Motherboard for i7-950

[slade8200]

I'm looking for a solid motherboard for this chip, something with decent overclocking ability. After all the reading it seems like Asus is the way to go... true story?? What's the best bang-for-the-buck Asus board?? Thanks.

 

[ZipSpeed]

I picked up the Sabertooth X58 for my i7 950. Actually in the process of assembling the system.

 

[Sickamore]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131666

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131641

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131665

Check this three out all of them are great board.

 

[ckoons1]

gigabyte x58a-ud7 usb 3.0 sata 3

 

[CVSiN]

another vote for the sabertooth! so far a great MB..

 

[jaiello]

I say the P6X58D Premium. I am running an i7 950 at 4.2GHz on this board.

 

[slade8200]

Just checked out the boards Sickamore posted. I'm leaning towards the Rampage III Formula, mostly because of the higher memory speeds available (2200 over the Sabertooth's 1866). Is this not a good reason to choose a board?? Will the processor not be able to make use of anything over DDR3 1600 anyways??

 

[muskie32]

Are you even planning on OC'ing your ram?

 

[Athadeus]

Is this not a good reason to choose a board?? Will the processor not be able to make use of anything over DDR3 1600 anyways??

Any specification you don't understand well makes for a bad deciding factor.

To be a little more specific, the processor IMC (integrated memory controller) is only specced by intel to run memory at 800 or 1066 mhz, and everything higher than that is an overclocked setting.

1600mhz is a fairly common, easy, and reasonable memory overclock. Above 1866mhz is uncommon, often troublesome, and practically useless overclock.

Check out this Anandtech article by Gary if you really want details:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2792/13

 

[slade8200]

Haha you are right about making uninformed decisions. Thanks for the info.

 

[slade8200]

I was just looking at the Newegg "Memory Standard" specs for those three boards. Some of them list speeds with an "O.C." next to them. Such as the Rampage III Formula, which says "1600 (O.C.)" and the other two boards just say "1600". Does this matter, or is it just the way they typed it in?

 

[Rifter]

P6X58D-E is a good choice, its working out well for me.

FYI memory overclock does nothing for performance, i was running mine at everything from 800-1600 while experimenting with my overclock and never noticed a differnce in performance.

 

[slade8200]

OK so what about overclocking the processor? Do those 3 boards have the same overlclocking abilities?

 

[slade8200]

So I should just get the Rampage III??

 

[Sickamore]

They all have the same overclocking ablity. It just features between the three. Its really your choice. I would go with the rampage thats my choice. However the p6 has been a absolute performer.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Another vote for the Gigabyte P6X58D-E. Good overclocking board, and priced well too.

 

[Rifter]

Another vote for the Gigabyte P6X58D-E. Good overclocking board, and priced well too.

I think you mean ASUS P6X58D-E

 

[RaistlinZ]

Heh, yeah. My brain is mush today.

 

[David C]

I went with the Sabertooth also for the i950 cpu. As far as memory goes, the more memory you plan to use, the more speed restrictions you wil find. If you plan to run the fastest speeds possible for gaming or to set benchmarking records you may well be limited to 4GB. But if you need 8, 10, 12GB, or more to support applications such as autocad or image processing, you may find your memory speed limited to 1066 or perhaps 1333 maximum no matter high the chips are factory rated.

 

[slade8200]

And will all of these boards be able to accept DDR3-1600 without changing any settings?

 

[Sickamore]

And will all of these boards be able to accept DDR3-1600 without changing any settings?

Yes as long as it support it. They system on the board will optimize it for you according to your processor but you can change it.

 

[slade8200]

I guess that's what I'm asking... will they support it?