Deciding on a motherboard - AMD - Windows 7

[FeuerFrei]

Hay guise. Have a question about Intel Optane - something I'd never heard of.

If my hardware (cpu) doesn't support Optane, can I still run a Crucial P1 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 ??? ... just with reduced performance??​

BTW, changed my mind on the motherboard.
Apparently OutletPC.com didn't want my business - so I'll go with ASUS instead. (ASrock's cousin?)

https://www.asus.com/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-MAXIMUS-IX-APEX/specifications/

The ROG MAXIMUS IX APEX
supports Windows 7 with 6th generation Intel CPUs

 

[An Arable Hill]

You guys missed the part where I was wrong.

 

[An Arable Hill]

You guys missed the part where I was wrong.

 

[UsandThem]

You guys missed the part where I was wrong.

Isn't enough for you to know that? You need more to come along and tell you for some reason?

 

[deustroop]

Hay guise. Have a question about Intel Optane - something I'd never heard of.

If my hardware (cpu) doesn't support Optane, can I still run a Crucial P1 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 ??? ... just with reduced performance??​

The ROG MAXIMUS IX APEX

That board has the z270 chipset providing 2x M.2 NVMe support, per this spec:

1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

 

[FeuerFrei]

That board has the z270 chipset providing 2x M.2 NVMe support, per this spec:

1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

I realize that. I suppose that constitutes a "yes" as you're implying socket choice is all that matters.
ah well, I still don't know what Optane is, and whether its absence should impact my choice of SSDs. I'm guessing it'll be missed as an enhancement, but is non-essential.

To update on my drive choice: I'm now opting for a SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS 500GB instead, to pair with my new Asus motherboard pick. Costs twice as much.

Good thing I'm delaying ... my selections are improving!
I really feel I've got a final configuration locked down ... once the lingering Optane doubt has been addressed.

(Too bad the 6th generation Intel Core i3 I'm choosing costs more than an 8th generation Core i3. Curses.)

 

[deustroop]

The optane item available for this board is described in the z270 spec as a memory module . This format was employed initially as a slow drive turbo--a cache attachment to disk drives-useful to increase the i/o of hdds in the era of ssds. So long as you install an ssd , let alone one of the fastest on the planet, an optane module would be a complete waste of "cash". I think, as an aside, that the full purpose of the product is its ultimate use in an ssd competing with the likes of the 970 drive.

 

[Iron Woode]

I realize that. I suppose that constitutes a "yes" as you're implying socket choice is all that matters.
ah well, I still don't know what Optane is, and whether its absence should impact my choice of SSDs. I'm guessing it'll be missed as an enhancement, but is non-essential.

To update on my drive choice: I'm now opting for a SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS 500GB instead, to pair with my new Asus motherboard pick. Costs twice as much.

Good thing I'm delaying ... my selections are improving!
I really feel I've got a final configuration locked down ... once the lingering Optane doubt has been addressed.

(Too bad the 6th generation Intel Core i3 I'm choosing costs more than an 8th generation Core i3. Curses.)

You know you can always look for good used parts.

You can score some great deals and save a bunch of money.

 

[mikeford]

I did some looking to replace a seemingly dead AM3 motherboard with used, and the sequence of clearance bin to legacy treasure pricing happens too fast. Maybe look for something here in the forsale/trade section, but ebay stinks.

OTOH when I put together my new Ryzen system it was easy to find as far as I can tell fully legal version of Win10 for about $5, activated fine.

 

[FeuerFrei]

You know you can always look for good used parts.

You can score some great deals and save a bunch of money.

I got a $60 rebate on the ASUS Maximus IX Apex motherboard.

That might be ASUS admitting they have a substandard product though. We'll see.

 

[mopardude87]

I did some looking to replace a seemingly dead AM3 motherboard with used, and the sequence of clearance bin to legacy treasure pricing happens too fast. Maybe look for something here in the forsale/trade section, but ebay stinks.

I picked up the Asus M5A78L-M Plus/USB3 off Newegg a while ago for $65 shipped. Paid almost $5 cause of sales tax though but free shipping. For a browsing/htpc box at 1080p its been good paired with a 8350. It was sitting dead in another AM3 as well with 8gb of ram so i figured i mind as well get it back up and running. The vrms may be of questionable quality if i decide to put a dedicated gpu in this thing and turn it into a gaming box though but currently as is purpose wise its alright.

If this set up craps out in the future i got a good reason to maybe build a Ryzen 3000 series setup.That or grab a 2400g and be done with it.

 

[Shmee]

Honestly I think it is time for you to move on to windows 10, unless there is a very good reason you prefer windows 7, which is of course possible. Legit windows 10 pro keys can be had for under $10 on ebay or other sites, or you can usually activate using a windows 7 key. (yes, still. Windows 10 is very forgiving on activation in my experience.) Then I would simply go with a Ryzen 3k series chip on AM4.

If you must have windows 7, which I try to steer people away from in this day and age, you could go with the 1151 option and a skylake processor. I would not pair the ROG motherboard with an i3 though. That is a high end overclocking board, and if you only need an i3 I would get a cheaper board. If you buy yourself an expensive board, do yourself a favor and get a 6700k.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Honestly I think it is time for you to move on to windows 10, unless there is a very good reason you prefer windows 7, which is of course possible. Legit windows 10 pro keys can be had for under $10 on ebay or other sites, or you can usually activate using a windows 7 key. (yes, still. Windows 10 is very forgiving on activation in my experience.) Then I would simply go with a Ryzen 3k series chip on AM4.

If you must have windows 7, which I try to steer people away from in this day and age, you could go with the 1151 option and a skylake processor. I would not pair the ROG motherboard with an i3 though. That is a high end overclocking board, and if you only need an i3 I would get a cheaper board. If you buy yourself an expensive board, do yourself a favor and get a 6700k.

Microsoft never got my approval when they decided to harvest user data - so I'm dragging my feet here. It's the principal of the thing. Even starting to wonder about Linux. I suppose there's a possibility I'll end up going the Windows 10 route, by upgrading my WIndows 7 key ... but for now, I'm intent on cloning the Win7 HD to the NVMe with Samsung's Data Migration software. I need to read up further on the current state of Windows 10 before I can determine if it's a viable option - i.e. can I neuter it to the point that it's tolerable?

I did get a Skylake as suggested in this thread. And I do realize installing a Core i3 6100t on the Maximus Apex mobo is under-utilizing the board, but i only paid $90 for the board AFTER rebate, so it's not like I squandered. I wanted a low power CPU that can run cool enough in a hot environment (plus Win7 compatibility of course). Though the puny stock HSF that came with the i3 might not suffice. I'll see.

I'm ready to power-on the new build for the first time now.