Which CPU

[ChaosdaJoker]

So its nearly new computer time

But looking at OCUK how many CPU's are out there now,

I know the motherboards all have different chipsets, but with I3/I5/I7, Ivy Bridge, what CPU's go with what boards now a days.

Motherboards
Intel 2011 (X79 Chipset)
Intel 1366 (X58 Chipset)
Intel 1155 (Z68 Chipset)
Intel 1155 (P67 / H67 / H61 Chipsets)

I don't even know where to begin looking to be honest, the computer will be used for gaming, but i have no intentions of overclocking,

Even if i get the CPU down, im going to have the same issues with Motherboards, or have they all sorta come into line with each other, what is a good combination.

Thanks

 

[cmndr_andi]

For gaming, the best combination at the moment is the i5 2500K CPU and a Z68 board.

The i5 2500K is a very quick quad core CPU built on the sandy Bridge architecture and in games it keeps up with the i7 2000 series CPUs (as games don't use hyperthreading). The i7 2500K is a on overclockable CPU, so that option is there for the future, but doesn't need to be utilised as at stock speeds it is already very quick.

The Z68 boards allow you to run two graphics cards in SLI or Crossfire (so long as the individual board supports it), you can make use of the onboard GPU (useful for a backup) and they do allow overclocking (so you have the option in the future). They don't tend to cost much more than the H67 boards, so you may as well go for one of these Z68 boards and have the overclocking option in your back pocket.

At the moment this is the Z68 board I would go for. It is a good price, supports SLI/CF and will run PCIE gen3 if used with an Ivy Bridge CPU.

 

[Krono5]

Z68 & 2500k or wait 5 weeks for Ivybridge.

 

[Shadz]

For gaming, the best combination at the moment is the i5 2500K CPU and a Z68 board.

The i5 2500K is a very quick quad core CPU built on the sandy Bridge architecture and in games it keeps up with the i7 2000 series CPUs (as games don't use hyperthreading). The i7 2500K is a on overclockable CPU, so that option is there for the future, but doesn't need to be utilised as at stock speeds it is already very quick.

The Z68 boards allow you to run two graphics cards in SLI or Crossfire (so long as the individual board supports it), you can make use of the onboard GPU (useful for a backup) and they do allow overclocking (so you have the option in the future). They don't tend to cost much more than the H67 boards, so you may as well go for one of these Z68 boards and have the overclocking option in your back pocket.

At the moment this is the Z68 board I would go for. It is a good price, supports SLI/CF and will run PCIE gen3 if used with an Ivy Bridge CPU.

+1 to that man lol

 

[IvanDobskey]

Z68/2500K

 

[Gashman]

why is the 2500K being recommended to someone who said he has no intention of over-clocking? wouldn't it be better to simply recommend the 2500...?

 

[lrlcr]

Essentially for gaming currently the 2500k is the chip to go for, anything more is excessive and wont see a massive improvement. Overclocking is trivially easy (generally whack the multiplier to 40 and run at 4GHz without any issues).

Mobo is dependant on use and budget, for your money you get more features, better warranty and backup, more connectivity and different colourschemes and layouts. So post your entire build budget and desires, along with what you have to reuse and we can simply spec it for you!

 

[lrlcr]

why is the 2500K being recommended to someone who said he has no intention of over-clocking? wouldn't it be better to simply recommend the 2500...?

Because not getting a 2500k and overclocking it would be hugely stupid, given 4ghz is as easy as pie on the stock cooler. If you don't overclock then you've potentially got a bottleneck where you really don't need one.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Also, the retail cost of the i5 2500 is about the same as the i5 2500K (£2 difference) - but the 2500K has a more powerful onboard GPU (great for a backup) and is expected to have a higher selling price/demand in the future.

Furthermore, it does give the OP the option to overclock in the future (so long as they use a suitable motherboard) even if they have no intention of overclocking at the moment.