CPU & Mobo upgrade - Best for xfire?!

[steve_french]

Hi everyone,

I'm upgrading my PC atm and wanted some advice about what mobo & CPU would be best to pair with my two crossfired hd5770's?

CPU wise I'm not a fan boy of either brand so all honest opinions welcome

Am I right in thinking I'll want a mobo that works in x16 x8 config for xfire?!

Don't know much about such things so could really do with some help pls

 

[Fulax]

What are you currently using?

What is your budget?

What is the PC used for?

 

[steve_french]

I'm using an AMD 2.6gz quad core AM3 chip and a sapphire mobo - gonna need new of both as mobo only supports ddr2 ram just bought some gskill rip jaws

Gonna be using it for gaming mostly - FF14, new elder scrolls mmo etc

Budget of around £250

 

[Danny75]

This would be fine for AMD CrossFire, and brings a CPU cooler:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4670K 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - OEM £167.99
1 x MSI Z87-G43 Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard - FREE Alpenfohn Civetta Cooler!! £86.99
Total : £264.58 (includes shipping : £8.00).




If you really want x16 x8, then one of these (no cooler, so you'd have to find one, or drop CPU down to a cheaper model - "Retail" - that brings stock cooler, although it would depend on your max budget... I'd go for the i5-4670K OEM and spend a little extra on an aftermarket cooler if necessary, no point going for the Retail version):

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI Z87-G45 Gaming Series Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £124.99
1 x Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87 Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £119.99
1 x Gigabyte Z87X-SLI Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £109.99
1 x MSI Z87-G55 Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £99.95

 

[steve_french]

Hmmm ok I'd looked at the msi g45 gaming cos it was x16 x8 - would there not be much improvement in fps over a x16 x4?

 

[ShivP]

I'd go for a slightly more expensive x16 x8 just for the most probable SLI support