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First Intel rig, would love advice please

mojothehut

mojothehut

Senior member
Hey guys.
I'm upgrading from a fairly new AMD rig to an i5 ivy bridge.
I want to use my current video card and ram on the new intel system, so only replacing motherboard/cpu oh and case 🙂
I've been in the AMD camp since the K6 166mhz, so Intel is spooky new for me. I'd like to keep the motherboard under $200

But this is what I have picked out so far.
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131823

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116504

The ram I will switch over from my current system is 8gb(2x4) Corsair DDR1600 1.5v and the video card is a Sapphire 7950 OC edition. Also will be using a 4month old Corsair 650watt psu. As for the case, it'll be a new Antec P280 for whatever that's worth 🙂

Some minor overclocking would be fun, I hear the IBs can hit 4ghz pretty easy without too much heat. I'd like to get a decent fan to replace the stock, but have no idea what such a fan would be. Prefer something under $60

I'd appreciate any feedback and suggestions regarding any piece of hardware.

😀
 
For that kind of money, I would've gone for an ASRock Z77 Extreme6 instead. ASRock Z77 Extreme4 works fine too if you want to save a few dollars. You could try the one I'm using if you're willing to spend more. :sneaky:

Cheapest solution for 4GHz would be the CM Hyper212 Evo or the NZXT Havik if you're willing to max out the $60 you've allocated.
 
Nooooooooooooooooo.............. STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPUUUUUU

DO not get the LE version. NEVER get an LE or SE anything.....

Your overclock will be severely hindered on the LE boards.

I personally do not like the Asrocks because I've had a great deal of failed video cards and motherboard from them in the past.

But I do believe that currently Asus and Asrock are both made by Foxconn, so quality is probably even.

At least my asus z68 pro g3 has a big foxconn label on the usb port
 
The LE has half the power phases than the Pro. Fine for a mild OC. 4Ghz for example won't be a problem. 4.2 shouldn't be an issue either, but for higher OCs the board could certainly be your limiting factor.
 
borisvodofsky said:
Nooooooooooooooooo.............. STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPUUUUUU

DO not get the LE version. NEVER get an LE or SE anything.....

Your overclock will be severely hindered on the LE boards.

I personally do not like the Asrocks because I've had a great deal of failed video cards and motherboard from them in the past.

But I do believe that currently Asus and Asrock are both made by Foxconn, so quality is probably even.

At least my asus z68 pro g3 has a big foxconn label on the usb port
Click to expand...

Asrock never made video cards. The boards might be made in the same factory but they are built to different specifications. Asrock boards are not using digital VRMs but analog. Asus uses Digital. If you want to buy based on motherboard hardware build quality (not features, price, or value) then Gigabyte is above everyone else right now. They build the best PCBs and use top quality parts (just like Asus), but they are built in their own factory in Taiwan from what I understand. Very state of the art. Foxconn is very state of the art as well, but they do work for outside vendors like Apple, Asus, Asrock etc. Used to be under the Pegatron arm if I'm not mistaken.
 
First of all are you near a Micro Center? Their CPU/Mobo deals are so good that that is you can possibly get to one of their stores you can save some real money. I have had great luck with Gigabyte the past few years and their Ultra Durable motherboards are very nice. I just built an Ivy Bridge(see sig) and everything installed perfectly on the first attempt. My vote would be for Gigabyte!
 
Hey hey, thanks for the replies.
So Im kinda looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128545 now. I notice that this board and others in the $190+ range have Realtek ALC898 for their onboard audio, which I plan to use.
Is that a pretty decent audio chip? I use logitech G35 headphones 90% of the time and would like some decent sound quality.
Some of Gigabyte's $150-ish range boards use "VIA VT2021" sound chips. 0.o

Anyway, so my existing corsair 1.5v DDR1600 should be groovy with any z77 chipset?
 
mojothehut said:
Is that a pretty decent audio chip? I use logitech G35 headphones 90% of the time and would like some decent sound quality.
Click to expand...

You realize that your USB headphones are basically their own video card, right? The onboard has no impact on their sound.
 
cmdrdredd said:
If you're using USB headphones it doesn't matter what chip the motherboard has.
Click to expand...

Good to know.

Well that gigabyte board has a ton of features that I'll probably never use.
I don't really plan on ever doing a dual video card setup.
I guess I just want a nice stable, well built mobo that'll accommodate a 4ghz overclock.
 
Biostar TZ77XE4 or even XE3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138354&Tpk=biostar%20tz77xe4

Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 or 6.

I owned the Z77 Extreme 4, 6 and Biostar TZ77XE4. They are all great boards. Asrock has 3 and 4 pin fan control if it is important to you.


EDIT: All these boards have the ALC898 audio as well. Even the lower Z77 extreme 4. If someone tells you Asrock is junk, they clearly did not try out their Z68 or Z77 lineup to make that statement.
 
Last edited:
Rvenger said:
Biostar TZ77XE4 or even XE3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138354&Tpk=biostar%20tz77xe4

Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 or 6.

I owned the Z77 Extreme 4, 6 and Biostar TZ77XE4. They are all great boards. Asrock has 3 and 4 pin fan control if it is important to you.


EDIT: All these boards have the ALC898 audio as well. Even the lower Z77 extreme 4. If someone tells you Asrock is junk, they clearly did not try out their Z68 or Z77 lineup to make that statement.
Click to expand...

No but the build quality just is not the same.
 
Rvenger said:
Did you notice how thick the PCB was on the XE4? And the solder strips biostar uses on the back.

It was built like a tank!
Click to expand...

Only thing lacking was the bios. If only biostar could sell that board with an Asus bios for 150 dollars :biggrin:
 
Does Asrock Z77 Pro3 have all the features you need? It's only $100 and it's good for a moderate OC.

Are you going to reuse your CPU cooler as well, or do you even have an aftermarket cooler on the AMD chip?
 
borisvodofsky said:
DO not get the LE version. NEVER get an LE or SE anything.....

Your overclock will be severely hindered on the LE boards.
Click to expand...
My SE board kept up with the best of them. Had members on this forum telling me that my overclock was impossible and that I was lieing.
 
lehtv said:
Does Asrock Z77 Pro3 have all the features you need? It's only $100 and it's good for a moderate OC.

Are you going to reuse your CPU cooler as well, or do you even have an aftermarket cooler on the AMD chip?
Click to expand...

I guess I don't need much in the way of features, not going to crossfire, or even have more than one hd. I will be using a new aftermarket cooler.. Only want to OC to around 4ghz. Really just want a stable system =\
 
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