Upgrade MB for i7 920

[Jaydip]

Currently i have a i7 920 on a WX58BP motherboard.I purchased this system 1.5 Years ago.I can't overclock cpu or memory at all in this m/b.The corsair 1333Mhz memory module is running at 1066 Mhz.I was waiting for Sandy Bridge but it seems i can't own a SB system before April.So is it ok if i upgrade my MB to something overclocking friendly like ASUS Sabretooth?Is this a good board?Also the next question probably belongs to the VC & G forum but i don't want to create another thread.
I am running a GTX 470 currently.During the summer time it idles at 50-55 degrees.If i upgrade to GTX 580 will it have a better temperature envelope?Also is i7 920 a bottle neck for GTX580?I game at 1920*1080.Sorry for a lot of questions.Thank you

 

[Spikesoldier]

sabretooth sounds good. an asrock variant would be even cheaper. with SB delayed until april and X58's successor and also BD around the corner, its hard to suggest getting a new mainboard just to OC. id say that an OC for the 920 (im guessing you have C0) to 3.8 or 4.0 is not worth the cost of another X58 board. a 920 even at a paltry 2.66 is still going to push a lot of stuff.

 

[Jaydip]

Thanks for the reply.The 920 is D0 stepping actually.It is not just the CPU overclocking but my ram is also running below the rated speed.

 

[Spikesoldier]

i think that with triple channel, that dram frequency becomes less of a factor because of the additional memory bandwidth delivered by the third channel. if i were you, id ride it out until you can get a real replacement worthy of a new board (SB relaunch, BD, or X58 successor)

 

[Jaydip]

Understood.But tell me if i bought corsair 1600Cl8 wouldn't that make a difference?ddr3 prices are pretty cheap now.

 

[Spikesoldier]

benchmarks have shown that nehalem and denebs get the best performance from 1600 Cl7 memory. no other config really beats it unless you have world class components.

perhaps your current mainboard allows you to set dram timing? if you have a 1600 set and are bound to a 1333 dram speed, im sure you can get pull more aggressive timings in light of the frequency decrease.

 

[Jaydip]

Thats the problem unfortunately.Being a workstation board it dosnot allow you to set tighter timings ,actually u can't do anything regarding it.My ram is rated 1333mhzcl9 but it is running at 1066Mhz which is (i believe) is the speed of the 920 memory controller.

 

[Spikesoldier]

well the bandwidth provided by triple channel 1066 is the same as 1600 dual channel at the same timings.

i dont think that adding more memory bandwidth is the key issue, but clock speed gained by a new board's OC is going to be much more appealing.

 

[Jaydip]

So upgrading to Sabretooth won't be such a bad idea after all.Thanks :thumbsup:

Do you have any idea about the asus rampage ii gene board?It is a little bit costilier than the sabretooth but it has got a better sound chip.It is a uAtX motherboard though.