

Just a heads up before you go out and burn money on new stuff and a little oc or a cheap 6 core X58 cpu cut do it for you maybe.

even excluding the slight bump in clock speeds and 2 additional cores that the new rig will have. 6 years of improvements on the subsystems make for a nice performance gain.

I recently did a similar upgrade from my 920 to a 6700k and its night and day. the 900 series is starting to show their age.

just my 2cents

 

[Tomgang]

PM me and we can talk


I heard modding to get the Xeon to work is a pretty lengthy process. Do you know of something thats easy to pop-in, maybe a firmware update, and go? I'd certainly be open if for the dollar it makes a decent set of years to add.

I dont know if swapping a Xeon in a non server X58 motherboard need modding or not. But i would think its the motherboards bios that needs to support it. Try ask your motherboard product support or mayde try ask CAPSLOCKSTUCK that also have posted in this thread. He has some exspirience with xeon CPU's. He can maybe answer you that.

Else if you want to be sure your mother board supports a 6 core CPU go for a I7 chip (depending on your motherboards bios version maybe still need a bios update before you can use a 6 core chip in it. Just a heads up before you swap your I7 950 out may need to update bios before doing that). You have the option for four I7 chips. i7 970, I7 980, I7 980X and I7 990X. The non X models has as your current cpu locket multiplier while the X models has unlocket multiplier for easy overclock and a faster running QPI link but is also at a higher price tag than to non X models.

http://ark.intel.com/products/47933...ocessor-12M-Cache-3_20-GHz-4_80-GTs-Intel-QPI
http://ark.intel.com/products/58664/Intel-Core-i7-980-Processor-12M-Cache-3_33-GHz-4_8-GTs-Intel-QPI
http://ark.intel.com/products/47932...Edition-12M-Cache-3_33-GHz-6_40-GTs-Intel-QPI
http://ark.intel.com/products/52585...Edition-12M-Cache-3_46-GHz-6_40-GTs-Intel-QPI

I found a desent priced I7 980X on ebay if that can be a help.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-...847967?hash=item4b08e6261f:g:hiQAAOSwTA9X5qxG

If you dont have oc your current cpu try that out first. They can run pretty fast if oc the right way and cooled properly. My own I7 920 can run up to 4.4 GHz. If it can be a help are here some benchmark of my own system. powered by An I7 920 and two GTX 970 in sli. A desent performing system for gaming in 1080P.

Heaven benchmark

3Dmark Firestrike

3Dmark timespy

CPU-z benchmark stock

4 GHz

4,4 GHz

 

[Tomgang]

even excluding the slight bump in clock speeds and 2 additional cores that the new rig will have. 6 years of improvements on the subsystems make for a nice performance gain.

I recently did a similar upgrade from my 920 to a 6700k and its night and day. the 900 series is starting to show their age.

just my 2cents

Sure it is not the newest tech any more. While upgrade X58 to 6 core is still not as fast as a I7 6800K, it is hell of alot cheaper upgrade in return and with a desent overclock these chip can still deliver a good performence.

But sure it is up to OP what he wants to do. The faster and most exspensive way or the cheaper way while not getting the newest tech and features like M2 he also wants.

Where your I7 920 overclock before you upgrade and to how much if oc´ed?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Regardless of me being a Xeonophiliac in this instance I think the route the OP has chosen is the correct one.




This is mine today with H/T off

$ 70.00...........

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...945014?hash=item1eb8f2e536:g:LbkAAOSwzaJX6ZmU