help me choose a motherboard that can overclock?

[kevinbrice]

hey all,

i'm not new to overclocking but i only know enough to boost the clockspeed a little, and i don't intend to go really high

my last pc was a phenom ii x4 965 BE, i got it up to 4ghz

now i'm building a new desktop and the only part im missing now is a motherboard

my new parts arriving are

cpu= Intel Core i5-4690K Processor 3.5 GHz LGA 1150
ram= Kingston HyperX FURY 8GB Kit (2x4GB) 1600MHz DDR3
gpu= ASUS STRIX-GTX970
psu= CM strider 600watt 80bronze
storage= Kingston Digital 120GB SSDNow

as you can see im stuck in choosing a motherboard, again im not planning to get it really high, since i'll be using a stock cooler for the first few months,

my first choices are:

Asus Vanguard B85 - mATX
Asus B85 Pro Gamer - ATX

Gigabyte GA-B85M-HD3
Gigabyte GA-B85M-Gaming 3
Gigabyte GA-B85M-D3H

as you can see all of them are B85's

are any of them possible to overclock? since i have an unlocked cpu?
right NOW the choices are B85's and z97's but my budget right now is a B85, i cant afford the few extra $$ for the z97's... basically what im asking is, are any of those boards able to overclock? thanks!

 

[myocardia]

basically what im asking is, are any of those boards able to overclock?

Nope, only one chipset can overclock that processor, the Z97.

 

[kevinbrice]

Nope, only one chipset can overclock that processor, the Z97.

ok.. how is this guy (check link) overclocking his cpu with this board

or do you mean that b85's CANT overclock i5's? thanks for the help
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2276816/overclock-intel-pentium-g3258-gigabyte-b85-hd3.html

 

[kevinbrice]

ok i just learned asus b85's can now overclock the current cpus, how true is that?

 

[myocardia]

I was thinking that only applied to the unlocked Pentium G3258s. It only makes sense though, that if it can adjust the multiplier on the Pentiums, it also could on the K processors. I know for sure that their most expensive B85 board, the B85M-D Plus can at the minimum run all four cores of the K chips at their single-core turbo speed, which for the 4690K is 3.9 Ghz. That'a not a terrible overclock, even if it couldn't actually raise the multiplier, which it seems to be able to do. It's described on page 43 of this link: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...PLUS.pdf?_ga=1.52083817.1791510940.1428212559

I would recommend that you read the manual for any of the boards that you're interested in buying, to make sure that the BIOS at least supports changing the CPU multiplier and raising the Vcore, like the linked board does.

 

[bononos]

ok i just learned asus b85's can now overclock the current cpus, how true is that?

Intel didn't like it when all the manufacturers (not only Asus) offered bios updates to allow non-z87/97 overclocking. Better search first to see that the cpu+mb combo has been tried out before you buy.
https://www.techpowerup.com/202196/...-h97-h87-b85-and-h81-series-motherboards.html
The article says that oc'ing is not guaranteed in the future if Intel changes the firmware or issues software updates that breaks that capability.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

If you spent that much on a 970 and i5 you should really get a decent Z97 board imo.

 

[kevinbrice]

awesome, thanks for the advice guys, will check out if the motherboards i listed is compatible in regards to overclocking my CPU, thanks!!! btw i live in the philippines and thats why z97's are really expensive here..

 

[kevinbrice]

I was thinking that only applied to the unlocked Pentium G3258s. It only makes sense though, that if it can adjust the multiplier on the Pentiums, it also could on the K processors. I know for sure that their most expensive B85 board, the B85M-D Plus can at the minimum run all four cores of the K chips at their single-core turbo speed, which for the 4690K is 3.9 Ghz. That'a not a terrible overclock, even if it couldn't actually raise the multiplier, which it seems to be able to do. It's described on page 43 of this link: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...PLUS.pdf?_ga=1.52083817.1791510940.1428212559

I would recommend that you read the manual for any of the boards that you're interested in buying, to make sure that the BIOS at least supports changing the CPU multiplier and raising the Vcore, like the linked board does.

ok, so lets say the motherboards i listed above were all overclockable, which of the ones i listed do you recommend? thanks so much for the help my kind sir

 

[Conroe]

The DH3 looks like the best because it has four memory slots and a better VRM. That said I just bought the Gamming3 (with a 3258) because it's cheap.

 

[myocardia]

ok, so lets say the motherboards i listed above were all overclockable, which of the ones i listed do you recommend?

I'd definitely get the Asus B85 Pro Gamer. It's a nice board, and nobody comes close to Asus in quality, in my opinion. It also has 4 DIMM slots, and excellent cooling for everything, which is important when overclocking. It also overclocks for sure, as noted on page 49 of the manual: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...nly.pdf?_ga=1.213947223.1791510940.1428212559

 

[kevinbrice]

I'd definitely get the Asus B85 Pro Gamer. It's a nice board, and nobody comes close to Asus in quality, in my opinion. It also has 4 DIMM slots, and excellent cooling for everything, which is important when overclocking. It also overclocks for sure, as noted on page 49 of the manual: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...nly.pdf?_ga=1.213947223.1791510940.1428212559

ok im getting that, thanks so much for the help man!! now i have to pic a case hahaha, any you recommend? i was into the carbide 240 but now this wont fit (can't afford the 540)

 

[myocardia]

ok im getting that, thanks so much for the help man!! now i have to pic a case hahaha, any you recommend? i was into the carbide 240 but now this wont fit (can't afford the 540)

My favorite case by far is the Antec Nine Hundred. Not too expensive, comes with tons of adjustable-speed fans, and pretty decent looking. This site has pictures, description, and all of the dimensions: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._re=Antec_Nine_Hundred-_-11-129-021-_-Product

 

[DigDog]

gigabyte Z97-D3H

you will not believe the UEFI when you see it

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Don't forget to tell the OP about this.

Sure -- Z97 motherboard -- only thing I'd go with.

That being said, in principle, the more elaborate the phase-power-design spec, the better the overclocking performance. Usually you can find that spec if you search for it on any board at any manufacturers web-site, or in reviews.

And you'll pay more for a board that has superior phase-power-design -- without exception.

 

[jji7skyline]

gigabyte Z97-D3H

you will not believe the UEFI when you see it

What do you mean? I have that motherboard and the BIOS is nothing special, if anything, I prefer my brother's ASRock H81M BIOS :/

 

[Burpo]

$84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1R&cm_re=z97_open_box-_-13-157-521R-_-Product

 

[jji7skyline]

$84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1R&cm_re=z97_open_box-_-13-157-521R-_-Product

That's a great deal.

 

[kevinbrice]

op here, i guess im gonna go for the asus b85 vangaurd or the gaming, cause

1. the price is good
2. both can overclock (i have no plans for extreme speeds, just +.3.5 is ok for me
and 3. my choices are very limited since i cant order from newegg or amazon or wherever since im from the philippines(3rd world country) and stocks here are very limited and the z97's are very pricey.. well for me they are,

and finally 4. there's actually a service center here for asus which is a really big plus for me...

 

[DrMrLordX]

Bear in mind that Z87 also works for Haswell overclocking. Those non-Z chipsets that support it sometimes have limitations on max voltage, and of course you can't overclock RAM on anything but Z87 or Z97.

If you are comfortable with those limitations, B85 should be just fine for you.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That's a great deal.

Or so it seems. I've bought decent mATX budget boards for $80 to $90.

I don't ignore anomalies I might find in the reseller spec summary, and I do make an evaluation of customer reviews, although published lab-test reviews are primary reading material.

So it's true that AsRock has "come into its own."

But certain specs are likely to be included if they're a notable, positive feature. Yet there's no mention in the Egg spec summary of the phase-power-design. For a lot of boards for which that feature is better than average, I've seen the Egg add it to the list of features.

Also, that's not any "new" or exceptional board, nor expensive. Where are the customer reviews? I should probably check to see if there's another regular entry for that model, since the link given was an "open box."

You'll probably disprove any misgivings in my thoughts here. I just don't want to go hunt around the AsRock pages at the moment, or search for more info.

UPDATE: Now after looking at the "sealed box" item description, I might say this looks damn good for $99! It may have budget phase-power-design, but (again-- without looking more carefully) -- 71% "5-Egg" reviews is more than usually high for any motherboard.

 

[Burpo]

It's an ASRock Z97M Pro4 for $84!!

 

[DigDog]

What do you mean? I have that motherboard and the BIOS is nothing special, if anything, I prefer my brother's ASRock H81M BIOS :/

on the bios first page(the one where you select for example boot priority), click on the left arrow. this takes you to the detailed bios, where you get to adjust all the ram timings, various voltages, and so forth.

if you click the right arrow instead, you go to the simple bios, which has *some* settings but nowhere as detailed as the proper one.

 

[escrow4]

My favorite case by far is the Antec Nine Hundred. Not too expensive, comes with tons of adjustable-speed fans, and pretty decent looking. This site has pictures, description, and all of the dimensions: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._re=Antec_Nine_Hundred-_-11-129-021-_-Product

Why would anyone buy a 2006 era case is a mystery. OP wants a modular flexible toolless case with decent cooling, may as well buy a Corsair Carbide 200R or 300R, one from this decade. And I second if you spent on a K i5, get a decent Z97 board.

 

[kevinbrice]

Why would anyone buy a 2006 era case is a mystery. OP wants a modular flexible toolless case with decent cooling, may as well buy a Corsair Carbide 200R or 300R, one from this decade. And I second if you spent on a K i5, get a decent Z97 board.

suggestion noted, thanks so much, you guys have been a great help, also i didn't spend extra on a K cause the shop i got it from in my country had no idea what they were doing and they were selling it cheaper than the non K's hahahaha =D lucky me huh, i will definitely be looking into the case you suggested since i'v know learned a ASUS gtx 970 strix WILL NOT FIT a 240, the heatpipe will touch the case window.. sadly.. and by the way the reason i really don't want to spend extra for a z97 is because i don't inted to overclock it like crazy, and stock 1600 ram is ok for me too.. again, thanks! im learning alot from you guys, the stuff i'v learned mostly are from experience and linus tech tips lol .