motherboard for i3 2100

pc_monkey

pc_monkey

pc_monkey

Associate
Joined
3 Nov 2011
Posts
712
Location
East Anglia
I need help choosing the best value motherboard for i3-2100 SandybridgeCore i3 Quad-Core Processor please.

Preerably cheap but one that allows overclocking.

Cheers
 
My understanding is that you can only overclock the "K" versions of CPUs, so the i3 will not overclock. It is a good CPU though. To this end I'd get the 3.3Ghz versions, which is slightly more but has a higher clock.

You'll probably want one from the following catorgories, depending on the use of the PC:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=5&subid=1965
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=5&subid=1907
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=5&subid=1990
 
I would go with the 2125 if the GPU or Quicksync is going to be used, P8H67-M is a nice motherboard.

EDIT: i3 is a dual core with Hyperthreading btw.
 
Last edited:
i know it's only dual core with HT though. It will only be used for image editing, iplayer, angry birds, counter strike, etc.... so no need for more expensiver:D cpu.

Reading some reviews on the intel mobo, looks like the one on sale at ocuk is the first generation which had some problems, and one needs the B3 version which is more expensive and not far off from a cheap Z68 mobo, so I went for a Asus P8Z68-V LX, the little sister of my current P8Z68-V mobo.

Thanks to all for your help, I appreciate it....
 
pc_monkey said:
i know it's only dual core with HT though. It will only be used for image editing, iplayer, angry birds, counter strike, etc.... so no need for more expensiver:D cpu.

Reading some reviews on the intel mobo, looks like the one on sale at ocuk is the first generation which had some problems, and one needs the B3 version which is more expensive and not far off from a cheap Z68 mobo, so I went for a Asus P8Z68-V LX, the little sister of my current P8Z68-V mobo.

Thanks to all for your help, I appreciate it....
Click to expand...

What about this one?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-179-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1965

Obviously with the Z68 you can drop an i5 in there later to overclock though, just a thought!
 
Socket 1156 i3 CPUs have HT
Socket 1155 i3 CPUs do not have HT (Edit it's Turbo Boost I was thinking of, sorry)

The Intel Core i3-2120 has a base clock of 100MHz with a multiplier of 33. This is not a 'K' series processor, which means it has a locked multiplier, so you can lower the multiplier in the BIOS, but you can not increase it. The Core i3-2120 also doesn't have Turbo Boost, so the only thing that we can do to really overclock the CPU is to increase the bus frequency. Intel 'Sandy Bridge' processors don't like to have the bus increased much, so overclocking on this processors really isn't that fun.

Non K series
i5 and i7 cpus also support "limited" overclocking on a supported motherboard

 
Last edited:
Davefran said:
The Intel Core i3-2120 has a base clock of 100MHz with a multiplier of 33. This is not a 'K' series processor, which means it has a locked multiplier, so you can lower the multiplier in the BIOS, but you can not increase it. The Core i3-2120 also doesn't have Turbo Boost, so the only thing that we can do to really overclock the CPU is to increase the bus frequency. Intel 'Sandy Bridge' processors don't like to have the bus increased much, so overclocking on this processors really isn't that fun.

Non K series
i5 and i7 cpus also support "limited" overclocking on a supported motherboard

Click to expand...

The reason I asked for a motherboard that allows overclocking is in case I upgrade my current i5 2500K to an i7, I can use the old i5 on this motherboard that I will use with the i3 now.
 
Ѧ Thanks for the suggestions, how does that compare to the Asus P8Z68-V LX for overclocking? I've read the Gigabyte only allows up to 4 ghz OC ? Can't find any other review...
 
pc_monkey said:
Ѧ Thanks for the suggestions, how does that compare to the Asus P8Z68-V LX for overclocking? I've read the Gigabyte only allows up to 4 ghz OC ? Can't find any other review...
Click to expand...

From the review I posted above they were able to get their particular i5 2500K up to 4.9GHz using that Gigabyte board.

This shows that the board is pretty much as good as any other nice quality Z68 or P67 board.
 
cmndr_andi said:
From the review I posted above they were able to get their particular i5 2500K up to 4.9GHz using that Gigabyte board.

This shows that the board is pretty much as good as any other nice quality Z68 or P67 board.
Click to expand...

the other review I found erlier said that board only adds 1ghz OC compared to more expensive boards... can't remember which site.. will try to find it again
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom