which motherboard bundle?

bazmo · 15 Feb 2014 at 13:16

Hi I was wondering if anyone has any advice on which overclocked motherboard bundle is best for me?

I'm looking at an i7 (the 4.2 overclock is fine) and at least 16gb ram.

I use the machine for gaming but my main priority is photoshop and rendering out of 3dsmax etc...

any advice on which motherboard is best and what cpu cooler i should go for? Also if I wanted to upgrade to 32gb ram in the future would i have any problems?

Many Thanks!

Fulax · 15 Feb 2014 at 13:22

What is your budget? Would buying the components separately be an option?

lee32uk · 15 Feb 2014 at 13:39

I would buy the parts separate and overclock yourself. You will save quite a bit of money that way.

i7 4770K, Z87X-OC, 16GB Ram and K2 cooler:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i7-4770K 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - OEM £239.99
1 x Gigabyte Z87X-OC Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £158.99
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan ORANGE 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLAD316G2133HC11ADC01) £129.95
1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99
Total : £588.52 (includes shipping : £8.00).

If you buy the same items as a bundle:

YOUR BASKET
1 x "OcUK Extreme" Intel Core i7 4770K @ 4.6GHz+ Extreme Overclocked Bundle £485.02
1 x Gigabyte Z87X-OC Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £158.99
1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan ORANGE 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLAD316G2133HC11ADC01) £129.95
Total : £833.54 (includes shipping : £8.00).

Fulax · 15 Feb 2014 at 13:52

To be fair, the extra cost of that Extreme bundle is for the big guaranteed overclock. You can get the same components with a smaller oveclock for less:

YOUR BASKET
1 x ReVenge Gigabyte Z87 - Intel Core i5 4670K @ 4.4GHz Configurable Enthusiast Gaming Bundle £179.00
- 1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99
- 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan ORANGE 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLAD316G2133HC11ADC01) £129.95
- 1 x Intel Core i7-4770K 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - OEM £239.99
- 1 x Standard Build Laptops - Approximately 3 to 5 working days £0.00
Total : £608.53 (includes shipping : £8.00).

bazmo · 15 Feb 2014 at 13:56

thanks for the replys, I have built a PC before but I don't really want the hassle and I am no overclocking expert so I'm happy to pay a little extra for someone to set up the bios and so on for me.

I'm happy with the overclock being at 4.2 tbh, the most important thing is that the PC is totally stable and reliable for a good few years without having to mess with stuff too much

Ideally my budget is about £500 - I was thinking of this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x ReFlex Asus Z87 - Intel Core i5 4670K @ 4.2GHz Configurable Gaming Bundle £126.01
- 1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99
- 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan GOLD 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLYD316G2133HC11ADC01) £129.95
- 1 x Intel Core i7-4770K 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - OEM £239.99
- 1 x Standard Build Laptops - Approximately 3 to 5 working days £0.00
Total : £555.54 (includes shipping : £8.00).

lee32uk · 15 Feb 2014 at 14:32

I didn't realise you could change the i5 bundles to an i7

Fulax · 15 Feb 2014 at 14:45

bazmo said:
Ideally my budget is about £500 - I was thinking of this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x ReFlex Asus Z87 - Intel Core i5 4670K @ 4.2GHz Configurable Gaming Bundle £126.01
- 1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99
- 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan GOLD 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLYD316G2133HC11ADC01) £129.95
- 1 x Intel Core i7-4770K 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - OEM £239.99
- 1 x Standard Build Laptops - Approximately 3 to 5 working days £0.00
Total : £555.54 (includes shipping : £8.00).

Looks fine, although you don't really need the Mount Doom cooler for a 4.2ghz overclock. Getting a cheaper one will push the price down toward your budget.

If you do go for the Mount Doom, make sure it will fit into your case.

bazmo · 15 Feb 2014 at 15:33

thanks Fulax, so will the stock cooler (Prolimatech 48 Basic CPU Cooler - 92mm) be fine? I'm happy to spend a few quid extra on the mount doom if that will make it more reliable. I have an antec 1200 case so I think pretty much anything will fit in it?

Fulax · 15 Feb 2014 at 15:38

I can't find any reviews of the Prolimatech, unfortunately. The Alpenfohn Brocken looks like it would be a good middle-ground: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/alpenfoehn-brocken_8.html#sect0

bazmo · 15 Feb 2014 at 15:54

thanks a lot for your help I changed for the brocken cooler and have placed my order

Fulax · 15 Feb 2014 at 16:02

Good stuff - enjoy

ndaar · 15 Feb 2014 at 16:08

I have the alpenfohn brocken 2 in one of my pcs, nice cooler, I added a second fan but it keeps a 4770K @ 4.4 very easily.