Really need help on a Z68 MB

[TaranScorp]

Well I just fried my GA-EP45-UD3P board and am kinda upset but I press forward. I want to get into the Z68 i7 2600k or I5 2500k world. I like to overclock a lot and do a lot of video encoding and Photo editing. I do not dot game at all.

I'm very interested in this board. Can it give me a stable 5ghz overclock?
ASRock Fatal1ty Z68 Professional Gen3

I need the one Pata connector and also will be using a PCI slot for an IDE card.

All the gaming stuff will go to waste.

What do guys and gals think or suggest?

Thanks

 

[paperwastage]

PATA will be hard. according to http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299470-30-find-mobo-sandy-bridge-pata-capable

only 2 boards with pata...

video encoding/photo editing-> definitely the i7 2600k. if its too high a premium, you can debate a 2500k+OC vs a cheaper 4core+HT Xeon E3-1230

 

[TaranScorp]

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z68 Professional Gen3 mobo has it but I don't know if it has a good reputation as a overclocker to 5ghz or more.
I read about Pata to Sata adapters but need to read more about them to see how well they work.

 

[Zap]

Can it give me a stable 5ghz overclock?
...
What do guys and gals think or suggest?

I think 5GHz is optimistic. How long do you want your CPU to last? It usually takes elevated voltages to hit above 4.5GHz, and there are very few reports of 5GHz overclocks with 2500k/2600k and reasonable voltages. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but if you have pinned your hopes and dreams on 5GHz and will become super upset if you are unable to achieve it... better choose a different hobby.

 

[TaranScorp]

Maybe I am expecting to much.
On the board I just fried I had my E7500 at 4.1 and was going to try 4.2 as soon as my Archon cooler arrived.
I thought the 2500K and 2600K chips were supposed to be very good overclockers.
OK, which Z68 boards are known good ovelclockers.
How about this one?
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4

 

[Zap]

Maybe I am expecting to much.

Yes you are.

On the board I just fried I had my E7500 at 4.1 and was going to try 4.2 as soon as my Archon cooler arrived.

Already have a history of frying motherboards?

I thought the 2500K and 2600K chips were supposed to be very good overclockers.

They are. You can get a very easy cool extra 1GHz out of them without breaking a sweat. 1.2-1.3GHz extra isn't too much problem with halfway decent cooling and some extra voltage. THAT is why everyone says they are "good overclockers."

You are asking for a lot more than that (1.7GHz extra speed). You can HOPE for that much of an overclock, but you shouldn't EXPECT it.

BTW your chances MAY be better with a Core i7-2700K. I say that because there are a handful of boutique system builders that are willing to sell complete computers with a 2700K at 5GHz and with a warranty that guarantees it. Note that they are probably using heavy duty cooling and excess voltages, plus they're probably binning the CPUs.

Heck, BITD I used to do that for myself. I would buy multiple CPUs, find and keep the best overclocker and sell off the rest (even at a loss).

 

[TaranScorp]

My board didn't fry from the overclock it fried because of stupidity. It was running like a champ for years and today I just had to try to plug a fan into a system fan header while the power was on and my hand slipped and zap, I know, I know, I won't be doing that again ever.

Any sugestions on a really good board for a i7-2700K?
The Thermaright Archon cooler should hold up well, I hope.

 

[janas19]

My board didn't fry from the overclock it fried because of stupidity. It was running like a champ for years and today I just had to try to plug a fan into a system fan header while the power was on and my hand slipped and zap, I know, I know, I won't be doing that again ever.

Any sugestions on a really good board for a i7-2700K?
The Thermaright Archon cooler should hold up well, I hope.

Crap.

Does it even hold power now? You might could fix it.

 

[TaranScorp]

I would like to fix it but do not have a clue on how to go about it.
When I turn it on all the fans spin and the leds on the motherboard flash, but won't boot or go into bios. I'm trying to clear cmos but not having any luck.
By the way it's a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P. Poor board was running like a champ with no problems till lazy mindless me touched it today.

 

[janas19]

I would like to fix it but do not have a clue on how to go about it.
When I turn it on all the fans spin and the leds on the motherboard flash, but won't boot or go into bios. I'm trying to clear cmos but not having any luck.
By the way it's a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P. Poor board was running like a champ with no problems till lazy mindless me touched it today.

Hmm. The reason I ask is because I also own a Gigabyte P45 board I'm trying to nurse back to life.

The best thing for you to do at this point is disconnect everything from your motherboard except the cpu, hsf, cpu fan, and ram, and remove it entirely from the case. You'll have to do this anyways, so you might as well do it now. Put the mobo on a sheet of cardboard and discharge yourself from all static electricity before working further.

Now plug in only the following things: 24-pin ATX connector, 4-pin ATX connector, and front speaker header. You may need to remove the PSU and case front to get the wires to reach.

Finally, when everything is plugged in, use a flathead screwdriver to short the PWR ON pins in the front header slot. Listen carefully. Do you hear a beeping noise? That is called a POST (power on self test) beep.

If yes, you have a chance at saving your board. On the other hand, if you power on and hear no POST beep, you probably won't be able to fix it yourself.

 

[paperwastage]

I think 5GHz is optimistic. How long do you want your CPU to last? It usually takes elevated voltages to hit above 4.5GHz, and there are very few reports of 5GHz overclocks with 2500k/2600k and reasonable voltages. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but if you have pinned your hopes and dreams on 5GHz and will become super upset if you are unable to achieve it... better choose a different hobby.

actually, the most recent chip I got from microcenter(i5 2500k) was able to pass prime95 12 hours 4.8 @ 1.352v on a friend's system(with better cooling/power phase/mobo than the one in the next paragraph)

was able to boot and run 3 passes of IBT standard at 5ghz 1.40v before I stopped due to temps, maybe lower voltage was possible. was on a ASRock Z68 Pro3-M, crappy 3rd party cooler

a few other people were able to get similar results with the "newer" i5 2500k chips. better silicon / process i guess after running the factory for a year

 

[TaranScorp]

janas19, No post beep no matter what. I found out the fan sys_fan1 header is dead though. Good to know about the possibility of the newer i5-2500K chips overclocking better.
I've been looking to upgrade and think since all I do is encoding and photo editing I'm thinking about getting:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Intel Core i5-2500K
G.SKILL Ripjaws X or
CORSAIR Vengeance ram.
I'm on a fixed income so I'm doing this on a budget.

I do like overclocking a lot too

 

[janas19]

Darn.