Best Mobo for OCing a 2700k

[X-Legend]

I want to get temperatures around 4.5Ghz (or higher), with the option of leaving the computer on 24/7 if I wanted. I'll be using:

- (CPU) Core i7 2700k
- (Case) NZXT Phantom
- (Fans) All 7 slots filled with stock fans
- (Cooler) Hyper 212+ EVO
- (RAM) Corsair Vengenance 8GB (2x4GB)
- (PSU) XFX Core Edition 750w
- (SSD) Intel 320 160GB
- (HDD) 2x Samsung Spinpoint F3 (1TBx2)
- (DVD/CD) Some generic drive
- (Video Card) XFX ATI Radeon 6850 (will upgrade to a 6970 in the forseeable future)
- (Sound Card) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty


I keep reading about slow/double/tripple boot problems with the Asus boards - specifically the Asus P8Z68-V Pro. For the longest time I was planning on going with the Asus P8Z68-V/GEN 3 board (since I didn't really care for the extra USB and SATA). But with all this talk of boot problems, I'm thinking about changing my decision.

Am I right to avoid the Asus boards and go with another recommended board or is there a fix avaliable I'm not aware of? Or is it only limited to the V Pros? Feel free to recommend me any other board for my 2700k build.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Suggestion: Get an I7 2600k

 

[Puppies04]

Don't worry about the 2700k, from what I have seen they are no more capable overclockers than the 2600ks and as you are going to overclock anyway you might aswell save yourself a few £/$.

As for the mobo question, go to your favourite retailer and search for all z68 mobos then list them by price, scroll right to the end and the last 3 or 4 you see will be the best overclockers (and twice as expensive as anything else).

 

[Puppies04]

Don't worry about the 2700k, from what I have seen they are no more capable overclockers than the 2600ks and as you are going to overclock anyway you might aswell save yourself a few £/$.

As for the mobo question, go to your favourite retailer and search for all z68 mobos then list them by price, scroll right to the end and the last 3 or 4 you see will be the best overclockers (and twice as expensive as anything else).

 

[pcmax]

Don't worry about the 2700k, from what I have seen they are no more capable overclockers than the 2600ks and as you are going to overclock anyway you might aswell save yourself a few £/$.

As for the mobo question, go to your favourite retailer and search for all z68 mobos then list them by price, scroll right to the end and the last 3 or 4 you see will be the best overclockers (and twice as expensive as anything else).

Granted he did say best motherboard for overclocking but is 100% increase in price worth a 10% increase in overclock, just asking.

 

[blackened23]

I want to get temperatures around 4.5Ghz (or higher), with the option of leaving the computer on 24/7 if I wanted. I'll be using:

- (CPU) Core i7 2700k
- (Case) NZXT Phantom
- (Fans) All 7 slots filled with stock fans
- (Cooler) Hyper 212+ EVO
- (RAM) Corsair Vengenance 8GB (2x4GB)
- (PSU) XFX Core Edition 750w
- (SSD) Intel 320 160GB
- (HDD) 2x Samsung Spinpoint F3 (1TBx2)
- (DVD/CD) Some generic drive
- (Video Card) XFX ATI Radeon 6850 (will upgrade to a 6970 in the forseeable future)
- (Sound Card) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty


I keep reading about slow/double/tripple boot problems with the Asus boards - specifically the Asus P8Z68-V Pro. For the longest time I was planning on going with the Asus P8Z68-V/GEN 3 board (since I didn't really care for the extra USB and SATA). But with all this talk of boot problems, I'm thinking about changing my decision.

Am I right to avoid the Asus boards and go with another recommended board or is there a fix avaliable I'm not aware of? Or is it only limited to the V Pros? Feel free to recommend me any other board for my 2700k build.

Okay, let me explain the double boot issue. I've experienced it and replicated it 100% and know what causes it. Trust me, its NOT A BAD thing Let me explain: What happens is this. If you use an outrageously incorrect voltage on RAM, PLL, or have a really high bclk without a corresponding increase in PLL voltage, when your PC posts it will say "what the f*ck" and will do another cold boot with the setting to fix it. Commonly, when you overclock the bclk to greater than 101 this happens - because the IMC is integrated onto the CPU die that means that the voltage has to be increased to compensate. One fix is enabling PLL overvoltage. Another is Adjusting the voltage manually. But if you don't put a proper setting in --- Where other motherboards will happily just BSOD and crash all day long, ASUS will correct and up the voltage -- and you will be stable at the higher bclk. And thus the double cold boot. It is 100% completely preventable if you are not stupid about your BIOS settings. Hell, even if you do double cold boot its another 3 second in the boot process...on the first boot of the day...who cares

If you want the best overclocking board get the maximus IV gene-z or extreme-z. Or the P8Z68 pro. And ditch the hyper 212+, it is cheap junk! I mean it cools okay but compared to a noctua or h100, it is not very good...you can do better if you want an overclocking beast

 

[dac7nco]

Okay, let me explain the double boot issue. I've experienced it and replicated it 100% and know what causes it. Trust me, its NOT A BAD thing Let me explain: What happens is this. If you use an outrageously incorrect voltage on RAM, PLL, or have a really high bclk without a corresponding increase in PLL voltage, when your PC posts it will say "what the f*ck" and will do another cold boot with the setting to fix it. Commonly, when you overclock the bclk to greater than 101 this happens - because the IMC is integrated onto the CPU die that means that the voltage has to be increased to compensate. One fix is enabling PLL overvoltage. Another is Adjusting the voltage manually. But if you don't put a proper setting in --- Where other motherboards will happily just BSOD and crash all day long, ASUS will correct and up the voltage -- and you will be stable at the higher bclk. And thus the double cold boot. It is 100% completely preventable if you are not stupid about your BIOS settings. Hell, even if you do double cold boot its another 3 second in the boot process...on the first boot of the day...who cares

If you want the best overclocking board get the maximus IV gene-z or extreme-z. Or the P8Z68 pro. And ditch the hyper 212+, it is cheap junk! I mean it cools okay but compared to a noctua or h100, it is not very good...you can do better if you want an overclocking beast

This. I just used the Gene-Z for a mATX power build (GTX-590 in a small case). If you want to overclock on a budget, Asus is where it's at. You don't spend $30 on an Intel NIC, andf you don't dump cash into a fan controller which dirtys up your case with molex chains.

Daimon

 

[X-Legend]

Well, I'm mostly going with the 2700k because I'm getting a sweet, sweet deal on it (a little over $100 USD). I'd be a damn fool to pass it up.

I was considering getting the Noctua NH-D14, but from what I've read, there isn't enough clearance on it with the NZXT Phantom and I'm not much a case modder. I also read that the Noctua maybe gets an extra 10c cooler on load compared to the Hyper 212+ EVO and around 3C-4C on idle, which doesn't seem like a huge improvement for the price point. Is it really worth it? Or should I just ditch the 200mm side fan and get the Noctua? Although it sucks because I already paid an extra $15 to get that fan. =/

As for my motherboard, I'm thinking about going with the Asus P8Z68 V or Pro -- the Maximus is a tad pricey for my tastes. and the Micro ATX form factor of the Gene-Z goes against my entire build setup. The GA-Z68XP-UD3P looks mighty tempting as well. AGH, so many choices. I wish I established a brand preference for motherboards long ago.


You guys have been fantastic by the way, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with me. I've been to Toms, Overclockers, Hard Forum, etc. And most of those guys just ignore you. This is definitely one of the better boards out there.

 

[Shmee]

OP, that is an awesome deal! As for boards, I understand that the EVGA classified line cant be beat, but they are expensive too. Also, I would recommend waiting for the 7000 series release, no need to get a 6970 now imo.

 

[Puppies04]

Okay, let me explain the double boot issue. I've experienced it and replicated it 100% and know what causes it. Trust me, its NOT A BAD thing Let me explain: What happens is this. If you use an outrageously incorrect voltage on RAM, PLL, or have a really high bclk without a corresponding increase in PLL voltage, when your PC posts it will say "what the f*ck" and will do another cold boot with the setting to fix it. Commonly, when you overclock the bclk to greater than 101 this happens - because the IMC is integrated onto the CPU die that means that the voltage has to be increased to compensate. One fix is enabling PLL overvoltage. Another is Adjusting the voltage manually. But if you don't put a proper setting in --- Where other motherboards will happily just BSOD and crash all day long, ASUS will correct and up the voltage -- and you will be stable at the higher bclk. And thus the double cold boot. It is 100% completely preventable if you are not stupid about your BIOS settings. Hell, even if you do double cold boot its another 3 second in the boot process...on the first boot of the day...who cares

Sorry but you obviously don't know what causes it because I have built 3 2500k rigs and all 3 had the double boot issue at stock with the P8z68v-PRO. The RAM voltages and timings were all checked to be at stock values in the bios before windows was installed and PLL voltage + bclk were 1.8 and 100 respectivly. Hell I even enabled internal PLL overvoltage as I saw this was a "fix" in another thread and while the amount of double boots became less frequent they still occur. My rig doesn't do it anymore (well it hasnt in the last 50 or so times I have turned it on) but I have tweaked that many settings in the bios that were apparently "guaranteed fixes" for this issue I can't tell you which one or ones managed to stop it happening.

Glad you sorted yours but it obviously isn't caused by what you think it is.