Advice for what new MB to get or chipset to look for.

[CoreyCoop]

I need to update my computer, I try to only do this every 3 or 4 or so years because of all the 'stuff' I have to install for my work. I have to do research for so many things, I don't want to have to figure out all the chipsets and so-on for a new MB, but I want a cutting edge (but not bleeding edge!!) system (see the 3 to 4 years comment above).

So: I like Asus, I like that they keep support for their older products for a long time, and I've had good luck with them. No Gigabyte; friends have had nothing but trouble.

I'm going to get the latest revision i7 processor, not the highest end, but the most cost effective 4 or 6 core in the top third or so. I want a lot of memory, I think it's a better cost investment than the fastest processor. I need a full size board, as I need lots of slots in general (my work requires testing and/or creating interfaces with various things that sometimes require special boards). I need at least 2 preferably 3 PCIe x16 slots, but two of them must be able to operate at the full x16 speed when both are populated for graphics. The third can be slower, but cannot slow down the first two. I need Sata 6GB, Intel's SRT is a plus, and a bunch of USB 3.0 ports.

I don't care about or want to overclock (if it does, I just won't activate it), I am much more interested in reliability. Good heat sinking on the MB is probably key to that.

Opinions? Advice? Experiences?

Thanks!

 

[snoylekim]

Asus P8Z77 -WS for the slots ..pair with a I7-3770 or Xeon E3-1245 ... 4 PCI_E slots .. PLX chip, so I think 2 can run at x16 ..

 

[Sleepingforest]

Actually, the Asus P8Z77-WS runs at 16x/8x/8x when 3 PCIe slots are populated, so it's unfortunately a no go.

In fact, I'm pretty sure only Gigabyte, EVGA, Asrock and ECS offer a PLX chip that can go 16x/16x/4x on Z77 (yes, that's right: the last slot cannot do 8x but must drop to 4x). If it helps, I personally run a Gigabyte board (no particular allegiance though). Additionally, Asus actually has the highest return rate of manufacturers and has two of the most RMA'd motherboards out there (Asrock has the least!) according to this article based on a significant e-retailer's statistics.

On Z77, you're probably looking for a Xeon E3 1245. They have four cores and most have hyperthreading--it's basically like an i7-3770 with a slightly lower clockspeed for much less, and comes with integrated graphics if you need it (to power a monitor while troubleshooting or whatever).

If you go X79 (which is more expensive, but you can get 6 or 8 core CPUs and will have a compatible CPU upgrade soon in the form of Ivy Bridge-E) there are some more options, like this $200 Asrock X79 Extreme 3 or this $230 Asus P9X79 (roughly, including the shipping estimate). They run at 16x/16x/8x

Those CPUs are much more expensive. You can get a $290 quad core i7-3820 (with hyperthreading) or a $570 hexa core i7-3930K (again, with hyperthreading, though this one can also overclock).

May I inquire why you feel the need for dual graphics?

 

[snoylekim]

^^ Do you mean E3-1245V2 ?? Correct me, but i think the 1245 is an SB, 1245V2 is the IB version .. but the slot requirements might drive OP to X79 anyway ..

 

[CoreyCoop]

May I inquire why you feel the need for dual graphics?

Among other things I create graphics programs for broadcast (gameshows and the like). I use dual output cards with SDI option boards added. On my development machine, and sometimes on the running machines I like to have 4 screens output. On my development machine (what I'm looking to upgrade now), I sometimes also have to test with the card that the client already has, sometimes I specify that, either way, I like to have one card that's my primary card and 'stable', while the other card sometimes changes.

 

[Sleepingforest]

^^ Do you mean E3-1245V2 ?? Correct me, but i think the 1245 is an SB, 1245V2 is the IB version .. but the slot requirements might drive OP to X79 anyway ..

Yeah, you're right about the Sandy/Ivy thing. I think his best option is X79.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes and you can use Ivy Bridge E 6 core on the socket 2011. thx gl So grab a 3820 now and upgrade in future to 4930k 600 dollar ivy e chip.