Solid overclocking p67/z68 mobos

[bryanW1995]

Hi guys, I'm looking to either go cheap and grap a 2500k rig, or just spend like a rockstar and get a 3930k + z79 setup on or before black friday/monday.

If I go 2500k then I want to be able to get a solid long term overclock in the 4.5-4.8 range. However, I don't want to break the bank b/c if I'm going to be a goody 2 shoes then I'll probably upgrade again next year/pass down the 2500k rig to my kids. And I already have a case/peripherals/850w quality psu/8gb ddr ram/etc, in fact I have everything I need to build it right now except the mobo and cpu. I've never used sli or crossfire, though the past 4 or 5 mobos I've bought have had multiple pci-e x16 slots and I'm fine with that.

What are some good mobos to look at with this scenario in mind? Is it worthwhile to go z68 or will that just be a waste of money? I'd prefer to have a few to consider because I would prefer a good deal on a good mobo to a so-so deal on a slightly better mobo if I go this route.

 

[Puppies04]

You might aswell go Z68 the price difference from P67 isn't that great and it gives you more options further down the line. I own an asus P8Z68-v pro and have built a rig around a P8Z68 for a firend. Both seem to be solid boards and I really like their new UEFI bios for tweeking.

 

[RussianSensation]

If MicroCenter is not an option, there are some boards that should be able to do 4.5-4.8ghz without breaking the bank:

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 - $125
^ This board brings a LOT for the price. You get PCIe 3.0 support, dual SLI/CF at 8x/8x and Asrock's Xfast USB. It comes with a 2-year warranty instead of 3 for the other brands.

Since P67 is less popular nowdays, you can find some good deals on it such as the MSI P67A-GD55 (B3) for $115, or MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) for $140. These MSI boards give you 8x/8x SLI and CF support.

Should you want to build a system with a smaller case, there is the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z for $170. IMO, Asus has the best UEFI at the moment but not sure it's worth the premium price just for that. The problem their boards command a large premium vs. everything else if you want 8x/8x SLI support from Asus, it would cost substantially more compared to other brands: From $160 to $200+.

On the Gigabyte side, you have GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P for $155. I think this board supports 8x/8x SLI (but you should double check).

Most boards will not limit your overclock. It will be more related to your CPU/cooling and how much voltage you are willing to apply. Even a cheap Gigabyte board can do 4.8ghz+.

If you don't need the option to run dual cards, if you are OK with PCIE 2.0 and don't need Gen3 (PCIE 3.0 support), then you can probably go with a cheaper board. Although, the Asrock brings all that for $125.

Also, the Z68 chipset doesn't really have any benefits other than SSD caching (which you won't need if you have a larger SSD) and the ability to use 2500k's GPU (for say QuickSync).

 

[Markfw]

That ASRock looks good. I have a P67 ASRock, and thought it was a problem since I could only do 4.4, but my ASUS P67 extreme doesn't do much better, and with no IDE or flopp, I have had hard times installing the OS at times.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You might aswell go Z68 the price difference from P67 isn't that great and it gives you more options further down the line. I own an asus P8Z68-v pro and have built a rig around a P8Z68 for a firend. Both seem to be solid boards and I really like their new UEFI bios for tweeking.

We should start an exclusive club, although we might in turn be excluded from the Maximus IV Extreme-Z club. It works for me! Of all the mobos I've had over some 20 years, the -V-Pro makes me happier than a pig in pooh . . .

the Z68 chipset doesn't really have any benefits other than SSD caching (which you won't need if you have a larger SSD) and the ability to use 2500k's GPU (for say QuickSync).

Actually, I think those two features are absolutely stellar additions. I've said enough in other threads about it. I'm a "True Believer."

 

[bryanW1995]

SSD caching looks intriguing, my 80 gb g2 is small enough that I normally don't put anything other than the OS on it, anyway. Looks like the Asrock board is in the lead for now...

 

[bryanW1995]

Ok, what about this GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3? I can get it in a combo with a 2500k for $320. Adding in a hyper 212 + I will end up around $350. Can I get 4.7 + 24/7 DC stable out of something like this in an antec 900 case?