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Best overclocking motherboard for 980x

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
So I am giving my 780i ftw q6600 machine to my sister as a present, so I need to have a new second machine for when a friend comes over to game. Current parts I have for the new second system will include:
-EVGA GTX 260 rev b
-i7 920
-TRUE black (in current system)
-gigabyte x58-ud5 (in current system)
-antec earthwatts 750
-coolermaster 690 II (current system case)
-6GB supertalent 1333 DDR3 ram

I will need for the new 2nd system:
-new HDD

Now I will be building myself a (partly) new system. I was thinking of getting a hafx, 12 GB ram, and a really good OC mobo for my 980x, as my UD5 has too much vdroop and has trouble getting the chip stable past 4.2 Ghz.

So, is the EVGA classified series still the top of the line for OC's? Or is there something better out there for the 980x? Also is it worth it to get 12 GB of ram?

So, for my new system I would have:
-240 GB OCZ agility
-2x samsung spinpoint f1 750 GB
-2x 5870
-Top power powerbird 900 W
-i7 980x
-apogee XT, rad, pump, res and tubing
-mobo(need to buy)
-ram(need to buy)
-haf x(need to buy)

So, any recommendations or suggestions?
 
With an Unlockded Multi ANY board will be able to overclock it past 4.2Ghz. Classified is only needed for 220bclk and higher.
 
my understanding was that different boards also had different amount of vdroops. My ud5 has a lot with the 980x. That is the main problem.
 
With an Unlockded Multi ANY board will be able to overclock it past 4.2Ghz. Classified is only needed for 220bclk and higher.

Not so. My Asrock X58 Extreme has a hard time supplying enough power to the socket and gets massive droop over 3.7GHz with it's 8 phase power design.

You really need something with good power delivery such as the P6X58D Premium. Look for the phase power supply and go for 12+ to the CPU, ideally 16+ for higher overclocking.

Features:
Intel LGA1366 Platform & Intel X58/CH10R chipset
Next Gen 32nm 6-Core Processor Ready!
True USB3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s Support!
ASUS True 16+2 Phase Power Design
3-Way SLI & Quad-GPU CrossFireX Support!
MemOK!
 
Not so. My Asrock X58 Extreme has a hard time supplying enough power to the socket and gets massive droop over 3.7GHz with it's 8 phase power design.

You really need something with good power delivery such as the P6X58D Premium. Look for the phase power supply and go for 12+ to the CPU, ideally 16+ for higher overclocking.

Thanks gillbot, this was my understanding as well. How are the new higher end asus boards?

Also, what other boards have the best power delivery? Will the classifies have that as well?
 
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The best bet would be PM Aigo because he pushes 980X processors for fun. 🙂

I am not sure how much overclocking headroom on air cooling other boards would have over Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R or Asus Sabertooth X58.

I would say Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA make the best boards for Intel overclocking. If you have to look at the track record of overclocking boards into other Intel architectures, these 3 brands emerge as tested and proven. Once again, Asus, Gigabyte have had amazing P965, P35, P45, P55, X58 boards. EVGA is definitely up there too (but their BIOS is much more robust and not for a beginner overclocker). Besides these 3, I view everyone else as 2nd tier (I know MSI sells a lot of boards and some like them but no matter how many times I have used MSI boards, they just never work for me - and I hate that you can't flash the BIOS on MSI boards in Windows OS).

Xbitlabs was able to get 4.4ghz on air cooling with a "not-so-special" $200 Asus P6T Deluxe.
 
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hmm, I am thinking of the UD7 rev 1.0 now. It has 24 power phases. The rev 2.0 only has 16 though apparently.
 
hmm, I am thinking of the UD7 rev 1.0 now. It has 24 power phases. The rev 2.0 only has 16 though apparently.
16 should be enough IMHO, but more can't hurt really.
actually I wasnt sure. I was wondering how much difference it would make really, and if there were any suggestions.

I didn't notice a difference going from 6 to 9 to 12 but did notice going from 3 to 6. However, the 3gb was only 1066 whereas the 6+ was all 1333 so I don't know what it was, the volume or speed.
 
decided to get a p6x58dpremium, on sale at frys. Got 6 GB Kingston hyper x ddr3 2000. also picked up a haf x.
 
Good stuff. 🙂 I have the -E version of that mobo and like it a lot. I also have the HAF-X and see it lasting me many years.
 
ya, so far vdroop has greatly improved 😀
 
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