Advice upgrading from MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 while keeping Intel i7 3.4GHz cpu

[Matt_Stevens]

Gents, I am seeking motherboard advice. Mine has the well documented sleep problem (it won't stay asleep).

My rig is primarily used to edit video via Adobe Premiere Pro. I have the following...

MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX
Intel Core i7-2600k @ 3.4GHz
16GB DDR3 1333 G.Skill Ripjaws 240pin

My video card is the MSI GeForce GTX460 and I also have a fireward card in there.

Antec BP550 Plus 550W ATX12V and a crammed Rosewill Challenger that's taken a beating in some moves so I want something bigger/better.

Hard drives include an Intel SSD, two Samsung Spinpoints in a stripe raid (best damn hard drives ever made, imho), two WD Blacks in a mirror raid, plus one other green drive as some storage. See what I mean about full?

I'd like a bigger, better case, a new (and better) MB while keeping the CPU. I'd be keeping all my drives, vid card, 1394 card, etc.

It would be great if the new MB could carry 32GB of memory, just in case I have want to splurge on new mem.

Obviously I would do a completely fresh install.

My thing is I haven't built a system since late 2011 so I am way behind the times in skill level and knowledge.

What motherboard would you all recommend that is compatible with my CPU and video card?

Remember, my system is used mostly for editing video on Adobe Premiere Pro. I don't game at all. My eyes can't hack it.

Another option is bite the bullet and get a new MB and CPU. That's really out of my price range, but I guess that's what credit cards are for.

I'm considering the ASUS Z97-PRO (based upon reviews from Adobe CS6 users) but which one? I see three at NewEgg. CPU would be an Intel Quad Core, God help me.

But I'd love to avoid a new CPU for now. If I can eek another two years out of this system with a new MB, case and 32GB of ram, I'd be thrilled.

Also taking full sized case recommendations. Thanks!

 

[VirtualLarry]

You're a little late to the party. High-end 1155 boards have already started to dry up, if you're looking for new.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

For LGA-1155 the best you can do is a Z77 based board. But they're getting hard to find.

If you can live with only one SATA3 port, and don't overclock, you might consider something B75 based. If you can find a board that is.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

One of our UK brethren just started a thread here a couple weeks ago, per "breaking his motherboard" and seeking a replacement.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2431695

I can understand why you might want to stick with that processor, but your decision should be tutored by:

1) the cost of a replacement motherboard
and
2) The cost of a new motherboard and new Haswell processor in approximately the same "class:" for instance, an i7-4790K.

I leave it to you to do the math.

Carling220 chose to buy a new P8Z77-V LK. That is, he was apparently able to FIND a new unopened box for that motherboard.

There is also still available this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...57293&cm_re=AsRock_Z77-_-13-157-293-_-Product


Carling220 seemed happy with his decision; last word indicated that it was "all systems 'GO'" and he was exploring the overclocking features for both the board and the processor. But he paid more than $100. Even so, the comparison with "all new" options favored the Z77 board. You can only make these decisions by yourself.

I'd like to think you could get away with a $100 board replacement from an outfit like this:

http://www.ascendtech.us/intel-lga1155-motherboard_c_mb1155.aspx

They buy corporate asset surpluses, refurbish them and turn them around on the linked storefront. I myself picked up a P8Z68-V Pro/Gen3 board last fall for $85. Since ASUS boards are on the first page of that link, let's see what they have today:

P8Z68 Deluxe Gen3 -- $135
P8Z68-V -- $90

and something like three P8P67 boards.

You could look for other options further down the alphabet. You could wait and "keep checking."

You could shop EBay or Amazon, analyze the ads, and gamble on your analysis.

Except for the P67 boards -- of which I know less and wouldn't be sure -- You should be able to put 32GB of G.SKILL DDR3-1866 "GZH" modules into the Z68 or Z77 boards. You could save money with DDR3-1600's. You might be able to simply augment the RAM kit you have, unless it's a 4x4GB kit.

You could also use a new RAM kit (probably including the RipJaws Z model I mentioned and there are others, as well as Corsair etc.) -- in the new Z97 system if you chose that route.

You might even be able to overclock the Ripjaws 1333's to 1600 by loosening the timings to what you might expect -- 9-9-9-24 2N ? Or 10-10-10 ?? Probably at the same voltage spec. Since I've done the same with a 4x4GB kit of RipJaws 1600's, proven rock-stable and 1000% HCI-Memtest coverage, I can only say "it's possible." IF the existing kit is 2x8GB, then you could certainly buy the same kit to make 32GB.

But you need to consider for how long you'd use this system -- how much of your tail-end investment would be reasonably recouped; whether you might use the system afterward in some subsequent application -- replaced with a newer Haswell (or by then) Broadwell board and CPU.

I can offer no more guidance than that.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Thank you. I have read through this with great interest. It does seem as though I may have missed my window of opportunity and should look into purchasing a modern MB and CPU plus new case. I'll save the drives and video card (and ram, if I can) to bring the price down and get an upgraded system going.

I suppose I can sell my older CPU on eBay or perhaps once I have finished my new system reinstall windows on the old one with one of my drives and sell it off on eBay.

Many thanks to everyone for lending me their advice.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thank you. I have read through this with great interest. It does seem as though I may have missed my window of opportunity and should look into purchasing a modern MB and CPU plus new case. I'll save the drives and video card (and ram, if I can) to bring the price down and get an upgraded system going.

I suppose I can sell my older CPU on eBay or perhaps once I have finished my new system reinstall windows on the old one with one of my drives and sell it off on eBay.

Many thanks to everyone for lending me their advice.

You could likely socket the RipJaws in a Z97 board -- but double-check yourself. That would give you plenty of time to tweak the system and test it, even with some over-clocking adventures, or finding some basic settings. You could buy the faster >= 2133 kits at your leisure. Take the time to find the best you think you need or want.

Go to a board's spec web-page at the manufacturer's site. They will likely confirm any such thing there.

Yeah . . . An Asus Z97 Deluxe model has the full string of compatible memory speeds -- to include 1333. the rest of the boards on the page I found had the string cut off on the second or third line, and ending with the characters "(OC),"

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Yeah . . . An Asus Z97 Deluxe model has the full string of compatible memory speeds -- to include 1333. the rest of the boards on the page I found had the string cut off on the second or third line, and ending with the characters "(OC),"

Don't worry about the memory. So long as its DDR3, it'll always work at the JEDEC specified timings for the rated speed, and here is always a fall-back SPD specified. For 1333 I believe its 9-9-9-24/27. You might be able to run that kit at 11-11-11-30@1600MHz. Its worth a try at least.

ASUS boards also have a nifty little feature called MemOK, which will figure out the speed/timings for a successful boot automatically. Very handy when in doubt, and at least makes sure you can boot. You can always tweak settings from there.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Don't worry about the memory. So long as its DDR3, it'll always work at the JEDEC specified timings for the rated speed, and here is always a fall-back SPD specified. For 1333 I believe its 9-9-9-24/27. You might be able to run that kit at 11-11-11-30@1600MHz. Its worth a try at least.

ASUS boards also have a nifty little feature called MemOK, which will figure out the speed/timings for a successful boot automatically. Very handy when in doubt, and at least makes sure you can boot. You can always tweak settings from there.

Yup.

I've found G.SKILL kits including the RipJaws to be remarkably consistent in this. You should either be able to up-clock a 1333 set to 1600 by loosening the timings, or down-clock a higher set to lower specs -- including the timings. The main issue for doing that with the RAM he has is the default spec at that speed -- the timings. If CL is lower than 9 -- say 7 -- he could maybe get 1600 speed with CL 9 or 9-9-9-24. If it's 9, then looser timings than that.

I'd generally had more trouble over-clocking RAM of other makes than G.SKILL. So there is definitely an optimistic prospect for it.

 

[vailr]

Double check your "Antec BP550 Plus 550W ATX12V" PSU for Haswell compatibility. The sleep function could be affected if it's not.
Also: consider replacing your "MSI GeForce GTX460" video card; it requires more electrical power (and produces more system heat) than a modern Maxwell GPU, such as GTX 750Ti. Anything older than GTX 600 series will soon be dropped from any ongoing nVidia driver support, such as for Windows 10.
As far as motherboard: if you can find a used Gigabyte Z77 board on eBay, that's what I'd recommend, if wanting to keep the socket 1155 CPU.
Gigabyte Z77-UD5H:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gigabyte-GA...herboard-Perfect-for-Hackintosh-/161719635051
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gigabyte-Intel-Z77-LGA-1155-Dual-UEFI-BIOS-ATX-Motherboard-G-/381278586119

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Thank you all for your help. Man do you guys know your sh!t. I feel positively caveman dumb in comparison. I only understood 70% of what I read above.

I've never messed with overclocking RAM. Actually, I wouldn't know where to begin. Perhaps I need to find a beginners FAQ somewhere.

NO DOUBT that I will purchase all new RAM later this year. Same goes for the video card. But I cannot really swing those at the moment. That's near 500 smackers.

What I may do is snag a refurb Shuttle SZ77R5 (which is LGA 1155) and stick my old CPU and SSD drive in. I can run it as a Net machine for now and then when I can upgrade the RAM and graphics card in the new setup I will stick that old GTX460 in the Shuttle, as well as the 16GB of memory.

I think the G.Skill memory will be okay. Shuttle is notoriously bad about listing compatible RAM. I have built four or five Shuttles over the years and know this firsthand. Shuttles have their detractors, but they are great little portable machines and have their uses.