Upgrading - need some advice.

Sarkil · 22 Oct 2011 at 19:47

First off, would just like to say hey as this is my first post!

So I'm planning on buying a new CPU and Mobo, the CPU I'm going to buy is http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-358-IN

And the Mobo I was interested in was the http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-476-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

However I noticed the Mobo is only x8 x8 for dual cards, and realistically I would like x16 x16 for my dual 5870's, but I've been unable to find a mobo that has this.

If anyone could point me in the direction of one that would be great, or if you think that Mobo would be fine just as it is that would also be good.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Would also like to say that this machine is ONLY for gaming, so perhaps the i5 2500k over the i7 2600k, not too sure though.

stulid · 22 Oct 2011 at 19:56

You are right to think that a i5 2500K is plenty for your gaming needs - http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=287

The reason you ant find any Z68/P67 boards that do 16X/16X is because these cost £200+ , but a 8X/8X motherboard provides all the bandwidth you need, Hardocp have tested SLI at 16/16 vs 8/8 and at resolutions such as three screen gaming is there only a tiny difference of a couple of percent.

Does your case take a standard ATX size motherboard? can I suggest a Gen3 board for the same money?

Sarkil · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:01

Im buying a new case as well, the corsair graphite. And if the % difference between the x16 x16 and the x8 x8 really is that small then I'm not bothered.

stulid · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:03

Then try this board - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-054-AK&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

Sarkil · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:04

And you would reccomend that above the Asus Maximus board?

stulid · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:05

Sarkil · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:08

Just one last thing, is that board Dual or Triple channel ?

stulid · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:09

These are all Dual channel, the memory controller is built-in to the CPU core, so get 2X2GB or 2X4GB 1600Mhz RAM.

Sarkil · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:11

Cool, well that means I can stick with 8GB Dominator I've currently got, thanks for all your help mate

Sarkil · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:27

Hi again, was going to purchase the parts tommorow.

Just wanted to know the specific reasons as to why you reccomend the Asrock board over the maximus. Also noticed that it has PCI-E 3.0 and I wasn't sure if the 5870's would be compatible as they are PCI-E 2.0, just wanted to make sure that they would actually work in that board.

Thanks again.

stulid · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:32

They will work, its backwards compatible.

Its only PCI-E3.0 when a ivybridge CPU is inserted (the PCI controller is on the CPU die) with a Sandybridge i5 2500K/i7 2600K etc it will be PCI-E2.0, the reasons for choosing it is because it has the Gen3 switches that means both graphic card slots get PCI-E3.0 for the future.

Oh, and its Black.

Schoieuk · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:38

Will the AsRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 run the crossfire 5870's in x16 x16 or will it dual x8?

stulid · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:39

Its 8X/8X

Schoieuk · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:46

Would you say its worth spending an extra £60 for the http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68 Extreme7 Gen3

stulid · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:53

Nope, it uses the NF200 chip to add th extra PCI-E lanes so you get 16X/16X, then only one slot is PCi-E3.0.

Hardocp have an article up comparing SLi at 16/16 vs 8/8 and the difference was small (2-3%) and only then at the resolution that three screen gaming uses.

Schoieuk · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:56

Ok nice, but i guess if you were going for 3-way cross fire 16/16/8 then the http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...xtreme7 Gen3 would be best?

stulid · 23 Oct 2011 at 16:59

Thats true, the Extreme4 does three-way crossfire at 8X/8X/4X, how much difference you would actually notice compared to 16X/8X/8X, I cant answer.